To consider a report of the Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change.

1. That the progress of the Greater Manchester (GM) Clean Air Plan be noted.

2. That it be noted that Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have confirmation that the funding award for Bus Retrofit should be distributed as soon as possible as per arrangements put in place for the Clean Bus Technology Funds.

3. That the update on the possible impacts of COVID-19 on the GM Clean Air Plan be noted.

4. That it be agreed that Trafford along with the other nine GM local Authorities hold an 8-week public consultation on the GM Clean Air Plan commencing in October 2020.

5. That it be noted that the GM local Authorities intend to consult on GM’s proposed Minimum Licensing Standards, alongside the Clean Air Plan consultation.

6. That it be noted that Trafford also intends to consult on Trafford’s proposed Hackney Carriage and Private HireLicensing Policy in parallel with the consultations on the Clean Air Plan and GM Minimum Licensing Standards.

7. That it be agreed that TfGM act as the Operating Body for the GM Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and supporting measures as set out at paragraph 8.5 of the report.

8. That it be agreed that Trafford along with the other nine GM Authorities individually be a ‘charging authority’ for the purposes of the CAZ, pursuant to the Transport Act 2000.

9. That the GM Clean Air Plan Policy for Consultation at Appendix 3 to the report be endorsed.

10. That the Equalities Impact Assessment on the Clean Air Plan, as set out at Appendix 5 to the report, be noted.

11. That it be noted that further reports will be brought forward to set out the formal governance mechanisms that will underpin the delivery of a GM Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and the supporting measures, including the full scope of the suite of powers that will be needed to be delegated to the Operating Body.

12. That a delegation be agreed to the Corporate Director, Place to approve the submission of the cases for measures to the Government's Joint Air Quality Unit to support the GM Clean Air Plan.

13. That a delegation be agreed to the Corporate Director, Place to approve the GM Clean Air Plan consultation materials, to include the Equalities Impact Assessment on the consultation.

14. That it be noted that a response to Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) Decarbonising Transport – setting the challenge, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, has been submitted to Government.

15. That, for the reasons set out in the report, this decision should be considered to be urgent and therefore not subject to call in.

The Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Changesubmitted a report which set out progress that had been made on the development of Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan following the decision that the GM Local Authorities will move to a statutory public consultation on the GM Clean Air Plan as soon as reasonably practicable in light of COVID-19 restrictions, and the link to the consultation on taxi and private hire common Minimum Licensing Standards. It also considered the formal governance mechanisms that will underpin the delivery of a GM Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and the supporting measures. It did not seek a decision on whether to introduce a scheme, as that has been mandated by the Secretary of State. It set out a position for consultation on the daily charge, discounts and exemptions of a Category C GM Clean Air Zone, and the proposals for the supporting funds that had been developed taking stakeholder engagement and statistical modelling into account. It sought agreement to consult and endorsement of the policy for consultation, which would be reviewed in line with the findings from the statutory consultation.

An opportunity was provided to Members to raise issues in relation to the report’s content. These included: the statutory nature of the process and the Government’s stance on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic; the approach being adopted by certain other local authorities; and the question of reduced speed limits, which was being taken forward in other current workstreams.

              RESOLVED -

(1)       That the progress of the Greater Manchester (GM) Clean Air Plan be noted.

(2)       That it be noted that Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have confirmation that the funding award for Bus Retrofit should be distributed as soon as possible as per arrangements put in place for the Clean Bus Technology Funds.

(3)       That the update on the possible impacts of COVID-19 on the GM Clean Air Plan be noted.

(4)       That it be agreed that Trafford along with the other nine GM local Authorities hold an 8-week public consultation on the GM Clean Air Plan commencing in October 2020.

(5)       That it be noted that the GM local Authorities intend to consult on GM’s proposed Minimum Licensing Standards, alongside the Clean Air Plan consultation.

(6)       That it be noted that Trafford also intends to consult on Trafford’s proposed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy in parallel with the consultations on the Clean Air Plan and GM Minimum Licensing Standards.

(7)       That it be agreed that TfGM act as the Operating Body for the GM Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and supporting measures as set out at paragraph 8.5 of the report.

(8)       That it be agreed that Trafford along with the other nine GM Authorities individually be a ‘charging authority’ for the purposes of the CAZ, pursuant to the Transport Act 2000.

(9)       That the GM Clean Air Plan Policy for Consultation at Appendix 3 to the report be endorsed.

(10)     That the Equalities Impact Assessment on the Clean Air Plan, as set out at Appendix 5 to the report, be noted.

(11)     That it be noted that further reports will be brought forward to set out the formal governance mechanisms that will underpin the delivery of a GM Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and the supporting measures, including the full scope of the suite of powers that will be needed to be delegated to the Operating Body.

(12)     That a delegation be agreed to the Corporate Director, Place to approve the submission of the cases for measures to the Government's Joint Air Quality Unit to support the GM Clean Air Plan.

(13)     That a delegation be agreed to the Corporate Director, Place to approve the GM Clean Air Plan consultation materials, to include the Equalities Impact Assessment on the consultation.

(14)     That it be noted that a response to Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) Decarbonising Transport – setting the challenge, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, has been submitted to Government.

(15)     That, for the reasons set out in the report, this decision should be considered to be urgent and therefore not subject to call in.