Issue - meetings

To consider the joint report of the Director of Resources and Housing and the Director of City Development which presents a summary of the findings from the review into the Leeds Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and details the strategy to ensure that compliance will be maintained, with information also being provided on the other air quality measure which are being progressed in the city.  The report also provides information regarding the distribution of financial support to affected sectors and details the current budget position of the CAZ.

The Director of Resources and Housing and the Director of City Development submitted a joint report presenting a summary of the findings from the review into the Leeds Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and which detailed the strategy to ensure that compliance would be maintained, with information also being provided on the other air quality measures which were being progressed in the city. In addition, the report also provided information regarding the distribution of financial support to affected sectors and details the current budget position of the CAZ.

By way of introduction to the report, the Executive Member confirmed that following a joint review with Government, the Council and the Government had jointly agreed that Leeds had achieved compliance with the Government’s EU compliance (PCM) model and would maintain compliant into the future, and consequently, the CAZ was no longer required.

The Executive Member also made reference to the correspondence confirming this which had recently been received from Rebecca Pow MP and had been circulated to Board Members for their information in advance of the meeting.

Also, it was highlighted that in moving forward, although the legal requirement had been met, the Council wanted to build upon the momentum achieved and continue to improve the city’s air quality, which would require an update of the city’s air quality strategy and the involvement of Scrutiny in such matters. The Executive Member also provided an update and clarification regarding the current position in respect of clean air funding.

Responding to a Member’s enquiries, it was undertaken that officers would provide the Member in question with further detail regarding the range of targets which were in place on a national, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds level to become carbon neutral.

Also, the Board received further information regarding the CAZ infrastructure which had been installed, and in response to a specific enquiry, it was confirmed that at present, there were no plans to introduce a congestion charge in Leeds.

Responding to a Member’s concerns, the actions which were intended to be taken towards the continued improvement of air quality in the city were reiterated.

RESOLVED -

(a)  That the outcome of the review into Leeds air quality compliance achieving legal compliance requiring the cancellation of the proposed Leeds Clean Air Charging Zone (“Leeds CAZ”), be noted;

(b)  That the necessary authority to take any formal steps under the Transport Act 2000 to revoke the Leeds Clean Air Zone Charging Order (No. 01) that was made on the 19th December 2018, be delegated to the Director of City Development in conjunction with the City Solicitor;

(c)  That the funding repurposing package which has been requested from Central Government, be noted;

(d)  That the high level approach towards the development of the “Air Quality Strategy 2021 – 2030”, be approved.