Agenda item

13.1

Acceptance was sought for £4,033,566 of DEFRA / DfT Implementation Fund grant funding awarded towards delivery of the Sheffield and Rotherham Clean Air Plan to achieve legal NOX levels within the shortest possible time.

Approval was also sought for £6.176m of the existing DEFRA / DfT Clean Air Fund (CAF) award to be included in the Capital Programme to enable Financial Support Measures (grants) be provided to owners of Clean Air Zone (CAZ) non-compliant to upgrade their vehicles.

13.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Finance Sub-Policy Committee:-

1.     Accept the additional grant funding of £4,033,566 awarded to Sheffield City Council as the accountable body by the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Transport to enable the Council to comply with its statutory duty to implement the Sheffield & Rotherham Clean Air Plan as the Direction from the Secretary of State received on 13th July 2022.

2.     Approve the inclusion of in the Capital Programme of a scheme of grant assistance to Bus, Coach and HGV owners as described in the report to a value of £6.176m.

13.3

Reasons for Decision

13.3.1

The £4,033,566.00 Implementation fund grant award needs accepting to enable implementation to progress to progress within the required timescale. Without this the funding will not be available when required and could cause delay and / or will require expenditure at risk.

13.3.2

The £6.7m of the CAF funding needs including on the capital programme to progress within the required timescale. Without this approval the funding will not be available when required and may delay roll-out of the FSM’s grant and loans designed to mitigate some of the financial impacts of the CAZ charging zone.

13.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

13.4.1

Options were assessed throughout the outline business Case and Full business case process. Proposals are now final and the Local Authority is Directed to implement the measures to achieve legal compliance by 2023.

12.1

The Head of Strategic Development and External Programmes introduced the report which sought acceptance for £4,033,566 of DEFRA / DfT Implementation Fund grant funding awarded towards delivery of the Sheffield and Rotherham Clean Air Plan to achieve legal NOX levels within the shortest possible time.

Approval was also sought for £6.176m of the existing DEFRA / DfT Clean Air Fund (CAF) award to be included in the Capital Programme to enable Financial Support Measures (grants) be provided to owners of Clean Air Zone (CAZ) non-compliant to upgrade their vehicles.

12.2

Members raised questions and gave comments, and responses were given surrounding funding, infrastructure, level of support to taxi drivers, timings to launch the scheme and funding. It was clarified that the £6.17m and the £4m was not applicable to taxi drivers but that part of the £20m package of wider support will be available to taxi drivers and LGVs.

12.3

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Finance Sub-Policy Committee:-

1.    Accept the additional grant funding of £4,033,566 awarded to Sheffield City Council as the accountable body by the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Transport to enable the Council to comply with its statutory duty to implement the Sheffield & Rotherham Clean Air Plan as the Direction from the Secretary of State received on 13th July 2022.

2.    Approve the inclusion of in the Capital Programme of a scheme of grant assistance to Bus, Coach and HGV owners as described in the report to a value of £6.176m.

12.4

Reasons for Decision

12.4.1

The £4,033,566.00 Implementation fund grant award needs accepting to enable implementation to progress to progress within the required timescale. Without this the funding will not be available when required and could cause delay and / or will require expenditure at risk.

12.4.2

The £6.7m of the CAF funding needs including on the capital programme to progress within the required timescale. Without this approval the funding will not be available when required and may delay roll-out of the FSM’s grant and loans designed to mitigate some of the financial impacts of the CAZ charging zone.

12.5

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

12.5.1

Options were assessed throughout the outline business Case and Full business case process. Proposals are now final and the Local Authority is Directed to implement the measures to achieve legal compliance by 2023.