Agenda item

To consider the joint report of the Director of Resources and Housing, the Director of City Development, the Director of Communities and Environment and the Director of Public Health providing an overview of the consultation responses received on the Clean Air Charging Zone (CAZ) proposal; detailing how the first stage of consultation responses have been considered and how these are reflected within the updated proposal; detailing the funding request to central government for both the required infrastructure and the support measures to mitigate economic impact; outlining the process to reaching approval for both the Full Business Case and the Traffic Scheme; and detailing the required changes to licensing conditions for taxi and private hire to align conditions with CAZ compliant engine standards.

Further to Minute No. 122, 13^th December 2017, the Director of Resources and Housing, the Director of City Development, the Director of Communities and Environment and the Director of Public Health submitted a joint report providing an overview of the consultation responses received on the Clean Air Charging Zone (CAZ) proposal; detailed how the first stage of consultation responses had been considered and how these were reflected within the updated proposal. In addition, the report outlined the funding request to central government for both the required infrastructure and the support measures to mitigate economic impact; detailed the process to reaching approval for both the Full Business Case and the Traffic Scheme; and presented the required changes to licensing conditions for taxi and private hire vehicles to align conditions with CAZ compliant engine standards.

In presenting the submitted report the Executive Member for Resources and Sustainability recommended that a further report be submitted to the 25^th July 2018 Board meeting which set out a broader range of proposals not covered by the CAZ for the improvement of air quality throughout the city.

Responding to a Member’s specific enquiry, the Board received further information on the process and rationale which had led to the proposal to amend the boundary for the CAZ. It was noted that the amended boundary was being proposed in response to the consultation undertaken, and that the revised boundary did not have any adverse impact upon the delivery of the required outcomes. It was also noted that the revised boundary aimed to ensure that it was clear and easily navigable and looked to avoid any unintended consequences (eg. ‘rat-running’).

Also, in noting the proposals affecting taxis and private hire vehicles and the need to ensure a consistency of approach for such vehicles whether they be registered with Leeds or with another Authority, Members highlighted that it was essential for the Government to establish a national register for such vehicles, with it being noted that confirmation had been received from Government that they were working to address this issue, whilst Members also highlighted that the Local Government Association were making representations to Government on such matters.

In addition, Members also noted that a substantial funding package was also being sought from Government in order to help facilitate the introduction of the related measures.

Responding to a Member’s enquiry, it was undertaken that at the appropriate stage, liaison could take place with community groups in order to provide guidance around CAZ compliancy and exemption categories.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That approval be given to entering into a period of statutory public consultation on the proposed clean air zone and the enforcement of anti-idling;

(b)  That approval be given to entering into a period of public consultation on the introduction of the enforcement of anti-vehicle idling;

(c)  That approval be given to entering into a period of consultation with regard to the proposed changes to the licensing conditions for taxis and private hire vehicles;

(d)  That the necessary authority be delegated to the Director of City Development in order to enable the Director to procure for the required infrastructure, with the necessary ‘authority to spend’ also being provided to the Director, once funding from government has been secured;

(e)  That the necessary authority be delegated to the Director of Resources and Housing in order to enable the Director to procure for the administration of the taxi and private hire loan, with the necessary ‘authority to spend’ also being provided to the Director, once funding from government has been secured;

(f)  That approval be given to exempt the resolutions contained within this minute from the Call In process, on the grounds of urgency, as detailed in section 4.5.6 of the submitted report, in order that the Council achieves the closest legitimate date for submission in compliance with the Direction;

(g)  That a further report be submitted to the 25^th July 2018 meeting of the Board which sets out a broader range of proposals not covered by the CAZ, for the improvement of air quality throughout the city;

(h)  That it be noted that a further report will be submitted to Executive Board on 19^th September 2018 in order to report on the outcomes of the statutory consultation as, referenced within resolution (a) above.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor A Carter required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on the decisions referred to within this minute)

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from the Call In process if it is considered that any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests. In line with this, the resolutions contained within this minute were exempted from the Call In process, as per resolution (f) above, and for the reasons as detailed within section 4.5.6 of the submitted report, in order that the Council achieves the closest legitimate date for submission in compliance with the Direction)