Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Johnson, and O'Rourke and Wright.  Councillor Thomas substituted for Councillor O’Rourke.

To note any declarations of interest from the Councillors.  They are asked to indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declarations of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

There were no declarations of interest.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item

Any member of the public or Councillor may participate in Public Forum.  The detailed arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda.  Public Forum items should be emailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk and please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:-

Questions - Written questions must be received 3 clear working days prior to the meeting.  For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received in this office at the latest by 5 pm on Thursday 24th October 19. However, if your question relates to the Improving Public Health Clean Air Plan Cabinet report, which will form the substantive item on this agenda, the Chair will accept your question up until midday on Wednesday 30th October 19 and it will be circulated to the Board for information purposes.  The question will then be referred to the Cabinet meeting on 5th November 19 for reply.  

Petitions and Statements - Petitions and statements must be received on the working day prior to the meeting.  For this meeting this means that your submission must be received in this office at the latest by 12.00 noon on Tuesday 29th October 19.  However, if your statement relates to the Improving Public Health Clean Air Plan Cabinet report, which will form the substantive item on this agenda, the Chair will accept your statement up until midday on Wednesday 30^th October 19. 

The following public forum was received and a copy placed in the minute book.

Following a supplementary question from Suzanne Audrey in relation to the late circulation of the papers for the meeting, Members noted that Officers had been working to tight deadlines to prepare the documentation, however, a number of measures had been put in place by way of mitigation, including two briefing sessions for Members and an extension to the usual public forum deadlines.

The Clean Air Plan report can be viewed with the Cabinet papers for the meeting on 5^th November 19 which can be viewed here;

https://democracy.bristol.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=135&MId=3689

Officers introduced the item by providing a presentation (see Appendix A), and circulating a revised copy of the Clean Air Zone map (see Appendix B).  During the ensuing discussion the following information was provided by Officers by way of clarification;

• The Clean Air Plan scheme would be implemented by March 2021.
• The proposed Clean Air Plan included a Clean Air Zone (CAZ C) which would apply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all vehicles except private cars.  Fees for HGVs, coaches and buses would be £100 per day, with other vehicles (e.g. taxis and Light Goods Vehicles) charged at £9 per day.  The proposed scheme was a hybrid combining these two schemes i.e. CAZ C and a diesel vehicle ban.
• The private vehicle diesel car ban (including all categories of diesel vehicle such as those that were ‘Euro 6’) would be implemented for parts of the city centre and harbourside and would apply to all vehicles from 8am to 3pm, 7 days a week.  It should be noted that the CAZ scheme must meet various legal tests in terms of proportionality and deliverability so a total car ban would not be accepted by the Government.
• A small number of schemes would be rolled out to assist with the introduction of the CAZ including a Park and Ride facility on the M32 and bus priority measures on Cumberland Road.
• Modelling indicated there were nine key sites in the city that were the most problematic in terms of meeting the Government’s air quality standards.   Marlborough Street was the worst affected due to narrow roads, tall buildings, heavy traffic and the overall road network around the city.
• The figures used to inform the modelling were based on traffic samples taken in ‘neutral’ months such as November, as defined by the Department for Transport.
• The preferred hybrid model was predicted to reach clean air compliance in 2027, which was the earliest date of the options considered.  When the Full Business Case for the CAZ was prepared, more detailed modelling for specific years would be conducted which may result in earlier compliance.
• Once the measures relating to the Clean Air Plan had been announced it was anticipated that people would start to change their behaviour by replacing vehicles with those that were more efficient or using more sustainable methods of transport.  This could lead to earlier improvements in air quality.
• Engagement with key stakeholders and businesses had been a major element of the project and would continue to be an important element of the development of the Full Business Case.  The purpose of this would be to identify the most appropriate use of exemptions, concessions and other mitigations to help stakeholders and businesses in relation to the implementation of the hybrid option.
• Details of the vehicle scrappage scheme were being prepared but it was estimated that up to £2k would be available for qualifying residents, with those on low incomes likely to be prioritised.  The Council would need to submit a bid  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.