Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on air quality in York, following submission of the first Annual Status Report to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in June 2016.

Resolved: (i) That the report be noted.

(ii)That the progress which has been made on a switch   to low emission vehicles in the bus and taxi fleet and the positive impact that this will have in further improvements to the air quality in the city be noted.

                (iii) That Officers review proposals to ensure that the Council fully utilises all available legislation to exclude highly polluting vehicles regularly in the Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).

Reason:   To ensure that steps are taken to improve York’s air quality.

The Executive Member received a report on air quality in York, following submission of the first Annual Status Report to DEFRA in June 2016.

Officers outlined that 10% of the city’s taxi fleet was now low emission and that York had the country’s first low emission taxi licensing policy.

A number of written representations, which had been received, since the publication of the agenda, were read out by the Executive Member;

The first was from a member of the public who raised comments about the level of emissions from buses within the city centre and idling freight trains in the Holgate area. She was also concerned about noise pollution from particular bus engines, and requested that silencers be fitted to them.

The second was a response from First York which related to the anti idling measures that they had implemented.

The third written representation was from Councillor D’Agorne who commented on the absence of anti idling measures and the progress on the introduction of the Clean Air Zone and the Park and Ride contract. 

The Executive Member considered the Officer’s report and the comments raised by the written representations received. He welcomed the improvements that had been made and that some areas in the city could be removed from the Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) if they continued to operate at current levels but recognised that significant work still remained. In regards to lowering emissions from buses, during a recent meeting with Transdev, an agreement had been reached for a number of Coastliner tour buses to be converted to electric engines. Ten of the Coastliner buses would also move from Euro III to Euro IV engines from October.

In response to the written representation from Councillor D’Agorne, Officers reported that the Council needed to work with all operators in respect of the introduction of the Clean Air Zone. It was noted that a report on the procurement of the new Park and Ride contract would be considered at Executive in October.

The Executive Member was informed that:

·        The refuse fleet would be renewed in three years time and when determining the contract, Ultra Low Emission Vehicles would have to be considered as part of EU regulations.

·        Procurement of the school bus contract

·        The presentation of information about Air Quality on the Council’s website was under investigation.

·        The promotion of electrical charging points was included within the Council Plan.

Resolved: (i) That the report be noted.

(ii)That the progress which had been made on a switch   to low emission vehicles in the bus and taxi fleet and the positive impact that this will have in further improvements to the air quality in the city be noted.

                (iii) That Officers review proposals to ensure that the Council fully utilises all available legislation to exclude highly polluting vehicles regularly in the Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).

Reason:    To ensure that York’s air quality is improved.