Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Highway Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/077

Contact: Joanne Fellows, Growth Manager – Central Tel: 07990 368897

Report by Assistant Director for Growth & Place (CA12).

The Government is seeking ‘Expressions of Interest’ (EoI) for local authorities to take part in the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, in support of the Government’s Road to Zero Strategy for transition to zero emission transport by 2050.

The funding, which totals £120 million and is expected to support at least three areas, is intended to enable deployment of zero emission buses and relevant accompanying infrastructure.

In order to best meet the criteria and maximise the opportunity and chances of success, it is recommended that an EoI is submitted which would incorporate urban services operating wholly within the Oxford SmartZone area.  The SmartZone area extends from Kidlington in the north to Kennington in the south, and from Cumnor in the west to Wheatley in the east.   

If successful, this bid would support a number of the key corporate priorities related to health and well-being, climate action, air quality and healthy place shaping.  A reduction in bus emissions in Oxford would contribute to better air quality and better environments for all users as well as reducing transport’s contribution to climate change.  Electric buses may also improve the image of buses and the passenger experience, helping to boost bus use and reduce traffic congestion. There are also linkages to the Council’s current work, for example Connecting Oxford and the Oxford Zero Emission Zone, the first phase of which is due to start operating in summer 2021.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)       authorise officers to finalise and submit an Expression of Interest for the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas funding initiative;

(b)       agree a capital allocation of up to £6m in 2022/23 to provide additional council grant to bus operators, if operators can demonstrate this is required to make the scheme feasible.

Recommendations agreed

Cabinet considered a report recommending that officers finalise and submit an Expression of Interest for the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas funding initiative with a capital allocation of up to £6m in 2022/23 to provide additional council grant to bus operators, if operators can demonstrate this is required to make the scheme feasible.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, summarised the proposal as aimed at ensuring that all buses operating within the city and immediately surrounding areas will be electric.  It would make Oxford an exemplar city in this regard.  He agreed with comments made earlier on making buses accessible to all people.  He described this proposal as an important milestone in developing the bus network.

Councillor Pete Sudbury welcomed the government support for this scheme.  New technologies often needed a push from central government and the Council needed to encourage the government to do more in this respect.

Councillor Duncan Enright welcomed the proposal which was necessary to achieve the Zero Emissions Zone in Oxford City.  He hoped to see the area covered expand as the bus network is developed.

Councillor Calum Miller also supported the provision of electric buses in the city and surrounding areas but hoped that the displaced more-polluting buses would not simply be deployed on our rural roads.  He noted the commitment of up to £6m to support this scheme and expected that Cabinet Members and officers will work hard to ensure that the amount we agree to contribute in the end will be taken in the round as they work with bus operators to make the best use of tax payers’ money.

Asked by the Leader if there were long-term plans to expand the electric bus fleets across the county, Councillor Bearder responded that there were currently technical limitations on the range that electric buses could achieve but these may be overcome with the development of hydrogen buses for example.

RESOLVED: to:

(a)             authorise officers to finalise and submit an Expression of Interest for the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas funding initiative;

(b)             agree a capital allocation of up to £6m in 2022/23 to provide additional council grant to bus operators, if operators can demonstrate this is required to make the scheme feasible.