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.)

RESOLVED: That the meeting be adjourned and this matter be considered further at the next meeting of the Council on 16 February 2022.