To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the following meetings for signature by the Mayor as Chair of the Council.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on *24 November 2021 and the Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Council held on 13 January 2022, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

*Note: In respect of Minute No. 52, both the Motion and Amendment regarding Greater Manchester Combined Authority Scrutiny were corrected to reflect the correct Scrutiny Committee titles.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader of the Council, Members of the Executive, Chairs of Scrutiny Committees and the Head of Paid Service.

(a)       Knife Crime

The Mayor expressed the Council’s sadness at the recent incident in Stretford which had resulted in the loss of life of a young person in a violent and senseless manner and advised that the police and community safety officers were working hard to address the issues and support local communities. The Council’s thoughts and prayers went out to the family and all those affected by the tragic events.

(b)       Former Councillor David Higgins

With regret the Mayor informed the Council that former Councillor David Higgins, Mayor of Trafford in 2009/10, sadly passed away peacefully in hospital on 13 January after a long illness. Former Councillor Higgins represented the Brooklands Ward and served on the Council for 16 years from 1998 to 2015.

As a mark of respect to a former colleague, the Council to stand for a few moments silence in reflection of in his memory.

(c)        Her Majesty the Queens New Year’s Honours

The Mayor took the opportunity to recognise those residents named in Her Majesty the Queen's New Year Honours List, namely:

Francis Rogers of Sale awarded the citation of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to Local Government Reform in the Liverpool City Region.

Jaco-Albert Van Gass of Sale awarded the citation of Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to cycling.

Cornel Grant of Old Trafford awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community in Greater Manchester.

The Council joined with the Mayor to convey congratulations for their achievements and richly deserved recognition.

(d)       Membership of Council and Appointments

The Mayor informed the Council that Dr. Karen Barclay had tendered her resignation as a Councillor effective from 1 January 2022 and as a consequence it has been agreed under delegated authority, with effect from 19 January 2022 that:

(i)      Councillor Whetton was appointed Chair of Health Scrutiny Committee;

(ii)     The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Boyes was appointed Shadow Executive Member for Adult Social Care; and

(iii)   Councillor Evans was appointed as a Substitute Member of Planning and Development Management Committee.

This is an opportunity for Members of Council to ask the Mayor, Members of the Executive or the Chairs of any Committee or Sub-Committee a question on notice under Procedure Rule 10.2.

The Mayor reported that 9 questions had been received under Procedure Rule 10.2.

(a)    Councillor Myers asked the following question for which he had given notice:

“Workers dealing with emergency repairs to the gas, electricity and water supply to Trafford residents often have to park their vehicles a long way from residents’ homes because of local parking restrictions. This can lead to delays in repairing the faults, increased disruption to residents and wasted time as workers have to go back and forth to their vehicles.

Will the Executive Member consider formally giving the same parking rights to emergency liveried vehicles as to Blue Badge holders? The Blue Badge entitlements are set out on the Trafford Council website.”

Councillor Adshead, Executive Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services advised that where tradespeople were visiting homes for urgent repairs to broken boilers or leaking pipes it was expected that they park lawfully wherever they could and to use the visitor card system in resident permit areas. Where this was not possible, parking dispensations could be applied for and details were on the Council website and whilst usually these needed to be done a few days ahead of time, requests could be received at shorter notice. Special exemptions also existed for statutory undertakers carrying out repairs to the gas, water or electricity network.

As a supplementary question Councillor Myers asked whether the Executive Member would consider formally adding parking for an emergency situation to the 6 legal grounds for appealing the penalty charge notice, a request Councillor Adshead was happy to take back for investigation.

(b)    Councillor Boyes asked the following question for which he had given notice:

“Can the Executive Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services please advise Council how many blocked gullies have been reported by members of the public and how many have been cleared in each year from 2017/18 onwards? In addition, can the Member please tell Council how many staff have been employed in the gully teams and the dig down crews in each of those years?"

Councillor Adshead, the Executive Member for Environment and Regulatory Services reported that in 2017 there was 1682 service requests, 1786 in 2018, 2728 in 2019, 2138 in 2020, 2155 in 2021 and 159 so far in 2022. Also, each year 16,000 gullies were scheduled for a routine clean in addition to the reactive calls that were attended to and the service had 2 gully crews to undertake routine and reactive work which had been in place with the contract since 2015. A dig down crew was also contracted to deal with underground problems and undertook jetting and dig downs during the course of the year to tackle such issues.

Councillor Boyes asked as a supplementary question whether the Executive Member could also advise the Council on what plans had been put in place to work with United Utilities, the Environment Agency and land owners after heavy flooding to ensure a more joined up approach was implemented to allow surplus waste  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

To consider the following petition requiring debate:

We the undersigned (537 signatories) petition the Council to improve and upgrade the play area in Stamford Park so it can be enjoyed year round.

The current play area is in desperate need of an upgrade.

Stamford Park is one of the most popular parks in Trafford but the play equipment is dated and the playground gets water logged and muddy every time it rains.

Altrincham town centre needs a playground of a similar standard to that in Knutsford or Bruntwood Park. Soft, all weather surfaces and modern play equipment allow those playgrounds to be enjoyed in any weather throughout the year.

The Altrincham community deserves a much improved playground, which would have the added benefit of drawing more people to the town centre benefitting local businesses.

Please sign this petition to back a formal request urging the Council to allocate funding to this local play area so that all of our children can enjoy a well maintained and suitable playground.

Note: In accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, a petition containing more than 500 signatures will be debated by the Council. The petition organiser will be given five minutes to present the petition and then it will be discussed by the Council for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Lead petitioner, Diana Barrett introduced the following petition which had received 537 signatures from addresses within the Borough.

“We petition the Council to improve and upgrade the play area in Stamford Park so it can be enjoyed year round.

The current play area is in desperate need of an upgrade.

Stamford Park is one of the most popular parks in Trafford but the play equipment is dated and the playground gets water logged and muddy every time it rains.

Altrincham town centre needs a playground of a similar standard to that in Knutsford or Bruntwood Park. Soft, all weather surfaces and modern play equipment allow those playgrounds to be enjoyed in any weather throughout the year.

The Altrincham community deserves a much improved playground, which would have the added benefit of drawing more people to the town centre benefitting local businesses.

Please sign this petition to back a formal request urging the Council to allocate funding to this local play area so that all of our children can enjoy a well maintained and suitable playground.”

In presenting the petition, the lead petitioner highlighted the following issues:

-       An absence of equipment past pre-school years.

-       Safety was a concern with the current equipment.

-       The uneven path around the park was a danger for children cycling or with scooters.

-       The playground was unsuitable for differently abled users.

Furthermore, the benefits of an attractive playground were set out:

-       Health and wellbeing benefits were well known and generally accepted.

-       Playgrounds were at the heart of the community and an important gathering space.

-       Imaginative playgrounds helped children to develop social, physical, cognitive and emotional skills.

-       A better park would encourage more outside play for children all year round and would attract children for the two primary schools located next to the park.

-       Spending time outdoors improves the mental health of all ages and helped combat child obesity

-       It would reduce the carbon footprint by reducing the need of local residents having to travel to provision further afield.

The lead petitioner acknowledged that it could be difficult for the Council to finance improvements from the existing Parks and Open Spaces budget but with the associated benefits for local businesses and the area in general, hoped that there would be other ways to find the money. Suggestions included:

-       Contributions from new housing developments, given the added selling point of a local playground.

-       Sponsorship from local businesses.

-       National Lottery funds and government funds to tackle child obesity and improve mental health.

In summary, an improved park would provide the growing number of families in Altrincham town centre with better facilities, make Altrincham an even better place to live, attract visitors all year round and keep locals in the area rather than having to travel to neighbouring authorities. Having had to travel also, the petitioner presented photographic evidence of a modern playground she had recently visited in support of the petition’s aspirations.

Councillor Patel, Executive Member for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

To consider a report of the Director of Finance and Systems further to a recommendation of Accounts and Audit Committee on 25 November 2021.

Further to a recommendation by the Accounts and Audit Committee on 25 November 2021, the Director of Finance and Systems submitted a report setting out the proposals for appointing the Council’s external auditor for the five-year period from 2023/24.

RESOLVED: That the proposal to opt in to the national arrangement for appointing the External Auditor, managed by Public Sector Appointments Limited, to cover the five-year period from 2023/24 and as detailed in Option 3 in the report, be approved.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Finance and Governance.

The Executive Member for Finance and Governance submitted a report providing an overview of the ongoing work undertaken to protect and support the Council’s services and schools during the Covid pandemic and other health and safety support. The report also provided an overview of accidents for the period 1 April to 30 September 2021.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Households across the UK, including here in Trafford, are having to cope with major increases in the cost of living. These rises are affecting essential, unavoidable costs such as food prices and energy bills. Domestic energy bills are expected to increase further in the spring, by as much as 50%. Food costs are already rising by 10% per year. 

When essential items increase it is those households on low and modest incomes who face the greatest burden as they have very little scope to absorb higher prices. This means already limited budgets are stretched even further.

Despite full awareness of this, the government has chosen to reduce the amount of support it provides to low income working and non-working households over the last 6 months through the £20 a week cut to Universal Credit.

This increase in the cost of living is happening in the context of an eleven year period during which working age benefits have been cut and wages have stagnated in a number of sectors. Household will face a further hit when National Insurance contribution go up in April.

The Government’s response to this situation has been piecemeal and poorly targeted. One off and temporary support, such as the hardship grants provided to low income families during the pandemic, do not represent an adequate response to the financial challenges facing many of our residents. Councils have been left high and dry by the government, without adequate long-term funding or long-term support to support residents facing financial hardship through things like local welfare assistance schemes, such as Trafford Assist.

The financial pressure facing many families could not be more acute and the situation shows little sign of easing. The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies has said that the government’s current approach to support households on low incomes is inadequate and has said £3 billion needs pumping into the welfare system in response to soaring energy bills and mounting inflationary pressure. Instead of a planned 3.1% increase in the value of benefits in April, it said payments needed to rise by about 6% to protect the poorest in society from high inflation hurting their finances.

Whilst this Council is committed to doing what we can to address poverty and the financial hardship being faced by our residents, we urgently need the government to step in and provide an adequate response to rising living costs and growing levels of poverty.

This Council calls on the government to:

-       Introduce a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. The revenue raised should be used to support families with soaring energy prices and remove VAT on domestic energy bills for a minimum of 12 months.

-       Reverse the £20 per week cut to Universal Credit.

-       Increase benefits by more than planned in order to reflect the rising living costs facing low income families and make a long-term commitment to ensuring the benefits system provides both working and non-working households with a decent standard of living.

-       Provide long-term dedicated funding to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 63.

It was moved and seconded that:

“Households across the UK, including here in Trafford, are having to cope with major increases in the cost of living. These rises are affecting essential, unavoidable costs such as food prices and energy bills. Domestic energy bills are expected to increase further in the spring, by as much as 50%. Food costs are already rising by 10% per year. 

When essential items increase it is those households on low and modest incomes who face the greatest burden as they have very little scope to absorb higher prices. This means already limited budgets are stretched even further.

Despite full awareness of this, the government has chosen to reduce the amount of support it provides to low income working and non-working households over the last 6 months through the £20 a week cut to Universal Credit.

This increase in the cost of living is happening in the context of an eleven year period during which working age benefits have been cut and wages have stagnated in a number of sectors. Household will face a further hit when National Insurance contribution go up in April.

The Government’s response to this situation has been piecemeal and poorly targeted. One off and temporary support, such as the hardship grants provided to low income families during the pandemic, do not represent an adequate response to the financial challenges facing many of our residents. Councils have been left high and dry by the government, without adequate long-term funding or long-term support to support residents facing financial hardship through things like local welfare assistance schemes, such as Trafford Assist.

The financial pressure facing many families could not be more acute and the situation shows little sign of easing. The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies has said that the government’s current approach to support households on low incomes is inadequate and has said £3 billion needs pumping into the welfare system in response to soaring energy bills and mounting inflationary pressure. Instead of a planned 3.1% increase in the value of benefits in April, it said payments needed to rise by about 6% to protect the poorest in society from high inflation hurting their finances.

Whilst this Council is committed to doing what we can to address poverty and the financial hardship being faced by our residents, we urgently need the government to step in and provide an adequate response to rising living costs and growing levels of poverty.

This Council calls on the government to:

-       Introduce a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. The revenue raised should be used to support families with soaring energy prices and remove VAT on domestic energy bills for a minimum of 12 months.

-       Reverse the £20 per week cut to Universal Credit.

-       Increase benefits by more than planned in order to reflect the rising living costs facing low income families and make a long-term commitment to ensuring the benefits system provides both working and non-working households with a decent standard  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

This Council notes:

1.     Trafford has an extensive and varied network of parks and greenspaces that are highly valued by the residents they serve, often receiving recognition beyond the borough.

2.     Assets in every sense of the word our parks and greenspaces have for many generations played a significant role in the lives of Trafford residents. The value of our parks and greenspaces was most recently highlighted during Covid lockdowns when they provided a haven in all our neighbourhoods for play, walking, exercising, and a place to clear your mind and relax.

3.     The physical nature of our parks is changing as we recognise their role in promoting biodiversity and respond to climate change.

4.     The long-term financial pressures faced by the Council impacts on the ability to invest in our parks and greenspaces, while the use of our parks is increasing we can see the decline of our parks and greenspace infrastructure.

This Council believes:

5.     Our parks and greenspaces should be safe, inclusive spaces that welcome residents of all backgrounds, ages and abilities.

6.     Parks and greenspaces play a key role in promoting good physical and mental health and wellbeing. They are places where residents can interact socially, reducing isolation for both young and old. Our parks and greenspaces are free to access, providing spaces to exercise formally and informally supporting our ambitions to get everyone moving more each day.

7.     We have demonstrated our commitment to protecting greenspaces through our applications for Fields in Trust status for the former William Wroe site, Turn Moss and Crossford Bridge

8.     For many of our residents living in urban areas our parks and greenspaces provide a unique opportunity to interact with wildlife, for example a key milestone for many is the simple act of feeding the ducks in the park. Our parks and greenspaces are key areas where we can promote biodiversity - seen within our development of ‘long grass regimes’ providing support to wildlife, our promotion of wild flower meadows and the ending of the use of glyphosates in parks.

9.     Our parks have a role in our response to climate change, as our weather gets more unpredictable our parks offer spaces where flood and heavy rainfall can be held to support our urban drainage systems.

10.   It’s important to continue to support our amazing network of Friends of Parks volunteers. We do this through the Friends of Park forum, through the provision of grants, for example since 2019 we have awarded 28 Inclusive Neighbourhood Grants to our Friends of Parks and through advice and support from Council and One Trafford Green Space Officers.

11.   We must continue to work in partnership with external funders and developers where possible to secure additional monies and expertise to develop our parks and greenspaces. Applying for any funding sources applicable to council parks and greenspaces.

12.   We must be open about the financial challenges facing the Council and the impact this has on the levels of investment into parks since 2010. Huge  ...  view the full agenda text for item 64.

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council notes:

1.     Trafford has an extensive and varied network of parks and greenspaces that are highly valued by the residents they serve, often receiving recognition beyond the borough.

2.     Assets in every sense of the word our parks and greenspaces have for many generations played a significant role in the lives of Trafford residents. The value of our parks and greenspaces was most recently highlighted during Covid lockdowns when they provided a haven in all our neighbourhoods for play, walking, exercising, and a place to clear your mind and relax.

3.     The physical nature of our parks is changing as we recognise their role in promoting biodiversity and respond to climate change.

4.     The long-term financial pressures faced by the Council impacts on the ability to invest in our parks and greenspaces, while the use of our parks is increasing we can see the decline of our parks and greenspace infrastructure.

This Council believes:

5.     Our parks and greenspaces should be safe, inclusive spaces that welcome residents of all backgrounds, ages and abilities.

6.     Parks and greenspaces play a key role in promoting good physical and mental health and wellbeing. They are places where residents can interact socially, reducing isolation for both young and old. Our parks and greenspaces are free to access, providing spaces to exercise formally and informally supporting our ambitions to get everyone moving more each day.

7.     We have demonstrated our commitment to protecting greenspaces through our applications for Fields in Trust status for the former William Wroe site, Turn Moss and Crossford Bridge

8.     For many of our residents living in urban areas our parks and greenspaces provide a unique opportunity to interact with wildlife, for example a key milestone for many is the simple act of feeding the ducks in the park. Our parks and greenspaces are key areas where we can promote biodiversity - seen within our development of ‘long grass regimes’ providing support to wildlife, our promotion of wild flower meadows and the ending of the use of glyphosates in parks.

9.     Our parks have a role in our response to climate change, as our weather gets more unpredictable our parks offer spaces where flood and heavy rainfall can be held to support our urban drainage systems.

10.   It’s important to continue to support our amazing network of Friends of Parks volunteers. We do this through the Friends of Park forum, through the provision of grants, for example since 2019 we have awarded 28 Inclusive Neighbourhood Grants to our Friends of Parks and through advice and support from Council and One Trafford Green Space Officers.

11.   We must continue to work in partnership with external funders and developers where possible to secure additional monies and expertise to develop our parks and greenspaces. Applying for any funding sources applicable to council parks and greenspaces.

12.   We must be open about the financial challenges facing the Council and the impact this has on the levels  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

Council notes that poor air quality in Greater Manchester is contributing to the deaths of 1200 people a year in the City Region. Council further notes that – following the loss of a legal case in 2015 – Government has instructed a number of authorities including Trafford to act to improve air quality. We recognise that this is a concerning public health issue and that action is required to protect the health of local residents.

As a result of this, and following extensive modelling work to develop an approach that would achieve compliant levels of nitrogen dioxide emissions locally, the 10 authorities of Greater Manchester are under a Ministerial Direction from the Secretary of State to introduce a CAZ C Clean Air Zone across the 10 districts including Trafford. This means that Trafford must implement the Zone unless the Secretary of State resolves otherwise, and that in accordance with section 9 of the Ministerial Direction no deviation can be made to the parameters of this Zone unless made by the Secretary of State.

Council is aware that the 10 Greater Manchester councils commissioned work through Transport for Greater Manchester late last year to look at issues in the global supply chain that have become clear in recent months. Particular challenges arising from the pandemic have impacted on the supply of new vehicles, with for example harsher lockdowns in a number of countries having a significant impact on the manufacturing sector. This has necessarily impacted on the price of compliant second hand vehicles, with price increases of as much as 60% as a result.

Council is fearful that these supply chain issues could result in the owners of LGVs and Hackney Carriages being unable to transition their fleet, and consequently in the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester being potentially unable to achieve compliance with their Ministerial Direction. This Direction requires Trafford to achieve legal levels in terms of nitrogen dioxide in the shortest time possible and by 2024 at the latest.

It is clear therefore that an urgent review of policy is required to enable Trafford and the other 9 boroughs to have confidence in their ability to meet their legal requirements.

In light of this Council resolves that:

-       The Secretary of State should accede to Greater Manchester’s request and authorise a pause to the opening of the LGV, taxi and Private Hire Vehicles Financial Support Fund scheduled for the end of this month.

-       The Secretary of State should undertake an urgent policy review supported by Greater Manchester leaders and officials to ensure that any scheme that comes forward provides sufficient financial support to those LGV, taxi and Private Hire Vehicle drivers who need to transition to compliant vehicles.

-       The Secretary of State must ensure that this review fully reflects the more challenging market conditions that Greater Manchester has identified and accordingly ensure that sufficient funding is available for Trafford businesses and residents to upgrade their vehicles.

Council believes that the above measures are critical in order to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 65.

It was moved and seconded that:

“Council notes that poor air quality in Greater Manchester is contributing to the deaths of 1200 people a year in the City Region. Council further notes that – following the loss of a legal case in 2015 – Government has instructed a number of authorities including Trafford to act to improve air quality. We recognise that this is a concerning public health issue and that action is required to protect the health of local residents.

As a result of this, and following extensive modelling work to develop an approach that would achieve compliant levels of nitrogen dioxide emissions locally, the 10 authorities of Greater Manchester are under a Ministerial Direction from the Secretary of State to introduce a CAZ C Clean Air Zone across the 10 districts including Trafford. This means that Trafford must implement the Zone unless the Secretary of State resolves otherwise, and that in accordance with section 9 of the Ministerial Direction no deviation can be made to the parameters of this Zone unless made by the Secretary of State.

Council is aware that the 10 Greater Manchester councils commissioned work through Transport for Greater Manchester late last year to look at issues in the global supply chain that have become clear in recent months. Particular challenges arising from the pandemic have impacted on the supply of new vehicles, with for example harsher lockdowns in a number of countries having a significant impact on the manufacturing sector. This has necessarily impacted on the price of compliant second hand vehicles, with price increases of as much as 60% as a result.

Council is fearful that these supply chain issues could result in the owners of LGVs and Hackney Carriages being unable to transition their fleet, and consequently in the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester being potentially unable to achieve compliance with their Ministerial Direction. This Direction requires Trafford to achieve legal levels in terms of nitrogen dioxide in the shortest time possible and by 2024 at the latest.

It is clear therefore that an urgent review of policy is required to enable Trafford and the other 9 boroughs to have confidence in their ability to meet their legal requirements.

In light of this Council resolves that:

-     The Secretary of State should accede to Greater Manchester’s request and authorise a pause to the opening of the LGV, taxi and Private Hire Vehicles Financial Support Fund scheduled for the end of this month.

-     The Secretary of State should undertake an urgent policy review supported by Greater Manchester leaders and officials to ensure that any scheme that comes forward provides sufficient financial support to those LGV, taxi and Private Hire Vehicle drivers who need to transition to compliant vehicles.

-     The Secretary of State must ensure that this review fully reflects the more challenging market conditions that Greater Manchester has identified and accordingly ensure that sufficient funding is available for Trafford businesses and residents to upgrade their vehicles.

Council believes that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

This Council is deeply concerned that the Greater Manchester Clean Air Final Plan report, presented to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), on 25 June 2021 by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) was misleading.

This has led to a situation where Greater Manchester (GM) Districts are in the process of implementing a plan that it is acknowledged cannot, at present, achieve its stated aims.

The Council Notes:

-         The Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is 493sqm which includes every district in GM.

-         TfGM in July 2021 stated a database sourced from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) estimated that approximately at present 90% of non-compliant LGV’s in Greater Manchester, are not retrofittable.

-         TfGM estimates that in 2023 there will be 75,000 non-compliant LGV’s based in GM out of a total fleet of 136,000 LGV’s.

-         The Greater Manchester Clean Air Final Plan report was approved by all GM districts and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to support the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s plan for Clean Air during July 2021.

-         The Greater Manchester Clean Air Final Plan impacts tens of thousands of small businesses and charities within GM in addition to thousands who are based outside of the GM region but operate within the GM region contributing to the £62 billion economy.

-         The 9 GM Conservative MPs wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs urging a delay to the rollout of the CAZ for further consultation.

The Council resolves:

-         That the Chief Executive of the Council to write to the GMCA Chief Executive requesting that a joint scrutiny committee be established to initiate an independent investigation into GM Clean Air Final Plan.

-         That the findings of the investigation must be scrutinised by the newly formed GMCA Committee prior to recommendations being submitted to the GMCA and GM districts.

-         That each of the GM districts will review the findings of the report via their internal scrutiny mechanisms i.e. Executive/Cabinet, Council and the relevant scrutiny panels.

-         To call on the Mayor of Greater Manchester, the GM Districts and GMCA to do whatever necessary to suspend the rollout of the GM Clean Air Final Plan to enable a full investigation to take place to address the issues identified above.

(Note: Following determination of the preceding matter (Minute No. 65 refers), the Mayor advised that, in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.3, as the Motion also concerned the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone it now would not be able to be put as it would have the effect of negating a decision made at a meeting of Council within the preceding six months.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 13.5 it was moved and seconded as an alternation to the Motion for which notice had been given that:

“This Council is deeply concerned that the Greater Manchester Clean Air Final Plan report, presented to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), on 25 June 2021 by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) was misleading.

This has led to a situation where Greater Manchester (GM) Districts are in the process of implementing a plan that it is acknowledged cannot, at present, achieve its stated aims.

The Council Notes:

-         The Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is 493sqm which includes every district in GM.

-         TfGM in July 2021 stated a database sourced from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) estimated that approximately at present 90% of non-compliant LGV’s in Greater Manchester, are not retrofittable.

-         TfGM estimates that in 2023 there will be 75,000 non-compliant LGV’s based in GM out of a total fleet of 136,000 LGV’s.

-         The Greater Manchester Clean Air Final Plan report was approved by all GM districts and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to support the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s plan for Clean Air during July 2021.

-         The Greater Manchester Clean Air Final Plan impacts tens of thousands of small businesses and charities within GM in addition to thousands who are based outside of the GM region but operate within the GM region contributing to the £62 billion economy.

-         The 9 GM Conservative MPs wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs urging a delay to the rollout of the CAZ for further consultation.

The Council resolves:

-         That the Chief Executive of the Council to write to the GMCA Chief Executive requesting that a joint scrutiny committee be established to initiate an independent investigation into GM Clean Air Final Plan.

-         That the findings of the investigation must be scrutinised by the newly formed GMCA Committee prior to recommendations being submitted to the GMCA and GM districts.

-         That each of the GM districts will review the findings of the report via their internal scrutiny mechanisms i.e. Executive/Cabinet, Council and the relevant scrutiny panels.

-         To call on the Mayor of Greater Manchester, the GM Districts and GMCA to do whatever necessary to suspend the rollout of the GM Clean Air Final Plan to enable a full investigation to take place to address the issues identified above.”

(Note: In accordance with Procedure Rule 9, the time being 9.25 p.m. and without the Council’s consent to the Motion, as altered, the Mayor proposed that the meeting now be adjourned.)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.