Agenda item

To debate the following motion, submitted by Cllr Burrett, notice of which was given on 26 September 2023.

‘This Council values economic growth, and supporting our communities and small businesses in all their endeavours to grow.

This Council values the aspirations of the vulnerable in our communities to thrive, and places great store in its commitment to support them wherever it can.

This Council therefore deplores the action taken recently by the Mayor of London to extend the London Ultra-Low Emission Zone without regard to its adverse impact on the communities and small businesses of this county.

In particular it notes that:

·         The London Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was extended by the Mayor of London on 29 August 2023 to cover all London Boroughs.

·         Many small businesses and traders rely on travel, especially from communities in the north of the county, into parts of London now covered by ULEZ.

·         Many West Sussex residents have a need to travel by car to outer London Boroughs for a variety of reasons, including work and specialist hospital appointments.

·         Residents on lower incomes are more likely to own older vehicles and to be unable to afford to replace them.

This Council is concerned that:

(1)        No assessment has been produced by Transport for London of the volume of people living outside Greater London who are likely to be impacted by the ULEZ expansion.

(2)        People directly affected but living in West Sussex will not benefit from the mitigation package, and have no access to the diesel scrappage scheme for those on low incomes.

(3)        There will be a clear disproportionate impact on West Sussex small businesses, traders, and residents on low incomes who need to travel into Greater London, particularly at a time when cost-of-living pressures are already having an effect on them.

(4)        The ULEZ expansion could push congestion out of Greater London, making air quality worse in surrounding areas, including West Sussex.

In view of the above concerns, this Council resolves to ask the Cabinet to support the position taken by Surrey County Council and other affected local authorities in maintaining opposition to the ULEZ expansion, and asks the Leader to write to the Mayor of London, in the strongest terms, to ask him to reconsider his decision to expand the ULEZ zone in the light of the serious detrimental effects the expansion is now having on residents and businesses across the South East, including those in West Sussex, and especially those on low incomes.’

39.1     The following motion was moved by Cllr Burrett and seconded by Cllr Duncton.

‘This Council values economic growth, and supporting our communities and small businesses in all their endeavours to grow.

This Council values the aspirations of the vulnerable in our communities to thrive, and places great store in its commitment to support them wherever it can.

This Council therefore deplores the action taken recently by the Mayor of London to extend the London Ultra-Low Emission Zone without regard to its adverse impact on the communities and small businesses of this county.

In particular it notes that:

·         The London Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was extended by the Mayor of London on 29 August 2023 to cover all London Boroughs.

·         Many small businesses and traders rely on travel, especially from communities in the north of the county, into parts of London now covered by ULEZ.

·         Many West Sussex residents have a need to travel by car to outer London Boroughs for a variety of reasons, including work and specialist hospital appointments.

·         Residents on lower incomes are more likely to own older vehicles and to be unable to afford to replace them.

This Council is concerned that:

(1)              No assessment has been produced by Transport for London of the volume of people living outside Greater London who are likely to be impacted by the ULEZ expansion.

(2)              People directly affected but living in West Sussex will not benefit from the mitigation package, and have no access to the diesel scrappage scheme for those on low incomes.

(3)              There will be a clear disproportionate impact on West Sussex small businesses, traders, and residents on low incomes who need to travel into Greater London, particularly at a time when cost-of-living pressures are already having an effect on them.

(4)              The ULEZ expansion could push congestion out of Greater London, making air quality worse in surrounding areas, including West Sussex.

In view of the above concerns, this Council resolves to ask the Cabinet to support the position taken by Surrey County Council and other affected local authorities in maintaining opposition to the ULEZ expansion, and asks the Leader to write to the Mayor of London, in the strongest terms, to ask him to reconsider his decision to expand the ULEZ zone in the light of the serious detrimental effects the expansion is now having on residents and businesses across the South East, including those in West Sussex, and especially those on low incomes.’

39.2     An amendment was moved by Cllr Oxlade and seconded by Cllr Quinn.

‘This Council values economic growth, and supporting our communities and small businesses in all their endeavours to grow.

This Council values the aspirations of the vulnerable in our communities to thrive, and places great store in its commitment to support them wherever it can.

This Council therefore deplores notes the action taken recently by the Mayor of London to extend the London Ultra-Low Emission Zone without regard to its adverse impact on the communities and small businesses of this county.

In particular it notes that:

·         The London Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was extended by the Mayor of London on 29 August 2023 to cover all London Boroughs and the aims of the ULEZ are to improve air quality, reduce pollution and improve health.

·         Many small businesses and traders rely on travel, especially from communities in the north of the county, into parts of London now covered by ULEZ.

·         Many West Sussex residents (including an estimated 6% of Crawley residents) have a need to travel by car to outer London Boroughs for a variety of reasons, including work and specialist hospital appointments.

·         Residents on lower incomes are more likely to own older vehicles and to be unable to afford to replace them.

This Council is concerned that:

(1)         No assessment has been produced by Transport for London of the volume of people living outside Greater London who are likely to be impacted by the ULEZ expansion.

(2)         People directly affected but living in West Sussex will not benefit from the mitigation package, and have no access to the diesel scrappage scheme for those on low incomes.

(3)         There will be a clear disproportionate impact on West Sussex small businesses, traders, and residents on low incomes who need to travel into Greater London, particularly at a time when cost-of-living pressures are already having an effect on them.

(4)         The ULEZ expansion could push congestion out of Greater London, making air quality worse in surrounding areas, including West Sussex.

In view of the above concerns, this Council resolves to ask the Cabinet to support the position taken by Surrey County Council and other affected local authorities in maintaining opposition to the ULEZ expansion, and asks the Leader to write to the Mayor of London, in the strongest terms, to ask him to reconsider his decision to expand the ULEZ zone in the light of the potential serious detrimental effects the expansion is now having on residents and businesses across the South East, including those in West Sussex, and especially those on low incomes, until modelling has been produced by TFL to evidence the anticipated scheme impacts on traffic flows, emissions and pollution levels outside Greater London.’

39.3     The amendment was lost.

39.4     The motion was carried.