Agenda item

Joint report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection and the City Remembrancer.

The Committee received a joint report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection and the Remembrancer providing an update on action taken since the approval given by the Port Health and Environmental Services and the Policy and Resources Committee to develop a Private Members bill to deal with emissions from combustion plant.

The Air Quality Manager reported that it was hoped that the proposals were such that they could be adopted by any London local authority. It was hoped that the Bill could be introduced in the next parliamentary session in September 2019.

A Member congratulated Officers on this piece of work but questioned whether the Air Quality Manager was content with the language used around this within the draft City Plan. The Air Quality Manager stated that she was pleased with the way that the draft City Plan was being developed on this point and also with the way that the London Plan addressed the matter.

Another Member echoed the congratulations offered to Officer but went on to question whether it demonstrated a lack of ambition to state that the limits imposed in respect of gas boilers, solid fuel burners and combined cooling heat & power plants would not affect existing installations. He pressed Officers as to why this was the case. The Air Quality Manger reported that this issue had been discussed at length with the Remembrancer who had cautioned that Officers should look to give the Bill as much opportunity as possible to be discussed and not risk it being pushed out on this one issue. She undertook to seek further feedback and clarification on this point.

The Chair agreed with the point made and asked that this Committee’s views on the matter be fed back to the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee underlining that they were of the view that aspirations here should be higher. He also questioned what powers the City Corporation might have to deal with the matter if the organisation were looking to lead the way on this.

Another Member referred to proposals to increase fines from £40 to £150 for unnecessary vehicle engine idling and underlined that the problem here at present was around a lack of enforcement. He questioned who was to ley these on the spot increased fines going forward. The Air Quality Manager reported that the issue of fines and enforcement were to be the subject of consultation by the Department of Transport over the Summer and it was hoped that this would result in some improvement here.

At this point, the Chairman sought approval from the Committee 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.

A Member referred to diesel cars/taxis and questioned whether any mechanism requiring their maintenance might also be introduced.

RESOLVED – That Members note this report.