To report any issues with the information below please email executivecycle@westberks.gov.uk.

Agenda item

Notices of Motion

Meeting of Council, Tuesday, 3rd March, 2020 6.30 pm (Item 58.)

(a) The following Motion has been submitted in the name of Councillor Erik Pattenden:

“Safer Schools Motion
(No Idling Zones; 20MPH zones; Safer School Drop-off Provision)

This Council notes that:

· Our residents, staff and children, are exposed to unnecessary levels of pollutants outside of schools at peak times in the morning and afternoon;

· Epidemiological studies show that symptoms of bronchitis in asthmatic children increase in association with long-term exposure to pollutants, as well as stunting lung growth;

· Only a handful of schools across the country are trialling “No Vehicle Idling zones” yet they bring many health benefits;

· Air pollution poses a serious threat to the health and development of young people: while many of the policy interventions to rectify this problem would have to come from central Government, this Council can do more and needs to be proactive on this issue;

· The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Public Health England (PHE) produced new guidance in 2017 that recommended “no vehicle idling” areas in places where health-vulnerable people collect, such as outside schools, hospitals and care homes, and in areas where exposure to road-traffic-related air pollution is high;

· According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, evidence shows that 20mph zones are an effective way of preventing injuries on the road;

· Research estimates the chance of fatality from being hit by a car driving at 20mph at 1.5% versus 8% at 30mph;

· There are 80 schools across the district, some of which are in 40 mph zones.

This Council resolves to:

· Review the work done on No-Vehicle-Idling nationally in other local authorities and work this into an action plan for No-Vehicle-Idling Zones across West Berkshire;

· Implement enforceable No-Vehicle-Idling Zones around all primary schools in the District by the end of 2021, with at least 4 pilots by Spring 2020;

· Use the experience of the pilot zones to determine whether these measures should be implemented via enforceable enhancements to existing Council policies, or via a new by-law;

· Work closely with schools that are part of the scheme to inform parents and carers of the No-Vehicle-Idling Zones;

· Encourage local businesses to sponsor green walls on school buildings and tree planting near schools and the appropriate Executive Member include this in their action plan;

· Set up a task group to review the speed limit outside each school;

· Create a toolkit of potential actions for schools to take in order to make roads safer for children, as is most appropriate for that area, including requesting road-markings and additional lights from the Council;

· Offer all schools the option of signing up to a Safer School Zone which will include red road markings to prevent dangerous parking and additional visits from Traffic Enforcement Officers;

· Look at locations where appropriate additional changes could be made, such as making certain roads near schools one way.”

http://www.rospa.com/rospaweb/docs/advice-services/road-safety/drivers/20-mph-zone-factsheet.pdf

http://www.brake.org.uk/assets/docs/GO20toolkit/GO20-report-sep15.pdf

https://www.ippr.org/files/images/media/files/publication/2011/05/streets_ahead_1266.pdf

(b) The following Motion has been submitted in the name of Councillor Adrian Abbs:

“Power for Communities Motion

West Berkshire District Council

(i) acknowledges that this Council has made some effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy;

(ii) recognises that councils can play a central role in creating sustainable communities, particularly through the provision of locally generated renewable electricity;

(iii) further recognises

· that the very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers results in it being impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so,

· that making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would create significant opportunities for councils to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local people, businesses and organisations, and

· that revenues received by councils that became local renewable electricity providers could be used to help fund local greenhouse gas emission reduction measures and to help improve local services and facilities;

(iv) accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, currently supported by a cross-party group of 115 MPs, and which, if made law, would make the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate by establishing a Right to Local Supply; and

(v) further resolves to

· inform the local media of this decision,

· write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and

· write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeole.org.uk) expressing its support.”

“The Council to Designate all current and future vehicle electric charging points that are provided by West Berkshire Council as ‘EV only’ parking spaces.”

Minutes:

The Council considered the under-mentioned Motion (Agenda item 20a refers) submitted in the name of Councillor Erik Pattenden relating to no vehicle idling zones.

The Chairman informed the Council that the motion would not be debated at the meeting and in accordance with Procedural Rule 4.5.8 it would be referred to the Transport Advisory Group for consideration.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Erik Pattenden and seconded by Councillor Martha Vickers: