To consider a report of the Leader of the Council.

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

2.     That the next steps for the development of the Clean Air Plan and Minimum Licensing Standards, listed at Section 12 of the report, be noted.

3.     That it be noted that the distribution of Bus Retrofit funding commenced in December 2020.

4.     That it be noted that Government ministers have agreed to consider extending Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges to the sections of the A628/A57 which form part of the Strategic Road Network, within the proposed CAZ boundary, subject to the outcomes of an assessment, which is expected to be completed by early 2021;

5.     That it be noted that the GM Clean Air Plan is required to take action tackle nitrogen dioxide exceedances until compliance with the legal limits has been demonstrated and that the nearer term influence of COVID-19 on air quality is not expected to lead to sufficiently long term reductions in pollution such that the exceedances of the legal limits of nitrogen dioxide will not occur without implementing a Clean Air Zone.

6.     That it be noted that the GM CAP final plan will be brought forward for decision makers as soon as is reasonably practicable and no later than summer 2021.

7.     That it be noted that the outputs of the MLS will be reported alongside the GM CAP as soon as is reasonably practicable and no later than summer 2021.

8.     That the establishment be agreed of joint committees for the purposes as set out in the report at paragraph 9.5 with specific terms of reference, as set out in Appendix 6.

9.     That the Executive Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services be appointed to sit on both committees for purposes as set out in the report at paragraph 9.5 with specific terms of reference, as set out in Appendix 6.

10.  That it be agreed to enter into a collaboration agreement with the other 9 GM local authorities and GMCA/TfGM to clarify the rights, responsibilities and obligations of the authorities in relation to those contracts set out in Appendix 2 to the report that are required to maintain delivery momentum in line with JAQU funding agreements.

11.  That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy, to agree the final form of the collaboration agreement.

12.  That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Place to approve the award of the contracts set out in Appendix 2 to the report (subject to government funding) that are required to implement a charging Clean Air Zone in Spring 2022 to ensure the achievement of Nitrogen Dioxide compliance in the shortest possible time and by 2024 at the latest as required by the Ministerial Direction.

13.  That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy to enter into the agreement and contracts referred to in 11. and 12 on the terms set out in the report.

The Leader of the Councilsubmitted a report which set out the progress made on the development of Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan (GM CAP) following a public consultation on proposals relating to the link to taxi and private hire common minimum licensing standards (MLS). Both GM CAP and MLS consultation responses were being analysed and reported on by an independent research agency. GM authorities would fully consider all of the information and evidence gathered, to understand the consequences COVID-19 had had on vehicle owners and trades which will be directly affected by the GM CAP and MLS. The report and appendices also set out the work TfGM was undertaking on behalf of the ten Greater Manchester Authorities in the preparatory implementation and contract arrangements required to deliver the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and other GM CAP measures. It also set out the governance approach to both GM CAP and MLS, with the GM CAP final plan to be brought forward for decision makers as soon as was reasonably practicable and no later than summer 2021, and the outputs of the MLS to be reported alongside the GM CAP at the same time.

In discussion of the rationale for proceeding with the plan, the Leader made reference to the expressed expectations of the Government, and also to the expected levels of exceedance across Greater Manchester, with associated implications for public health. It was noted that further information would be available, once the consultation outcomes were known, on timescales for the scrappage scheme; and also that the question had been raised with ministers of the impact of the strategic road network on local emission levels.

            RESOLVED -

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

2.    That the next steps for the development of the Clean Air Plan and Minimum Licensing Standards, listed at Section 12 of the report, be noted.

3.    That it be noted that the distribution of Bus Retrofit funding commenced in December 2020.

4.    That it be noted that Government ministers have agreed to consider extending Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges to the sections of the A628/A57 which form part of the Strategic Road Network, within the proposed CAZ boundary, subject to the outcomes of an assessment, which is expected to be completed by early 2021.

5.    That it be noted that the GM Clean Air Plan is required to take action tackle nitrogen dioxide exceedances until compliance with the legal limits has been demonstrated and that the nearer term influence of COVID-19 on air quality is not expected to lead to sufficiently long term reductions in pollution such that the exceedances of the legal limits of nitrogen dioxide will not occur without implementing a Clean Air Zone.

6.    That it be noted that the GM CAP final plan will be brought forward for decision makers as soon as is reasonably practicable and no later than summer 2021.

7.    That it be noted that the outputs of the MLS will be reported alongside the GM CAP as soon as is reasonably practicable and no later than summer 2021.

8.    That the establishment be agreed of joint committees for the purposes as set out in the report at paragraph 9.5 with specific terms of reference, as set out in Appendix 6.

9.    That the Executive Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services be appointed to sit on both committees for purposes as set out in the report at paragraph 9.5 with specific terms of reference, as set out in Appendix 6.

10. That it be agreed to enter into a collaboration agreement with the other 9 GM local authorities and GMCA/TfGM to clarify the rights, responsibilities and obligations of the authorities in relation to those contracts set out in Appendix 2 to the report that are required to maintain delivery momentum in line with JAQU funding agreements.

11. That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy, to agree the final form of the collaboration agreement.

12. That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Place to approve the award of the contracts set out in Appendix 2 to the report (subject to government funding) that are required to implement a charging Clean Air Zone in Spring 2022 to ensure the achievement of Nitrogen Dioxide compliance in the shortest possible time and by 2024 at the latest as required by the Ministerial Direction.

13. That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy to enter into the agreement and contracts referred to in 11. and 12 on the terms set out in the report.