Agenda item

A report from the Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure and the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change is attached.

Councillor Alan Quinn, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, presented the report which set out the progress of the GM CAP and the next steps for the development of the Clean Air Plan and the closely linked Minimum Licensing Standards (MLS) for taxi and private hire services.

Decision:

·       To note the progress of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan;

·       To note the next steps for the development of the Clean Air Plan and Minimum Licensing Standards, listed at Section 11;

·       To note the distribution of Bus Retrofit funding commenced in December 2020;

·       To note that Government ministers have agreed to consider extending Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges to the sections of the A628/A57 which form part of the Strategic Road Network, within the proposed CAZ boundary, subject to the outcomes of an assessment, which is expected to be completed by early 2021;

·       To note that the GM Clean Air Plan is required to take action to tackle nitrogen dioxide exceedances until compliance with the legal limits has been demonstrated and that the nearer term influence of COVID-19 on air quality is not expected to lead to sufficiently long term reductions in pollution such that the exceedances of the legal limits of nitrogen dioxide will not occur without implementing a Clean Air Zone;

·       To note that the GM CAP final plan will be brought forward for decision makers as soon as is reasonably practicable and no later than summer 2021;

·       To note that the outputs of the MLS will be reported alongside the GM CAP as soon as is reasonably practicable and no later than summer 2021;

·       Agree to the establishment of joint committees and to delegate to those committees the Authority’s functions as set out in this report at paragraph 8.5 and the terms of reference, as set out in Appendix 6.

·       Appoint the Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure to sit on both committees for purposes as set out in this report at paragraph 8.5 with specific terms of reference, as set out in Appendix 6.

·       Appoint the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change as substitute for both committees for purposes as set out in this report at paragraph 9.5 with specific terms of reference, as set out in Appendix 6.

·       Agree to enter into a collaboration agreement with the other 9 GM local authorities and GMCA/TfGM to clarify amongst other matters the rights, responsibilities and obligations of the authorities in relation to those contracts set out in Appendix 2 that are required to maintain delivery momentum in line with JAQU funding agreements.

·       Agree a delegation to the Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer to agree the final form of the collaboration agreement;

·       Agree a delegation to the Executive Director of Operations in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure and the Cabinet Member for Climate Change to award the contracts set out in Appendix 2 (subject to government funding) that are required to implement a charging Clean Air Zone in Spring 2022 to ensure the achievement of Nitrogen Dioxide compliance in the shortest possible time and by 2024 at the latest as required by the Ministerial Direction.

·       Agree a delegation to Executive Director of Operations in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure and the Cabinet Member for Climate Change to approve the submission of supplementary information to the Government's Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU).

Reasons for the decision:

The formal governance mechanisms will underpin the delivery of a GM Clean Air Zone (CAZ) so as to ensure the achievement of NO2 compliance in the shortest possible time.

Other options considered and rejected:

None.