The Sub Committee considered the Zero Emissions Network Project Phase Tow presented by David Tolley (Head of Trading Standards and SC) and Selina Talukdar (Zero Emissions Project Officer).

David Tolley informed the Sub Committee of the following: -

·       The Zero Emissions Network (ZEN) Project is in Phase 2 covering the period April 2016 – March 2019;

·       The ZEN project is a partnership project between Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets Council to improve local air quality;

·       The project was awarded funding from the London Mayor’s Air Quality Fund (MAQF) and match funded by the respective boroughs;

·       In April 2016 the project secured £300,000 in the second round of MAQF to continue the project into Phase 2 until March 2019;

·       The total size of the MAQF grant allocation for Phase 2 of the ZEN in Tower Hamlets is £100,000;

·       Businesses are invited to apply for grant funding from the project of up to a maximum of £2000 to implement reduction measures such as installing cycle racks to encourage staff to travel sustainably;

·       The project is managed and delivered by the ZEN Senior Project Officer and 3 supporting staff based in Hackney;

·       The measure of success for the project is based on what is achieved;

·       A Progress report will be submitted at the end of the financial year and at the end of the project;

·       Tower Hamlets is declared an Air Quality Management Area under the UK Air Quality Strategy as it exceeds targets for 2 human health related pollutants (Nitrogen Dioxide and Particulate Matter); and

·       The Council is implementing a business engagement programme in Spitalfields & Banglatown, Weavers and Whitechapel areas called ZEN.

The Sub Committee welcomed measures to tackle air quality in the borough, which has recently been highlighted as being particularly poor.

Councillor Harrisson enquired about the impact of the cross borough working, how the success of the project will be measured and how many businesses had been engaged and noted that a third of the budget over the three boroughs (LBTH, Hackney, and Islington) went on staffing and was therefore keen to hear about the wider role of the Officer employed to manage this initiative.

David Tolley informed the Sub Committee that based upon the nature of the project it was difficult to measure the successes as the project was based upon air quality.

Selina Talukdar informed the Sub Committee that the staff costs involved all 3 officers across all 3 boroughs, with the Lead Project Officer being based at Hackney Council. She also commented that all 3 project officers were involved in engaging with businesses, staff training, case studies and evaluating data. Up to 300 businesses in Tower Hamlets have been contacted and offered support with awards, registrations, social media, website building and press releases relating to the project. There are pop-up events across the borough and bike repair workshops and electric vehicles and bicycle promotions as well.

The Sub Committee enquired about the measureable impacts on the borough’s air quality from the Phase One initiatives and wanted assurance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6