Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Transportation and Highways

The cabinet considered a report of the Director of Transportation and Highways which indicated that on 12^th February 2020, the Parliamentary Secretary of State for the Environment issued the Environment Act 1995 (Coventry City Council) Air Quality Direction 2020. This Direction applies to Coventry City Council and directs the Council to:

·    Implement the local plan for NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) compliance for the city;

·   Prepare and submit a full business case for the local plan scheme, summarising responses made to the public consultation, outlining any subsequent changes made to the local plan scheme, and confirming that the local plan scheme facilitates the achievement of local transport policies within the city

The Cabinet subsequently approved the Local Plan, and the necessary measures required to deliver it successfully, at its meeting on 20^th July 2020. 

The report sought Cabinet approval for the submission of the full business case for the Local Plan scheme, a copy of which was appended to the report, to Government in accordance with the Direction. It also sought delegated authority to allow for variations to be made to the Local Plan scheme should this be necessary to address any specific issues raised by Government in response to the full business case.

The report detailed significant progress to date on the detailed delivery programme of the package and indicated that good progress had been made. The report also indicated that there are significant risks to the programme for delivery, and there may be a need to request approval from Government for changes to the package as the design and consultation progresses on individual schemes.  The submission of the Full Business Case does, however, represent a significant milestone in the delivery of the Local Air Quality Action Plan.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

1)  Approves the full business case for the Coventry Local Air Quality Action Plan as shown in Appendix One of this report for submission to Government

2)  Authorises the Director of Transportation and Highways, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, the Cabinet Member for City Services, the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport and the Director of Law and Governance, to identify and implement any changes required to the Coventry Local Air Quality Action Plan that are deemed necessary to ensure the successful achievement of compliance with the Environment Act 1995 (Coventry City Council) Air Quality Direction 2020

3)  In the event that further grant funding is secured from Government through the Air Quality Implementation Fund in excess of the £24.5 million pounds received to date approves such additional grant funding up to a maximum of £2.5 million pounds and delegates authority to  Director of Transportation and Highways and the Director of Finance authority to allocate such grant funding received from the Air Quality Implementation Fund to the individual measures comprising the scheme and to thereafter manage such allocation in a manner as is deemed necessary to ensure delivery and compliance.