Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        Any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        Any prejudicial interests or

·        Any disclosable pecuniary interests

Which they may have in respect of the business on the agenda.

Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests which they might have had in the respect of the business on the agenda.

None were declared.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda can do so. Any one who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of the agenda. The deadline for registering is Tuesday 17 November 2015 at 5.00 pm.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting will be filmed and webcast and that

includes any registered public speakers, who have given their

permission. This broadcast can be viewed at:

http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors

and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This

includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting. Anyone

wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting

should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are

at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of

Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a

manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all

those present.

It can be viewed at: https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file

/6453/protocol_for_webcasting_filming

_and_recording_council_meetingspdf

It was noted that there had been two registered speakers under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Councillor Looker spoke on the Adoption of York’s Third Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP3). Broadly speaking, she welcomed the report and plan but was concerned to ensure regular monitoring, targets and delivery dates were built in. There was also a need for investment in cleaner buses and taxis and she felt this should be detailed in the plan. There was also a need to see a business plan for the proposed transhipment centre.

Councillor Levene spoke in his role as the Chair of Corporate and Scrutiny Management Policy and Scrutiny Committee and specifically in relation to the process. He applauded the Executive for implementing a new process to scrutinise decision making early. However, he felt that it was potentially unreasonable for Executive Members to take on board comments at a call in meeting and act on them immediately afterwards, without sufficient time to reflect on comments raised. He appreciated that there would be opportunities to review the process and guidelines agreed in the future, in light of practical experience.

To consider the pre-decision call-in of the above item from the Council’s Forward Plan by Councillors D’Agorne, Kramm and Craghill in accordance with the Council’ new pre-decision call-in arrangements.

A cover report is attached which sets out the reasons for the pre-decision call-in and the role of and options available to this Committee.

Following consideration of the Officer’s report, reasons for call-in and the comments made the Executive Member for the Environment will be invited to make a decision on the issue at the Decision Session following the close of this meeting. 

Members received a report to consider a decision which would be made by the Executive Member for Environment on the Third Air Quality Action Plan.

The decision had been called in for pre-scrutiny by Councillors D’Agorne, Kramm and Craghill for the following reason;

“The bad air quality in York is one of the major health risks for residents particularly in the city centre area. Actions are needed that can deliver fast and sufficient relief for people affected. After an intense consultation for the AQAP3 it would be beneficial for the process if councillors can have an early opportunity to value and analyse the data from a political and ward-orientated perspective and assist officers in the wording of the recommendation of the Action Plan for execution”

Councillor Kramm, as one of the Calling In Members spoke to the Committee and expanded on the reasons for why they had called in the decision before it was due to be made. He stated that;

·        The Air Quality in the centre of York was bad and it was the worst in the wards which were represented by the calling in Members. But it also affected those along the transport routes into the city such as Clifton and Holgate.

·        The AQAP3 was not ambitious enough.

·        Anti idling policies should be included in all CYC transport contracts

·        There should be limited access for all diesel vehicles for six years.

·        All measures should have a clear time frame.

·        There should be an advisory board of Councillors to monitor the progress and delivery of the Air Quality Action Plan.

The Executive Member in response stated that Councillor Kramm’s comments were constructive but that as the topic was so wide ranging he would make the decision at a Decision Session to be held in December. This would then allow for a detailed plan with a timetable to be formulated.

Councillor D’Agorne, who had circulated a paper with his comments at the meeting, spoke about the significance of the issue in terms of the health of the population not just in the city centre but also nationally, as he explained that the government were overdue in meeting a European Union legal requirement on Nitrogen Dioxide set in 2010. He felt that air quality was something that needed to be right and that if there were opportunities to make improvements then they should be taken. In regards to anti idling he made reference to a Council study which identified that bus operators could save money if they enforced an anti idling policy which would improve air quality in certain areas. He felt signage and by laws would help to enforce the anti idling measures.

Officers explained that the Clean Air Zone and the Air Quality Action Plan were subject to affordability. However, the Council did not have the financial means to impose costs.

Discussion took place during which comments on anti idling, delivery dates on the transhipment depot, green infrastructure, scrutiny of certain access routes into the city centre  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.