I am speaking to the proposals relating to traffic and transport. My colleague Cllr. Wares will speak in more detail about our amendments and I’d like to thank the Green Group for their amendments.  
 
As a supporter of sustainable and active travel and being the first cycling champion to be nominated by any of the political groups some time ago, I welcome the Green amendment on cycle routes under DM33. 

I am also pleased to see the amendments for DM35 strengthening the requirement for transport and environmental management plans to be required for developments and as they affect Air Quality Management Areas. I must note however the hypocrisy in the position that developers must assess transport and environmental impacts on AQMAs but there is no support from the Greens to compel the Council to undertake the same assessments for the cumulative impact of transport schemes such as Valley Gardens and Duke’s Mound. 
 
There are four Green amendments we cannot support relating to DM36. Whilst the Council continue to expand its own housing stock providing facilities for cars, it is unreasonable to place car-free criteria on other developers. Likewise, whilst our city has such inadequate alternative infrastructure for people to use instead of needing a car, developments must provide a choice. I do understand that those councillors who serve inner city urban areas have the benefit of cycle lanes and public transport. Those of us who serve the suburbs see a different picture. 
 
We are unable to support the Green’s amendments to wipe out any infrastructure for low or ultra-low vehicles in preference to zero exhaust emission vehicles. Not everybody is as blessed as the Greens to be able to afford fully electric or hydrogen vehicles and we must provide infrastructure that is of help to our citizens today as it will be in the future. Neither do we want to force developers to make decisions to build or not based on a vehicle type that may be presently unaffordable to most, unless of course the Greens intend all new homes that have cars only to be available to the well off. 
 
Again, there is a hypocrisy embedded in the proposals. The Greens are supporting Labour to allow Bikeshare bikes to be transported around on the back of diesel trucks, the city is replacing its larger vehicles with diesel models, we know that North Street is the 7th most polluted street in the UK outside of London because of buses, most of which are diesel. 
 
So, for me, perhaps before we start thinking about creating an Orwellian state in the city, the Greens perhaps should help their Labour coalition partners sort their own house out first.