Issue - meetings

Purpose.

Central Government has imposed a Ministerial Direction on the City Council to deliver a Class B charging CAZ (and other measures) to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide to comply with at least the legal limit value in the shortest possible time.

This report provides an overview of the results of the recent on the operation of the charging Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Portsmouth. This report discusses the results relating to sunset and exemption periods for non-compliant vehicles driving in the zone.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet:

1.    Approve a sunset period of 6 months for non-compliant wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. The owner/operator of this vehicle will be required to apply for the sunset period, and provide proof of intent to reach compliance. 

2.    Approve a sunset period of two years for non-compliant vehicles providing community transport and school transport. The owner/operator of this vehicle will be required to apply for the sunset period, and provide proof of providing these types of services, such as a contract.

3.    Approve an exemption for the lifetime of the Clean Air Zone for emergency service vehicles. The owner/operator of this vehicle will be required to apply for the exemption.

4.    Approve an exemption for the lifetime of the Clean Air Zone for specialist heavy vehicles, on a case-by-case basis. Operators/owners will need to apply for this exemption. Operators/owners will need to provide proof that their vehicle is unsuitable for retrofitting or details regarding their circumstances for purchasing a replacement vehicle.

5.    Approve an exemption for ten days of the calendar year for non-commercial vintage buses for the lifetime of the Clean Air Zone. These vehicles would be required to apply for the exemption.

The report will follow.

DECISION

1.    Authorised Councillor Dave Ashmore, Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change, Councillor Lynne Stagg, Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation and the Leader of the City Council to consider implementing a sunset period for non-compliant wheelchair accessible vehicle Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles once they had been able to meet with the Portsmouth Disability Forum.

2.    Approved a sunset period of two years for non-compliant vehicles providing community transport and school transport. The owner/operator of this vehicle will be required to apply for the sunset period, and provide proof of providing these types of services, such as a contract.

3.    Approved an exemption for the lifetime of the Clean Air Zone for emergency service vehicles. The owner/operator of this vehicle will be required to apply for the exemption.

4.    Approved an exemption for the lifetime of the Clean Air Zone for specialist heavy vehicles, on a case-by-case basis. Operators/owners will need to apply for this exemption. Operators/owners will need to provide proof that their vehicle is unsuitable for retrofitting or details regarding their circumstances for purchasing a replacement vehicle.

5.    Approved an exemption for ten days of the calendar year for non-commercial vintage buses for the lifetime of the Clean Air Zone. These vehicles would be required to apply for the exemption.

6.    Confirmed that the hours of operation will remain at 24 hours a day.

7.    Delegated Authority to the Cabinet Members for Environment & Climate Change and Traffic & Transport, in conjunction with the Section 151 Officer, to approve submission of the Local Air Quality Full Business Case to central government.