Issue - meetings

This report presents a draft framework for the York Low Emission Strategy to be taken forward for public consultation in 2011, including an outline of the proposed measures and actions and suggested timescales for their implementation.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the consequences of European legislation, which has had the unintended consequence of increasing nitrogen oxide emissions due to a greater emphasis on reducing carbon emissions, be noted and that Officers be requested to write to York’s MEPs to request their help in changing this situation for the benefit of air quality in York.

REASON:      To help bring about further improvements to the City’s air quality.

(ii) That the outline framework, vision, objectives and proposed LES measures detailed in paragraphs 14 to 18 of, and Annex D to, the report be approved, and that Officers be permitted to proceed directly to the development of a draft consultation LES.

REASON:      To enable the draft consultation LES to be drawn up in line with the timetable set out by the LESP RGi, to allow LES measures to be incorporated adequately into LTP3 and AQAP3 and to maximise the chances of York attracting low emission vehicles, technologies and jobs to the City.

Members considered a report which presented a draft framework for the York Low Emission Strategy (LES), including an outline of the proposed measures and actions and suggested timescales for their implementation, together with proposals for further public consultation.

On 8 June 2010, the Executive had approved the development of an overarching LES, aimed at ensuring a more holistic approach to reducing local and global air pollutants, minimising transport-related emissions from future developments and taking maximum economic advantage of the early adoption of low emission technology.  The York LES would also be a key output from the Leeds City Regional Group initiative (RGi), to be developed into a national framework for adoption by other local authorities. 

In drawing up the draft framework, consideration had been given to existing policies and programmes aimed at improving local air quality and / or reducing carbon emissions.  These included the Sustainable Community Strategy, the Carbon Management Programme, the Local Transport Plan and Air Quality Action Plan, projects within the Local Sustainable Transport Fund bid, and the Local Development Framework.  Proposed measures for inclusion in the LES, with an indication of the likely costs of each measure, were set out in Annex D to the report.  It was proposed that a consultation draft be prepared at the end of June 2011, with a view to adopting a final LES by the end of October.

Having noted the comments of the Labour Group Spokespersons on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the consequences of European legislation, which has had the unintended consequence of increasing nitrogen oxide emissions due to a greater emphasis on reducing carbon emissions, be noted and that Officers be requested to write to York’s MEPs to request their help in changing this situation for the benefit of air quality in York.¹

REASON:      To help bring about further improvements to the City’s air quality.

(ii) That the outline framework, vision, objectives and proposed LES measures detailed in paragraphs 14 to 18 of, and Annex D to, the report be approved, and that Officers be permitted to proceed directly to the development of a draft consultation LES.²

REASON:      To enable the draft consultation LES to be drawn up in line with the timetable set out by the LESP RGi, to allow LES measures to be incorporated adequately into LTP3 and AQAP3 and to maximise the chances of York attracting low emission vehicles, technologies and jobs to the City.