Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval for the development of an overarching low emission strategy for York and provides an update on the successful joint bid with Leeds City Council to become ‘Regional Low Emission Champions’.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the development of an overarching Low Emissions Strategy for York be supported and that the award to York and Leeds of the regional low emission championship be noted.

REASON:      To accelerate the uptake of low emission measures in the City, helping to improve local air quality, protect health and reduce damage to historic buildings, as well as allowing a more co-ordinated approach to local air quality management and carbon reduction and enabling York to become the UK’s first low emission city.

                        (ii)        That the Air Quality Steering Group be requested in future to report on their activities via the Carbon Management Board, which should be re-named and take on a broader remit.

REASON:      In order to integrate the work of these two bodies and prevent any conflict between the Council’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the apparent increase in nitrogen dioxide levels.

Members considered a report which sought approval to develop an overarching low emission strategy (LES) for York and provided an update on the successful joint bid with Leeds City Council to become ‘Regional Low Emission Champions’.

Local air quality and greenhouse gas reduction were currently dealt with as separate issues in York, resulting in some conflicting policies.  An overarching strategy would address these conflicts and strengthen the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP), which at present was failing to deliver the necessary air quality improvements.  It would also allow the development of emission-based policies for the procurement of goods and services and the management of the Council’s buildings and vehicle fleet.

In January 2010, York and Leeds had successfully bid to become one of three Regional Low Emission Champions under the government-funded LES Partnership.  As such, they would be expected to roll out low emission measures within their own areas and encourage other local authorities to do the same.  Development of an exemplar overarching LES in York was one of the key aims of the Leeds City Region grouping.

In response to questions from Members, Officers confirmed that the air quality work carried out in York had been cited by government as an example of best practice.  Having noted the comments of the Labour Group spokespersons on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the development of an overarching Low Emissions Strategy for York be supported and that the award to York and Leeds of the regional low emission championship be noted.¹

REASON:      To accelerate the uptake of low emission measures in the City, helping to improve local air quality, protect health and reduce damage to historic buildings, as well as allowing a more co-ordinated approach to local air quality management and carbon reduction and enabling York to become the UK’s first low emission city.

                        (ii)        That the Low Emission Strategy Steering Group (formerly the Air Quality Steering Group) be requested in future to report on their activities via the Carbon Management Board, which should be re-named and take on a broader remit.²

REASON:      In order to integrate the work of these two bodies and prevent any conflict between the Council’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the apparent increase in nitrogen dioxide levels.