Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/058

Contact: Joanne Fellows, Infrastructure Locality Lead – Oxford Tel: 07990 368897/Martin Kraftl, Principal Transport Planner Tel: 07920 084336

Report by Director for Planning & Place (CA11).

To seek approval of emissions controls for buses in Oxford and submission of a request to the Traffic Commissioner to introduce a Traffic Regulation Condition (TRC) to enforce these controls.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)          approve the proposed emissions requirements for buses outlined in the report;

(b)          authorise officers to make minor changes to the draft Traffic Regulation Condition at Annex 1 if required; and

(c)          instruct officers to submit a request to the Traffic Commissioner for a Traffic Regulation Condition (TRC) based on the draft at Annex 1

Recommendations agreed

Cabinet considered a report on emissions controls for buses in Oxford and submission of a request to the Traffic Commissioner to introduce a Traffic Regulation Condition (TRC) to enforce these controls.

Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment, expressed some concern that the 2-stage phasing would not apply to many deprived areas in the City and that this may mean a loss of services. Councillor Sanders queried how advanced the technology to retro-fit was and how ready the industry was to do it.

Responding to the query Joanne Fellowes, Infrastructure Locality Lead Oxford explained that the technology was new and that many operators already operated at Euro 6.

Councillor Constance, Cabinet Member for Environment in moving the recommendations noted that this next step was being done in consultation with the bus companies. She added that as 78% of buses went out to other towns it would be of benefit to other areas.

Responding to questions from cabinet Joanne Fellowes confirmed that it impacted on national buses and coaches as well as local buses.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)          approve the proposed emissions requirements for buses outlined in the report;

(b)          authorise officers to make minor changes to the draft Traffic Regulation Condition at Annex 1 if required; and

(c)          instruct officers to submit a request to the Traffic Commissioner for a Traffic Regulation Condition (TRC) based on the draft at Annex 1.