ADD2064 Urban partnership agenda work package 2

The GLA is a member of the Urban Agenda Partnership. This is a grouping of the European Commission, member states and European cities who are working together to address urban air quality issues. More information on the partnership is provided below.
The partnership has adopted four key interlinked actions. The GLA is leading action 2 and requires consultancy support to fulfil its commitments under this action.
Action 2 relates to mapping the existing regulatory and funding structure in place at the European level, identify where gaps or contradictions may exist and how these could be resolved. Case studies will be used to illustrate the effect of these gaps or contradictions.

The GLA is seeking the services of a consultant to complete the activities listed below. Consultants are invited to make alternative proposals if they have other suggestions for the best way of completing this work:
Stage 1: Scoping exercise focusing on all pollutants and sources (first two months). This is meant to create a general overview that forms the basis for choosing where to focus the more detailed analysis.

Stage 2: Undertake a more detailed analysis for the most important pollutants and sources as identified in stage 2 (second two months), making specific recommendations about changes that need to be made to rectify any deficiencies.

Stage 3: After Stages 1 and 2 are complete, the partnership will choose three cities for case studies which trace the impact of EU legislation and funding (including the impact of a lack of EU legislation and funding) on achieving compliance in the real world. The consultants will need to use the outputs of action 1 to identify why cities still exceed EU legal limits even in the cases where the EU has notionally legislated to provide tools, funding or to take action to improve air quality. It should also include an analysis of the interaction between EU and national legislation on air quality to determine how this positively or detrimentally affects the ability of cities to achieve compliance, and to make associated recommendations (final two months).

This project won’t have any detrimental impact on those with protected characteristics. Ensuring that this work is done will in fact help tackle inequality caused by air pollution.

The work is in line with the Air Quality strategy for London. Under the GLA Act 1999 the Mayor of London has legal responsibility for preparing an Air Quality Strategy for London (now subsumed within the London Environment Strategy) and leads on the implementation of measures in the capital to tackle pollution emissions, reduce exposure, raise awareness and integrate air quality and public health.

5.1 ADD2049 approved expenditure of up to £15,000 for consultants to produce a report on the European Legislative Framework for Air Quality. Approval is now being sought for the additional expenditure of £11,000; this will bring the total expenditure on consultancy to £26,000. The cost of this work will be funded from Environment’s European Funded Project 2016-17 Budget.

5.2 As this work relates to a consultancy contract, officers have to ensure that the requirements of the Authority’s Contracts & Funding Code are adhered to and that the requirements relating to consultancy services within the Authority’s Financial Regulations and Expenses & Benefits Framework are adhered to.

5.3 Any changes to this proposal, including budgetary implications, will be subject to further approval via the Authority’s decision-making process.