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KENT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (K.I.A.C.C.)

APOLOGIES AND WELCOME

Apologies for absence were received from:

Sam Hodgson	Acol Parish Council
Dennis Hart	Ramsgate Residents alternate R Nicholson
Bob Weaver	Cliffsend Res. Assn. alternate J Mannering
Graham Murfet	TGWU

The Chairman welcomed Steve Fitzgerald, CEO Infratil, and Philip Vann, General Manager KIA. Members of the committee introduced themselves. Mr Fitzgerald had 15 years experience of running airports. Alastair Robertson welcomed the fact that the Infratil Group had financial backing that previous owners had lacked.

1.1 The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2005, having been previously circulated, were accepted and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

2.1 Radar Upgrading/ off route flying. (Cllr Flaherty and Malcolm Kirkaldie) These matters would be addressed under Item

3.1 Business to date: Steve Fitzgerald reported that in the period 26 August to 20 October there had been:

3.1.1  21 freight movements (with a current schedule of 3 weekly 747 freighters plus other ad-hoc movements from a number of customers)
3.1.2  1 charter passenger flight
3.1.3  17 military movements, some with troops and cargo
3.1.4  10 training flights including British Airways
3.1.5  4 positioning flights
3.1.6  27 corporate and general aviation flights
3.1.7 Red Arrows

3.2 Future targeted business:

3.2.1 Freight: Target areas would include; further growth of fresh produce; to develop a strong reputation for specialist freight; and, in the longer term, to attract general cargo carriers from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and other airports, and capture the future growth of general freight.
3.2.2 Passenger: Mr Fitzgerald had recently attended a route conference at which some interest had been expressed in KIA. A route development study was underway to ascertain where Kent residents fly to from other airports. After analysis, opportunities would be put to passenger airlines. Targets would include: business services (i.e. high frequency turbo-prop flights to key cities); low cost leisure services; charter flight operators such as Newmarket; and in the longer term long haul international services.
3.2.3 Associated target areas would include; corporate and general aviation; training and military operations; maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses and support industries; logistics and distribution business; and airport-related commercial businesses.

3.3 Mr Fitzgerald responded to various questions as follows:

3.3.1Development of passenger services would be gradual, hopefully reaching 6-700,000 in 3 years from more than one carrier.
3.3.2 British Airways cargo had decided to remain based at Stansted but would be targeted along with others.
3.3.3 An express carrier would be welcomed.
3.3.4 Cities served by turbo-prop flights might include Amsterdam, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin and Brussels.
3.3.5 Consultation was in hand regarding an updated radar tracking system.
3.3.6 Mr Fitzgerald had not seen the piece in the local press where he had been quoted as saying KIA was a 24hr a day airport.
3.3.7 An increase in MK Airlines cargo flights would be welcomed
3.3.8 Infratil had signed up to the existing S106 Agreement.

4.1 Infratil’s proposals for KIA included investment in people and facilities; a radical improvement in value delivered to the region; and improvement in environmental issues. These aims would be achieved by:

4.1.1 Partnership with the community, regional and local government and the economic development agency
4.1.2 Noise monitoring and limiting; attracting new airlines with modern aircraft and phasing out older aircraft
4.1.3 Preferential routing and investment in radar
4.1.4 Removal and cleansing of below ground fuel installations; investment in a new fuel farm.

4.2 Consultative Committee: The Company viewed the consultative committee as a vital component in the successful working partnership with stakeholders. The committee should be:

4.2.1 Independent – airport owner and management not formal members; independent Chair
4.2.2 Representative of all main interests including customers and clients; local and regional governments; economic development organisations; communities; and government agencies
4.2.3 Manageable and meaningful – broad agenda encompassing all main areas of interest; a clear remit and accountability; membership should be limited to 20 (supplemented by sub-committees if required); and administrative resources and support to be provided by Infratil.
4.2.4 Mr Fitzgerald proposed that a Review Sub-Committee be formed with the following terms of reference:

4.2.4.1 to review the membership of KIACC :
to be consistent with DfT guidelines;
to ensure that all key stakeholder issues are represented in a balanced way;
to have a productive number of members
4.2.4.2 to identify and recommend a Chair independent of the airport and key stakeholders; with a strong understanding of Kent issues, and ideally willing to Chair on a voluntary basis.
4.2.4.3 The Review Sub-Committee to be comprised of one member from each of KCC; TDC; CCC, and DDC, with Infratil available to assist as required.

4.3 The Chairman said he had already considered the committee overly large (especially given the need to introduce new members as business developed) but emphasised the requirement to preserve the interests of all parties.

4.4 During lengthy discussion, the following points were made:

4.4.1 The review sub-committee should include community representatives
4.4.2 It would not be ethical for existing committee members to review themselves

4.5 Richard Samuel, CEO Thanet District Council, proposed that a group be formed of officers from the four authorities. This group to obtain views of all parties and after analysis report back to KIACC by the next meeting. A majority were in favour. Mr Samuel suggested a dedicated website (linked from the TDC website) could receive views.

The chairman remarked that the group would need to consult community groups as appropriate.

5.1 Presented by Alastair Robertson, the report was received and noted.
5.2 Steve Fitzgerald confirmed that complaints were being received and recorded and asked for forbearance whilst the system was under review. The website had been owned by Planestation, but complaints could be made by telephone and e mail.
5.3 The following items were raised:

5.3.1 Need for Complaints system to be more user-friendly
5.3.2 MK aircraft flying off-route
5.3.3 No alteration to routes had been made

6.1 Steve Fitzgerald stated that noise monitoring was still being undertaken by Manchester Airport consultants, but as Infratil had not yet concluded a contract with them readings were not yet being notified.
6.2 Paul Martin summarised the Benzene and Nitrogen Dioxide reports for the months of June, July and August 2005. It was noted that all monitoring was below UK and EU Action Levels. Mr Martin confirmed that the contract with the Airport owners was being re-established.

7.1 Brian White reported that the results of the consultation were available on the TDC website. A productive meeting with Infratil had been held, but there would be an inevitable interval before the Agreement was renegotiated, due to change of ownership of the Airport.

8.1 The Chairman read out the position statement of the fund

Grants paid out since 1 April 2005 £4575
Grant funding pledged dependent on conditions being met £500
Balance in the Fund as at 6 October 2005 £3153.50
Less Grant monies promised £500

TOTAL £2653.50

8.2 Nick Cole and Malcolm Kirkaldie asked if outstanding fines (thought to be in the region of £20,000) that had been due from MK Airlines since 2003 had been paid. Steve Fitzgerald said he had been informed that no monies remained outstanding. Cllr Nicholson’s view was that as the agreement had been between TDC and PlaneStation, the matter was now closed.

9 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 4.30pm.

Date of next meeting during the 2^nd half of January 2006 would be notified. Recommendations regarding the composition of the committee would hopefully be available for presentation at that meeting.