Issue - meetings

This report presents the draft Low Emission Strategy (LES) consultation document.  The Cabinet is asked to note the content of the document and approve it for public consultation.

RESOLVED:             That Cabinet agree

i)              Option(a) to approve the content of the draft consultation Low Emission Strategy as summarised in Annex A (executive summary) and Annex B (summary of LES measures) of the report, and provided in detail within the full version of the draft LES circulated electronically with the report.

ii)             To allow officers to proceed directly to public consultation as detailed in paragraphs 20 to 25 of the report. 

REASON:                  To allow public consultation on the draft consultation LES to be completed by the end of May 2012 allowing a final version of the LES to be brought to the Cabinet for approval in September 2012.  This will allow the drawing up of a revised low emission based AQAP3 to commence as soon as possible maximising the chances of York attracting low emission vehicles, technologies and jobs to the city and achieving targets for both local air quality and CO₂.

Consideration was given to the draft Low Emission Strategy (LES) consultation document set out at Annex A of the report. The document incorporated a package of measures aimed at improving vehicle efficiency and accelerating the take up of low emission fuels and technologies.

This provided an overview of all the actions the authority were currently and intended to take to reduce emissions of local air pollutants and carbon dioxide in the city. The report highlighted the link between nitrogen dioxide, mainly a traffic pollutant, and respiratory illnesses which resulted in a high number premature deaths in the city. Further information on the proposed consultation and how the strategy would contribute to the council’s priorities were outlined in the report.

The Cabinet Member outlined the background to the strategy and to the importance of reversing the trend, particularly in view of the related health issues.

Consideration was then given to the following options:

(a) To approve the content of the draft consultation LES as summarised in Annex A (executive summary), Annex B (summary of LES measures) of this report, and provided in detail within the full version of the draft LES circulated electronically with this report. To allow officers to proceed directly to the public consultation as detailed in paragraphs 20 to 25 of this report. 

(b) To request revisions to the draft consultation LES as summarised in Annex A (executive summary), Annex B (summary of LES measures) of the report, and provided in detail within the full version of the draft LES circulated electronically with this report. To request officers to bring the revised LES to the Cabinet, prior to public consultation.

RESOLVED:             That Cabinet agree

i)              Option(a) to approve the content of the draft consultation Low Emission Strategy as summarised in Annex A (executive summary) and Annex B (summary of LES measures) of the report, and provided in detail within the full version of the draft LES circulated electronically with the report.

ii)             To allow officers to proceed directly to public consultation as detailed in paragraphs 20 to 25 of the report.  ^1.

REASON:                To allow public consultation on the draft consultation LES to be completed by the end of May 2012 allowing a final version of the LES to be brought to the Cabinet for approval in September 2012.  This will allow the drawing up of a revised low emission based AQAP3 to commence as soon as possible maximising the chances of York attracting low emission vehicles, technologies and jobs to the city and achieving targets for both local air quality and CO₂.