Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director City Regeneration and Environment which provided an update on the costs and income associated with the operation of the Low Emission Zone during 2024/25, and sought approval for the remaining surplus income to be retained to cover future operational and maintenance costs.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the costs and income associated with the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) during the 2024/25 financial year;

(b)      approve the retention of the remaining income for 2024/25 to cover future LEZ operational and maintenance costs;

(c)      agree that a combined report on future years programming for both Bus Lane Enforcement and Low Emission Zone surpluses would be reported to this Committee on an annual basis; and

(d)      note that an annual report on the operation and effectiveness of the LEZ was currently in development and would be submitted to Scottish Ministers by the end of 2025, in accordance with the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Henrickson, moved the recommendations as set out in the report.

Councillor Brooks, seconded by Councillor Nicoll, moved as an amendment:-

That the Committee:-

(a)      notes the report;

(b)      notes that Monetising the LEZ for future funding was not the primary reason for its implementation by the SNP-led administration / Scottish Government;

(c)      further notes that latest statistics indicate that emissions are not only down in the LEZ but also down outwith the LEZ, which is indicative of less people choosing to visit Aberdeen;

(d)      although the annual report on the operation and effectiveness of the LEZ has yet to be published, notes again that early indications are that the emission figures have decreased potentially due to lower footfall in Aberdeen and the ongoing use of bus gates in the city centre;

(e)      notes that it is widely reported that the LEZ and Bus gates enforcement are the primary contributors to the economic challenges in the city centre; and

(f)       does not approve the retention of the remaining income for 2024/25 to cover future LEZ operational and maintenance costs.

Councillor Tissera, seconded by Councillor Ali, moved as a further amendment:-

That the Committee:-

(a)      note the report; and

(b)      does not approve the retention of the remaining income for 2024/25 to cover future LEZ operational and maintenance costs.

At this juncture, due to the similarity of points in their amendments, Councillor Brooks advised that he would subsume point (b) of Councillor Tissera’s amendment within his amendment, and Councillor Tissera’s amendment was therefore withdrawn.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener; and Councillors Henrickson, Hutchison, McLellan and van Sweeden; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Ali, Brooks, Nicoll and Tissera.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that officers were currently preparing an annual report on the operation and effectiveness of the LEZ scheme for submission to Scottish Government, and to request that this be circulated to Members for information when available;

(ii)       to request that officers provide information to Members outwith the meeting on the current figures in respect of unpaid penalty charge notices and the current position with debt collection;

(iii)      to request that officers provide information to Members outwith the meeting on where the exceedances of emissions were at the introduction of the LEZ, and the level of those exceedances;

(iv)      to request that officers provide information to Members outwith the meeting on the figures for LEZ taxi compliance;

(v)      to request that officers provide information to Members outwith the meeting comparing Aberdeen City Council debt collection figures to other local authorities where an LEZ was in force;

(vi)      to note that officers would clarify the location of the air quality monitoring sites in the city centre and circulate that information to Members; 

(vii)     to note that officers would ascertain if penalty charge notices were issued by recorded delivery and advise Members outwith the meeting; and

(viii)    to adopt the motion.