Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals.

1)  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2)  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3)  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

There were no exempt items.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

There were no late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2000 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct. Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Bentley, M Midgley, and B Anderson. Councillors C Hall, P Carlill and M Robinson were in attendance as substitutes.

To receive and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd July 2019.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 2^nd July 2019 be approved as an accurate record.

Matters arising

Minute 9 – In response to a query, Members were informed that approximately 3,000 responses had been received to date, with a number of further engagement events due to take place in coming weeks.

Minute 10 – Members were provided with an update regarding the themed working group meetings that had taken place outside of the public meetings. The Chair requested that details of future working group meetings be circulated to all Committee Members.

Councillor Shahzad arrived at the meeting at 1:40 p.m.

At the discretion of the Chair, a period of up to 15 minutes may be allocated at each ordinary meeting for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Committee.  No member of the public shall speak for more than five minutes in the Open Forum, except by permission of the Chair.

Representatives from Extinction Rebellion addressed the Committee. A speech delivered by Greta Thunberg at the United Nations Summit on Monday 23^rd September 2019 was recited to Members. Representatives present also expressed concern that the Carbon Reduction Roadmap developed by the Leeds Climate Commission did not include aviation. Those present were advised that a report to address this matter would be published by the Leeds Climate Commission.

A member of the public, Drusilla Long, addressed the Committee. Ms Long expressed concerns in relation to the environmental impact of the Leeds Bradford Airport expansion and asked Members to reconsider their support for the project.

A member of the public, John McMahon, addressed the Committee. Mr McMahon expressed concerns in relation to the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport. Mr McMahon also requested detail regarding the action taken in the last six months to address the state of emergency declared by the Council.

To consider the report of the Head of Democratic Services that introduces a written summary of the Leeds Climate Change Citizens’ Jury project, along with a verbal update at the meeting from the Leeds Climate Commission.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that introduced a written summary of the Leeds Climate Change Citizens’ Jury project, along with a verbal update at the meeting from the Leeds Climate Commission.

Andy Gouldson, Chair of the Leeds Climate Commission, was in attendance and provided an overview of the project. Members were informed that the jury had been established to provide an opportunity for Leeds residents to share their views on how people and organisations of Leeds can take action to respond to the emergency of climate change. Members were also provided with more detail around the selection process for the 25 panel members, along with the Council’s commitment to respond to outcomes, and the potential for a permanent jury in the future.

Some Members raised concerns in regards to how representative the panel is of the people of Leeds, and in particular, those who are disengaged with activities to address climate change. Members were assured that the panel was designed to reflect the Leeds population, including proportionate attitude to climate change. Members were also informed that the size of the panel was restricted by funding.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development that provides a general background to the Committee on transport in Leeds in the context of the Climate Emergency agenda.

The Director of City Development submitted a report that provided a general background to the Committee on transport in Leeds in the context of the Climate Emergency agenda.

The following were in attendance:

-  Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer for Highways and Transport, City Development, Leeds City Council

-  Andrew Hall, Head of Transport, City Development, Leeds City Council

-  Paul Foster, Transport Planning Manager, City Development, Leeds City Council

The Transport Planning Manager introduced the report, highlighting the patronage targets for transport, along with a number of projects and schemes underway to enable people to use public transport and forms of active travel.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

·  Behaviour change for modal shift. Members recognised that significant behavioural change is required to increase modal shift, alongside infrastructure developments. Members were informed that a number of projects are in progress to support residents and local businesses to make sustainable choices.

·  Long-term sustained investment. Members noted that immediate infrastructure developments to address the climate emergency require significant funding from central government. It was agreed for a letter to be written to Core Cities UK to outline Members concerns in relation to the current funding gap for the required transport transformations to support the reduction of carbon emissions, and to request further support to lobby central government.

·  Local delivery models. Members were informed that there had been a significant increase in van usage in Leeds, and that this was likely to be due to the growth of online retailers, resulting in more home deliveries. Members made a number of suggestions for reducing carbon emissions through updating local delivery models, including utilising waterways, and promoting and investing in the bicycle delivery network.

·  Actions beyond Council control. Members noted that the Council does not hold direct powers to improve the reliability and affordability of public transport. However, it was agreed that the existing public transport providers across the city should be formally written to on behalf of the Committee, to challenge their strategies, and request further detail of improvement plans, to address issues with reliability and make services more affordable.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the following correspondence be sent in consultation with Committee Members:

i)  A letter to Core Cities UK to outline Members concerns in relation to the current funding gap for the required transport transformations to support the reduction of carbon emissions, and to request further support to lobby central government;

ii)  Letters to the existing public transport providers across the city, to challenge their strategies, and request further detail of improvement plans, to address issues with reliability and make services more affordable.

b)  That the contents of the report be noted.

Councillors M Shahzad and C Hall left the meeting at 3:15 p.m. and 3:35 p.m. respectively during discussion of this item.

To consider the report of the Head of Democratic Services introducing presentations in relation to the aviation industry and its impact on climate. The first presentation will be delivered by the Chief Executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, and the second, by a group of University of Leeds PhD Researchers.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that introduced presentations in relation to the aviation industry and its impact on climate.

The following were in attendance:

·  Hywel Rees, Chief Executive of Leeds Bradford Airport

·  Jefim Vogel, Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds

At the outset of the item, Councillor Wadsworth wished for his appointment to the Leeds Bradford Airport Consultative Committee to be noted.

The Chief Executive of Leeds Bradford Airport addressed the Committee, providing some background to his position at Leeds Bradford Airport and previous roles in the industry. Mr Rees welcomed the opportunity to work with the Council, in order to reduce carbon emissions from aircrafts whilst protecting the internal and wider workforce reliant on the airport.

The Chief Executive left the meeting during the item due to a prior commitment, and suggested that any comments / questions from Members could be submitted to him following the meeting, to which he would write a formal response. The Chair requested that he return to the Committee in due course to discuss some of the matters raised, and Mr Rees agreed.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

·  Local offsetting. Members requested some examples of schemes available for people to offset their flights locally, and whether the airport have developed plans to coordinate and promote activities to customers. Members also noted that the demands on green space must be considered during development of offsetting schemes.

·  Technological developments. Members requested detail around projects undertaken by the Airport to reduce carbon emissions through updating or replacing their aircraft fleet, and the investment plan to support such projects. Members also queried whether the airport intended to discourage travelling to the airport by car, and if there would be any incentives offered.

·  National targets for air travel reduction. Members commented that if the Leeds Bradford Airport was closed, then it is likely that residents of Leeds would travel to neighbouring airports in Manchester or Doncaster, which they felt would not result in a reduction of carbon emissions. Members therefore noted the importance of clear direction for flight carbon reduction targets from central government. 

Mr Vogel, from the Sustainability Research Institute, addressed the Committee and provided Members with a PowerPoint presentation focused on the impact of carbon emissions from Leeds Bradford Airport on the city’s ability to meet the zero emission target by 2030. The Chair requested that the PowerPoint presentation be circulated to all Committee Members following the meeting.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

·  Impact of offsetting activities. Members queried the impact of offsetting, and whether offsetting potential had been considered for models and targets presented. Members were advised that offsetting activities were not included in models, and should be used to make small residual changes to net emissions, following all other efforts to reduce carbon output.

·  Translating academic messages. Members noted that the Council must work closely with academic partners to ensure that complex messages around carbon reduction are communicated well to the residents of Leeds, in relatable and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

The next meeting will take place 23^rd October 2019 at 2 pm.

The next meeting will take place 23rd October 2019 at 2 p.m.