Agenda item

Joint report of the Director of the Built Environment and the Chamberlain.

The Committee received a joint report of the Director of the Built Environment and the Chamberlain setting out an ambitious yet practical policy, which requires departments to opt for the cleanest possible vehicle or other solution, in line with operational need, technology availability and best value. It proposes this policy be implemented consistently and rigorously through enhanced governance by the Transport Coordination Group (TCG).

The Chamberlain introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the key points. The Committee was advised that the recommendations had been endorsed by the Policy & Resources Committee at its meeting on 21 February 2019, and consequently a funding report would be submitted to the Finance Committee. There were 34 Corporate or VIP/Mayoral vehicles that were non-compliant with ULEZ (Ultra-Low Emission Zone) rules, and these would be replaced or retrofitted as part of the transition.

A Member queried why Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) was not an option in the hierarchy of desirability, as it was widely recognised elsewhere and had shown to be less polluting than petrol. LPG could fit in as at least the third option, and also did not have the same issue of electric vehicles such as infrastructure.

A Member added that this was a small step, and that the City of London Corporation should start to focus more on tackling polluting vehicles in the Square Mile as a whole. As this would be a long process, the sooner it started the better. A Member added that deliveries would need to be ringfenced as the City of London would still require servicing, and deliveries often came from further afield. The Chairman referred Members to the Transport Strategy which would pick up issues such as these.

A Member added that the proposals were in tune with the Transport Strategy, but stressed that the costs of decommissioning electric vehicles needed to be taken into account when installing the infrastructure for electric vehicles. The Member also suggested considering leasing vehicles rather than purchasing them which provided more future-proofing. A Member responded that there was a risk in reliance on leasing as it could be expensive to buy out existing leases. However, it was important that the City of London Corporation devised appropriate exit routes for when technology became obsolete.

A Member stressed that the Transport Strategy was an opportunity to go beyond and that the City of London Corporation should still consider a City-specific scheme with a focus on the most residential areas.

The Chamberlain responded to a number of points raised by Members. The Department of the Built Environment had led on trials, and having selected the cleanest models available. LPG had not been considered a sufficiently suitable or viable option. The intention was to sell one of the historic Rolls Royces and electrify the remaining two. The current intention was to retain the current chassis, including the number plates. The 2019 ULEZ scheme had been brought forward from October 2020, and would cover the Central Charging Zone, which included the City of London.

As the perfect technology was not currently forthcoming, the proposal was to procure the best technology available currently, and once this had become redundant would be swapped for any new technology at that time. Every vehicle would be decided on a case-by-case basis with the challenge of securing value for money.

RESOLVED – That the Planning & Transportation Committee:

a) Note the new policy which requires departments to apply the following priority order to decision-making, when an existing vehicle is non-compliant with air quality regulations or comes to the operational end of life:

1.      not replace the vehicle and cover operational requirements with other available vehicles

2.      swap the vehicle with a low emission equivalent currently being used outside the ULEZ 2019 Central Charging Zone (Square Mile)

3.      replace or retrofit the vehicle with the cleanest possible alternative that:

a)         meets operational need

b)         applies the following hierarchy: 

                          i.    Full electric

                         ii.    Plug-in hybrid

                        iii.    Petrol hybrid (regenerative braking)

                        iv.    Petrol

                         v.    (Euro 6/ VI) Diesel

c)         utilises sufficiently reliable technology and

d)         constitutes best value for money within the vehicle class.

At this point, the Chairman sought approval from Committee Members to continue the meeting beyond two hours from the appointed time for the start of the meeting, in accordance with Standing Order 40, and this was agreed.