Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

There is a need to reduce polluting emissions to improve poor air quality in city locations dominated by emissions from buses, taxis and service vehicles. This must be achieved whilst maintaining sufficient levels of access and capacity for travel in the City, for the vehicles using those areas.

This can only be achieved by intervening to ensure uptake of low emission technologies within those vehicle fleets. Evidence to support intervention was brought before Environment Scrutiny Committee for consideration in March 2015 alongside a set of headline proposals for a more detailed Air Quality Action Plan.

The report sought to take forward one element of that plan relating to taxis. This followed a period of consultation, detailed planning and bid preparation for Central Government funds through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) to support these interventions.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Environment and Waste

     i.        Approved consultation with the trade and stakeholders on changes to taxi licensing policy to incentivise uptake of low emission taxis.

     ii.            Approved, in principle, revenue support to offset the reduction in income associated with the waiving of taxi licence fees for low emission taxis.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Team Manager, Environmental Services.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

     i.        Raised concerns that the government grant might not be delivered.

    ii.        Suggested drivers might choose to register in South Cambs to avoid Cambridge standards.

The Team Manager, Environmental Services stated the following in response to Members’ questions:

     i.        The Cambridge application had won the first round of the bid process and had a strong case to offer at the next stage.

    ii.        If the funding failed to materialise a smaller project could still be delivered.

   iii.        Bid funding cannot be used to subsidise Licence Fees.

  iv.        It was hoped that in the longer term Taxi Licensing policies across Cambridge and South Cambs could be harmonised. However, restriction could be considered if this failed.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.