The item will be introduced by Councillor Tom Hayes, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Mai Jarvis, Environmental Quality Team Manager. The report for this item will be published as a supplement.

Councillor Bely-Summers joined the meeting during this item.

Councillor Djafari-Marbini  left the meeting during this item.

The report was introduced by Councillor Tom Hayes, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Mai Jarvis, Environmental Quality Team Manager. Councillor Hayes said the report represented the latest phase in a process of development over the previous three years which involved very close and co-operative working with the County Council as the Transport Authority. The consultation on proposals for the introduction of a red zone by the end of the year was underway and generating high levels of interest. He encouraged members of the Committee to engage members of their communities with the consultation. The subsequent development of the green zone would be important but the initial focus on the red zone would provide a small scale scheme at the outset from which to learn. The scheme reflected the ambitions of the Citizens’ Assembly and was ultimately underpinned by a desire to change behaviours.

In parallel with the proposals for a ZEZ, the importance of working closely with the City’s transport providers, notably the bus and taxi  companies, had been recognised from the outset. Hackney cabs in the City were already subject to an ambitious and separate scheme, as a licensing condition, for a progressive move to the use of zero emission capable vehicles. The Council was working with bus companies on schemes to introduce increasingly environmentally friendly vehicles.   

In discussion the following matters were raised or discussed among others.

·         Members of the Committee were very supportive of the ambition behind the proposals.

·         Many members of the Committee however challenged the designation of “Zero Emissions Zone” given that what was proposed would not result in an area free of emissions, with liberty given to any vehicle to enter subject to a charge or exemption. “Ultra Low Emissions Zone”, it was argued, would be a more accurate description.  Councillor Hayes was clear that the chosen designation was the correct one, recognised by the relevant bodies. It was noted that London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone has less strict criteria for entry than the Zero Emission Zone so it would be misleading to change the designation.

·         The proposed timing of the red zone (7am to 7pm) was driven in part by data which showed that to be the time of greatest pedestrian and cyclist activity.

·         While there would be an appetite in many quarters for greater pedestrianisation of some parts of the City Centre, access would still be required, on a timed basis, to serve business etc.

·         Raising bollards were not considered to be an appropriate means of enforcing the red zone.

·         The use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was the proposed means of enforcing the red zone, via mobile cameras, used by staff contracted by the County Council. Some members of the Committee had assumed that the ANPR would be via fixed cameras at the entrances to the red zone and were concerned the current  proposals would not be effective  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72