Agenda and minutes
Environment Committee - Thursday 11 July 2013 10.00 am

To receive any apologies for absence and any announcements from the Chair.

1.1  An apology for absence was received from James Cleverly AM.

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note the list of Assembly Members’ appointments, as set out in the tables at Agenda Item 2, as disclosable pecuniary interests;

(b)  Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any disclosable pecuniary interests in specific items listed on the agenda and the necessary action taken by the Member(s) regarding withdrawal following such declaration(s); and

(c)  Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any other interests deemed to be relevant (including any interests arising from gifts and hospitality received which are not at the time of the meeting reflected on the Authority’s register of gifts and hospitality, and noting also the advice from the GLA’s Monitoring Officer set out at Agenda Item 2) and to note any necessary action taken by the Member(s) following such declaration(s).

2.1  Resolved:

  That the list of Assembly Members’ appointments, as set out in the tables at agenda item number 2, be noted as disclosable pecuniary interests.

The Committee is recommended to confirm the minutes of the Environment Committee meeting held on 12 June 2013 to be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

3.1  Resolved:

That the minutes of the Environment Committee meeting held on 12 June 2013 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Sarah Koniarski; [email protected]; 020 7983 4894

The Committee is recommended to note the completed and outstanding action arising from the previous meeting of the Assembly’s Environment Committee, together with an action arising from an item of business considered during the last municipal year by the Health and Environment Committee.

4.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

4.2  Resolved:

That the completed and outstanding action arising from the previous meeting of the Assembly’s Environment Committee, together with an action arising from an item of business considered during the last municipal year by the Health and Environment Committee, be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Ian Williamson; [email protected]; 020 7983 6541

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Put questions on Mayoral air pollution policies to the Mayoral Adviser, together with other invited guests and note the answers received; and

(b)  Delegate authority to the Chair, in consultation with Party Group Leads, to write to the Mayor of London following the meeting conveying the Committee’s views.

5.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat as background to putting questions on Mayoral air pollution policies to the following invited guests:

·  Matthew Pencharz, Mayoral Advisor, Environment and Political Affairs;

·  Michèle Dix, Managing Director, Planning, Transport for London (TfL);

·  Elliot Treharne, Air Quality Manager, Greater London Authority (GLA); and

·  Simon Birkett, Founder, Clean Air in London Campaign;

5.2  A transcript of the discussion with guests is attached as Appendix 1.

5.3  During the course of the discussion, the Committee noted the following undertakings to provide additional information in writing:

·  TfL to provide detailed cost analysis for the adaption of the Congestion Charge Zone systems (e.g. the use of automatic number plate recognition technology to manage compliance within zones) together with comparative data for the introduction of a new system to manage compliance within the Ultra Low Emission Zone;

·  Mayoral Advisor, Environment and Political Affairs to confirm the Mayor’s response to recent reports that a fleet of electric minicabs (due to enter use in London) had to be delayed because only one of the 1,300 charge points had the requisite capacity to transmit a rapid charge to the vehicles;

·  TfL to confirm the proportion of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Alexandra Beer; [email protected]; 020 7983 4947

The Committee is recommended to agree to use the September meeting to discuss with invited experts the need for strategic guidance to enhance and manage London’s green infrastructure and biodiversity, together with the need to define the scope for any further work in this area.

6.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

6.2  Resolved: 

That the allocation of the meeting on 11 September 2013 to discuss the need for strategic guidance to enhance and manage London’s green infrastructure and biodiversity be agreed.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Ian Williamson; [email protected]; 020 7983 6541

The Committee is recommended to note its work programme and agree the approach to an investigation of green spaces and biodiversity.

7.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

7.2  Resolved: 

(a)  That the report be noted; and

(b)  That the approach to an investigation of green spaces and biodiversity be agreed.

The date of the next meeting of the Environment Committee is scheduled for 11 September 2013 in Committee Room 5, City Hall.

8.1  The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for Wednesday 11 September 2013 in Committee Room 5, City Hall.

9.1  There was no other business the Chair considered urgent.

10.1  The meeting ended at 12.16pm.