Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which sought approval for a process for public consultation on the Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) Feasibility Scheme and associated projects, and also to report on progress with establishing a car club for the city and finally to appoint a Councillor to champion the Care North Project in Aberdeen. 

The report reminded members that the Economic Development Sub-Committee had approved the Council’s participation, along with seven partners, in CARE North, a European project. The project brief was to ‘develop innovative carbon reduction strategies for urban transport to maintain and improve accessibility in a more carbon responsible way, and to make the NSR a leader in carbon-efficient accessibility’. The particular work package the city was involved in was an assessment of ecological and economic impacts / calculation of CO2-reduction for which The Robert Gordon University was the lead partner.  The primary project the University would study for this work package was allied to Aberdeen’s submission to Interreg which was a feasibility of a Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) for the City Centre. A detailed definition and description of an LEZ was provided including details of other areas where LEZ’s operated.  It was highlighted that in tandem with the LEZ Feasibility Study there were a number of other associated projects and studies currently ongoing, including the consideration of a car club, electric car bays, emissions based charging, bicycle rental, off-bus ticket machines, clean vehicle goods distribution and the feasibility for a consolidation centre which was being explored under the Stratmos project.

In particular in terms of the Aberdeen Car Club it was advised that in October 2009 the Council commissioned its term consultant, AECOM, to establish whether a Car Club was feasible for the City.  A Car Club was an organisation that owned and maintains a fleet of cars from which its members could book a car for however long they need it. The Club pays for all tax, insurance, servicing, cleaning and fuel, whilst members usually paid a joining fee and for each journey they made.  The benefits of a car club were outlined.  The feasibility study had now been completed and had found that:- the conditions for a successful car club existed within Aberdeen;  a number of car clubs had expressed informal interest in operating in Aberdeen; there were a number of suitable on and off-street locations within the City for a car Club;the Council would have to provide promotional support, and would initially have to be a main customer of the scheme for any growth to occur;  a model of using pool cars would reduce initial capital investment and act as a catalyst to allow faster growth;  and finally that the Council as the local authority would need to provide the on-street infrastructure including the progression of a traffic regulation order, lining and signing (an application for funding was currently with Nestrans and the Scottish Government to cover these costs). 

With regards financial implications it was advised that the proposed model limited the amount of investment required by the Council. Revenue ‘costs’ would be in the form of a loss to the annual parking income of one or two on-street parking spaces. There might be some potential to off-set some of the revenue implications of the free on-street parking namely through the procurement of vehicles through the Council and then release at market value back to the Car Club.  The Council already had up to 7 pool vehicles available for participation in such a scheme without any requirement to purchase vehicles through procurement.  Further detail on the models considered was attached as Appendix 2 to the report. 

Given the number of benefits, and the ability to minimise and then off-set costs to the Council, authorisation was sought for officers to proceed with a tender exercise in order to establish commercial interest and then engage a provider for a Car Club in the City.  Details of the proposed public engagement to be undertaken was provided wherein it was advised that the results, findings and recommendations would be presented to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee in 2011 in a report produced by the University.  Given the transnationality of the project and the work being undertaken by the University, it was proposed that a steering group, with representatives from across Scotland was set up.  Given the Council would be leading on the LEZ it was recommended that a Councillor be appointed to champion the project.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve the programme of public engagement developed with the Robert Gordon University to engage with residents, businesses and other stakeholders with regards to a potential Low Emissions Zone and associated projects for the city centre, which would include workshops and potentially a conference;

(ii)        to give authorisation for officers to proceed with a tender exercise in order to establish commercial interest and then engage a provider for a car club in the city;  and

(iii)       to appoint the Convener, whom failing the Vice-Convener, to represent the Council at the Care North Partners meeting in mid-September 2010, to be hosted by the Robert Gordon University, represent the City on a potential Steering Group for the project and champion the Low Emissions Zone and associated projects.