Agenda item

The Chairman informed Members that two motions had been submitted to the meeting.  The motions related to:

(i)                 Member Call-In of Planning Applications.

(ii)               Protecting Childrens and Adults Health by Reducing Idling in Buckinghamshire.

 

(i)                 Member Call-In of Planning Applications

 

The motion was proposed by Councillor Robin Stuchbury and seconded by Councillor Stuart Wilson –

 

“Under the current Constitutional arrangements, a single Member may request a Call In of a planning application in their Ward and, if material planning grounds are provided, the Service Director, in consultation with the Chairman of the relevant Planning Committee may agree to the request.

 

If 3 Members of a particular ward make the request, with appropriate grounds, then there is an automatic right for the matter to be Called In to the Committee.

 

This Motion proposes that such an automatic right be given to every Member.

 

Where 3 Members are of a different political group, or less engaged with the planning process as the others, then it is very difficult to get the 3 Members to agree a joint request for Call In. And, in anticipation of the boundary changes in 2025, many Wards will not have 3 Members representing them after May 2025.

 

This Council therefore calls on the Audit and Governance Committee to propose appropriate wording to make the necessary changes to the Constitution to ensure each Member should have the right to request a Call In and – if material planning grounds are provided – such an application should automatically be considered by the relevant Planning Committee.”

 

Councillor Stuchbury briefing explained the rationale of the motion.  During the debate it was mentioned that whilst the reduction in the number of Members and the change in the Ward boundaries at the next Council elections in 2025 would require the Constitution to be changed in certain aspects, the Audit and Governance Committee and the Standards and General Purposes Committee at their next meetings would consider reports proposing setting up a cross-party Constitution Working Group in order specifically to consider all the changes for the Constitution required in preparation for 2025.  For this reason, the motion submitted to the meeting was premature.

 

At the conclusion of the debate, the motion was put to a vote and declared to be LOST.

 

 

(ii)               Protecting Childrens and Adults Health by Reducing Idling in Buckinghamshire.

 

The motion was proposed by Councillor Ed Gemmell and seconded by Councillor Adam Poland-Goodyer –

 

“The Council notes:

1.                  The Council has committed in its Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy to “Reduce Emissions to air from all council operations” and notes that “Some air pollutants are acidic (for example oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide) or are powerful oxidizing agents (for example tropospheric ozone) and will corrode the lining of the lungs, other living tissue, and inorganic material”

2.                  In addition, under the Wycombe District Air Quality Plan, that Council committed to:

a.                  “Work with the Highway Authority to identify and agree Information displays at strategic positions as drivers are entering the Air Quality Management Areas to inform them that they are entering such”;

b.                  “A campaign to reduce incidents of engine idling, using powers under Regulation 98 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, and associated signage will keep air quality issues in the mind of the public”;

c.                   “Wycombe District Council will implement our powers under Regulation 98 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to instruct motorists to switch off their engines while their vehicles are parked and to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to those who refuse to co-operate”.

3.                  Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution.

4.                  The Royal College of Physicians estimate?40,000 deaths a year in the UK are linked to air pollution, with?engine idling contributing?to this.

5.                  Idle reduction efforts are particularly important in school zones due to the impacts of exhaust on children’s lungs, which continue to develop until the age of 18. Exposure to excess exhaust and smoke can stunt lung growth and contribute to many lung disorders, including asthma.

6.                  The Insignis Academy Trust, in a move initiated in Princes Risborough School, is banning idling in the car parks of all its 4 schools in Buckinghamshire.

7.                  Vehicle idling is against the law and is an offence against the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002.

8.                  The council is authorised as a designated authority to issue fines for idling under The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002

9.                  On 15 July 2020 the council committed to working “to achieve net carbon zero for Buckinghamshire as a whole by 2050 “and to evaluating “reaching ‘net zero’ for its own emissions no later than 2050 and possibly before this, potentially by 2030, subject to resources”.

10.              The Council’s Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy confirms the Council has four levels of control or influence on emissions and has committed: 

a.                  Where we have direct control, we will take action to reduce emissions.

b.                  Where we have financial or regulatory influence, we will look to use these abilities to reduce emissions.

c.                   Where we can enable others to reduce emissions, we will support that change.

d.                  In other circumstances, we shall seek to inform and influence those who do have control over emissions, with the aim of reducing them.

11.              In addition, in the Wycombe District Air Quality Plan, it was noted that A) “There is a misconception amongst a small proportion of the population that restarting their vehicle’s engine uses significantly more fuel than an idling engine and that regularly restarting their engine damages the starter motor. In fact, idling for a couple of seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine and starter motors are a lot more resilient than a few decades ago. Unfortunately, idling engines are commonly found in town centres, car parks, bus stations and outside schools. Emissions from an idling engine do not disperse rapidly into the environment as they are not subject to the turbulence effect that is caused to traffic travelling at speed. They cause very high concentrations of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in the immediate vicinity of the car. This is particularly a problem when idling occurs outside schools with vulnerable young children being primarily exposed”.

12.           The council notes the recently reported incident where a member of public approached the driver of a council vehicle to make him aware he was illegally idling and was sworn at.

 

The Council believes:

1.                  Childrens health and that of adults is extremely important and reducing idling will help to protect the health of children and adults in Buckinghamshire.

2.                  Vehicle idling pollutes the air, harms health, causes unnecessary emissions, isa against the law and wastes energy.

3.              The Council that discouraging idling aligns with its commitment in its Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy to Reduce Emissions to air from all council operations and helps both the Council itself and Buckinghamshire as an area to more easily reach publicised net zero emissions goals.

 

The Council calls on Cabinet to resolve:

4.                  In relation to its own operations to do the following:

a.                  Clearly inform all council staff that their engines should be turned off whenever their car is not moving and make all staff aware that to leave an engine idling is detrimental to air quality and health, especially of children, and is against the law.

b.                  Request all contractors and suppliers to inform their own staff similarly; and 

c.                   Place signage to request engines are turned off in all council car parks and on all council notice boards.

5.                  To request all schools communicate the health and legal issues associated with idling to parents and staff including by placing appropriate signage in and around each school requesting engines be turned off when waiting.

6.                  To write to all parish and town councils to encourage their involvement in discouraging idling in their local area.

7.                  To follow through on the commitments from the Wycombe District Air Quality Plan as referred to in note 2 above.”

 

An amendment to the motion, proposed by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor Broadbent, had been submitted and circulated to all Members prior to the meeting in a supplementary agenda, as follows (changes in BOLD or struckthrough):

 

“The Council notes:

1.              The Council has committed in its Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy to “Reduce Emissions to air from all council operations” and notes that “Some air pollutants are acidic (for example oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide) or are powerful oxidizing agents (for example tropospheric ozone) and will corrode the lining of the lungs, other living tissue, and inorganic material”.

2.              The Council notes the significant improvement in air quality across the County over the last five years, as updated in the Climate Change and Air Quality progress report, released on 14^th November, which notes:

-                      All nine Air Quality Management zones (AQMA’s) are now below the 40 ?g/m3 NO2 danger threshold, with the exception of one new location in the Friarage Road AQMA in Aylesbury.

-                      A 41.5% reduction on a net basis of the Council’s GHG compared to 18/19 with a similar decline in pollutants.

-                      Significant progress in the last year on new initiatives such as planting 145,000 trees, emissions mitigation in eligible domestic properties through our energy doctor scheme and the commission of the first upcycled EV Bin lorry by any Council.

2.                  In addition, under the Wycombe District Air Quality Plan, that Council committed to:

a.                  “Work with the Highway Authority to identify and agree Information displays at strategic positions as drivers are entering the Air Quality Management Areas to inform them that they are entering such”;

b.                 “A campaign to reduce incidents of engine idling, using powers under Regulation 98 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, and associated signage will keep air quality issues in the mind of the public”;

c.                   “Wycombe District Council will implement our powers under Regulation 98 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to instruct motorists to switch off their engines while their vehicles are parked and to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to those who refuse to co-operate”.

3.                  Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution.

4.                  The Royal College of Physicians estimate?40,000 deaths a year in the UK are linked to air pollution, with?engine idling contributing?to this.

5.              Idle reduction efforts are particularly important in school zones due to the impacts of exhaust on children’s lungs, which continue to develop until the age of 18. Exposure to excess exhaust and smoke can stunt lung growth and contribute to many lung disorders, including asthma.

6.              The Council has launched a campaign called “Clean up our air campaign” https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/community-and-safety/clean-up-our-air-campaign/. This is managed through the Community Boards and we are providing tools, signs etc empowering Community Boards to work with schools, interested groups etc to take action on idling vehicles. One of the first projects we are working with isThe Insignis Academy Trust, in a move initiated in Princes Risborough School, which is banning idling in the car parks of all its 4 schools in Buckinghamshire. on school premises.

7.                  Vehicle idling is against the law and is an offence against the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002.

8.                  The council is authorised as a designated authority to issue fines for idling under The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002.

9.                  On 15 July 2020 the council committed to working “to achieve net carbon zero for Buckinghamshire as a whole by 2050 “and to evaluating “reaching ‘net zero’ for its own emissions no later than 2050 and possibly before this, potentially by 2030, subject to resources”.  This council fully supports our ambitious, detailed and costed Climate Change Strategy.

10.              The Council’s Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy confirms the Council has four levels of control or influence on emissions and has committed:

a.                  Where we have direct control, we will take action to reduce emissions.

b.                 Where we have financial or regulatory influence, we will look to use these abilities to reduce emissions.

c.                  Where we can enable others to reduce emissions, we will support that change.

d.                 In other circumstances, we shall seek to inform and influence those who do have control over emissions, with the aim of reducing them.

11.              In addition, in the Wycombe District Air Quality Plan, it was noted that A) “There is a misconception amongst a small proportion of the population that restarting their vehicle’s engine uses significantly more fuel than an idling engine and that regularly restarting their engine damages the starter motor. In fact, idling for a couple of seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine and starter motors are a lot more resilient than a few decades ago. Unfortunately, idling engines are commonly found in town centres, car parks, bus stations and outside schools. Emissions from an idling engine do not disperse rapidly into the environment as they are not subject to the turbulence effect that is caused to traffic travelling at speed. They cause very high concentrations of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in the immediate vicinity of the car. This is particularly a problem when idling occurs outside schools with vulnerable young children being primarily exposed”.

12.           The council notes the recently reported incident where a member of public approached the driver of a council vehicle to make him aware he was illegally idling and was sworn at.

 

The Council believes:

1.                 Childrens’ health and that of adults is extremely important and reducing idling will help to protect the health of children and adults in Buckinghamshire.

2.                 Vehicle idling pollutes the air, harms health, causes unnecessary emissions, isa against the law and wastes energy.

3.             The CouncilThat discouraging idling aligns with its commitment in its Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy to Reduce Emissions to air from all council operations and helps both the Council itself and Buckinghamshire as an area to more easily reach publicised net zero emissions goals.

 

The Council calls on Cabinet to resolve:

4.                 In relation to its own operations to do the following:

a.                  Clearly inform remind all council staff and suppliers that their engines should be turned off whenever their car is not moving and make all staff aware that to leave an engine idling is detrimental to air quality and health, especially of children, and is against the law.

b.                 Request all contractors and suppliers to inform their own staff similarly; and

c.                  Place signage to request engines are turned off in all council car parks and on all council notice boards.

5.             To request all schools, where appropriate, to communicate with School safer travel teams to come up with School travel plans centred around reducing car travel and ‘park and stride’.

6.                 In line with this Council’s commitment to localism, where appropriate, local Community Boards determine how to take part in the anti-idling campaign listed above.

7.             Schools, including Academies, may also consider communicating the health and legal issues associated with idling to parents and staff.  This may include including by placing appropriate signage in and around each school requesting engines be turned off when whilst waiting.

6.                 To write to all parish and town councils to encourage their involvement in discouraging idling in their local area.

7.                 To follow through on the commitments from the Wycombe District Air Quality Plan as referred to in note 2 above.

 

Councillor Gemmell informed the meeting that he had spoken to the proposer and seconder of the amendment and was happy to agree it with one small additional change which was at point 8 in the ‘The Council calls on Cabinet to resolve’ and which would call on Cabinet ‘to resolve to consider placing signage intended to discourage idling in Council car parks.’

 

With the agreement of all parties to the motion and the amendment, and with the agreement of full Council, the updated amendment was then put forward for debate.

 

Councillor Gemmell then briefing explained the rationale of the motion.  Following a brief debate the motion, as amended and agreed, was put to a vote and declared to be CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That Council call on Cabinet to resolve –

 

(1)               In relation to its own operations to do the following:

(i)                 Clearly remind all Council staff and suppliers that their engines should be turned off whenever their car is not moving and make all staff aware that to leave an engine idling is detrimental to air quality and health, especially of children, and is against the law.

(ii)               To consider placing signage intended to discourage idling in Council car parks.

(2)               To request schools, where appropriate, to communicate with School safer travel teams to come up with School travel plans centred around reducing car travel and ‘park and stride.’

(3)           In line with this Council’s commitment to localism, where appropriate, local Community Boards determine how to take part in the anti-idling campaign listed above.

(4)               Schools, including Academies, may also consider communicating the health and legal issues associated with idling to parents and staff.  This may include placing appropriate signage in and around each school requesting engines be turned off whilst waiting.