Agenda item - Lowering Emissions for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles

Report of the Head of Regulatory Services (copy attached)

RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee approves the proposals contained in the report;

(2) That Committee notes the proposed implementation of a Low Emission Zone in central Brighton as approved by Environment Transport and Sustainability Committee on 14 January 2014 as part of a range of measures to reduce vehicle emissions in Brighton and Hove; and .

(3) That Committee notes ongoing work to be undertaken with Planning to implement some of the recommendations.

30.1    The Committee considered a report of the Head of Regulatory Services setting out proposals for lowering emissions for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles as noted by the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee at its meeting on 14 January 2014 in a report proposing a Low Emission Zone for Central Brighton.

30.2    It was explained at its meeting on 14 January 2014, the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee had discussed proposals which had that included measures for lowering NOx, fine particulate and carbon dioxide emissions from Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles. The Committee had resolved to declare a Low Emission Zone taking in Castle Square, North Street and Western Road as far as the junction with Holland Road, with the aim of ensuring that all Public Service Vehicles to meet, as a minimum the Euro 5 emissions standard by 1 January 2015, with only licensed exemptions.

30.3    Officers were consulting with bus operators, DEFRA and the Department for Transport with a view to making an application to the Traffic Commissioner for a Traffic Regulation Condition to establish the regulatory framework for the Low Emission Zone. The proposals were split into a number of areas and fell within the responsibility of various Committees.

30.4    The Head of Regulatory Services explained that the purpose of the report was to set out the various interconnected strands in respect of this issue and to indicate the way in which officers were working across Committee and departmental responsibilities to address these issues. The Air Quality Specialist, Mr Rouse was in attendance from the Transport Team to talk about the measures being undertaken to reduce the level of emissions across the city as a whole but particularly in those areas where these were deemed to be high by proposing a Low Emission Zone for the centre of Brighton. He explained that a staged approach was intended which would use a raft of measures which would also the use of appropriate signage and an assessment of the current location and use of taxi ranks particularly where this was in close proximity to residential dwellings.

30.5    Councillors Marsh and Sykes welcomed the report which had identified the health benefits that could be achieved in consequence of such an approach and marked the commencement of a structured and staged process.

30.6    Councillors Hyde and Gilbey sought clarification of in the current position in relation to Rottingdean High Street and the junction approach to Wellington Road, Trafalgar Road and Southern Cross in Portslade which were located in their respective wards. Councillor Gilbey also requested an update in respect of the level crossing in Boundary Road, Portslade and its junction with Old Shoreham Road.

30.7    RESOLVED – (1) That Committee approves the proposals contained in the report;

            (2) That Committee notes the proposed implementation of a Low Emission Zone in central Brighton as approved by Environment Transport and Sustainability Committee on 14 January 2014 as part of a range of measures to reduce vehicle emissions in Brighton and Hove; and

            (3) That Committee notes ongoing work to be undertaken with Planning to implement some of the recommendations.

Note: Following consideration of this item Councillor Sykes left to attend another meeting and was therefore unable to be present during consideration of items 31 and 32 on the agenda.