CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
DRAFT
FUTURE MEMBERSHIP AND FRAMEWORK
___________________________________________
1.0 Introduction
1.1 At the request of the Kent International Airport Consultative Committee (KIACC), this paper has been produced for consideration following discussion between the four relevant Local Authorities, these being:
Thanet
District Council
Dover District Council
1.2
The four Local Authorities recommend the general
content of this report for adoption but note that, because flight paths have the
potential to affect different communities across
1.3
The four Local Authorities had full regard to the
guidance produced by the Department of Transport on Airport Consultative
Committees in the production of this paper.
The guidance states that local arrangements for community engagement must
be in place at each Airport, but there is no prescriptive formula to follow.
It is the case that all Airports have a Consultative Committee, but they
do differ greatly. Some Airports,
especially the larger operations, have a principal Committee, supported by Sub-Committees.
1.4
In summary, this paper recommends that the
Consultation Committee is revised, with membership changes.
The new Committee will continue to meet the statutory obligation of the
Airport to have in place community consultation arrangements.
1.5
Separately, and not within the remit of the
Consultative Committee, the Local Authorities acknowledge that it is
advantageous to collectively meet with the Airport regarding strategic issues.
This has led to the conclusion that, outwith the Consultative Committee,
a new Advisory Group should be formed.
2.0
The
2.1
Not only will the KIA Consultative Committee continue to satisfy the
requirement that the Airport, within the context of the Civil Aviation Act 1982
and Department of Transport Guidance, has in place a satisfactory Consultative
Committee. Further, for the purposes
of Section 7 of the Section 106 Planning Agreement, dated September 2000, the
KIA Consultative Forum will replace the Manston Airport Consultative Committee (MACC).
2.2
Membership of the Committee must continue to
represent Committees with an interest in the Airport.
For example, Local Councils and communities under the flight path must be
represented, along with other stakeholders as listed below.
This will enable local neighbourhood concerns to continue to be raised.
|
Chairman - Independent, agreed by the Committee Members and the Airport |
|
|
Airport Users |
x 2 |
|
Airport Employees |
x 2 |
|
Local Councils in Thanet |
x 2 |
|
Local Councils in |
x 1 |
|
Local Councils in |
x 1 |
|
Chamber of Trade and Commerce |
x 1 |
|
Manston Airport Group |
x 1 |
|
Council for the Protection of
Rural |
x 1 |
|
|
x 1 |
|
Thanet District Council |
x 1 |
|
Dover District Council |
x 1 |
|
|
x 1 |
|
Ramsgate Residents |
x 1 |
As before, it will be up to the Organisations represented to select and appoint Members to the Committee. The schedule is not considered exclusive. From time to time, review may lead to changes in membership, reflecting changes in Airport usage for example.
2.3 The Chairman of the Committee must be independent, and not represent a sectional interest or Constituency Group.
2.4 Local Authority representatives will normally represent Wards/Divisions close to the Airport, or beneath the flight path. Elected Members may be accompanied by Officers to assist with technical matters. Officers from Thanet will regularly be in attendance to answer queries relating to planning and/or environmental monitoring (Environmental Health).
2.5 The Airport must always have management in attendance, and it will respond to requests for information. In accordance with the existing Section 106 Agreement, it will also fund the Consultative Committee – it being the successor of the MACC. Because of the size of the Committee, meetings will not take place at the Airport. The Committee can decide the venue of its meetings but, on at least an annual basis, a visit to the Airport to view and question operations will be appropriate. Environmental monitoring and Airport activity in terms of aircraft movements will be reported to the Committee by the Airport. Robust reporting from the Airport Owner, with commentary and corresponding reports from Environmental Health on air quality and noise, will be regular Agenda Items.
2.7
It is envisaged that the Committee would meet three times per year,
though this might need to be revisited as aircraft movement numbers increase.
The Consultative Committee can consider whether or not it should meet in
public. At present, the KIA
Consultative Committee meets in private, quarterly, but with one meeting in
public each year. A similar pattern
is followed by many other Committees, on the understanding that private meetings
foster frank discussion. Almost all
Airport Consultative Committees publish Minutes.
Debate on whether or not meetings are conducted in public is probably
merited in the case of KIA, and recently the editor of a local newspaper has, in
writing, expressed an interest in being able to attend meetings.
2.8
The Consultative Committee will need to keep up to date with current
Legislation and Guidance in respect of the Air Transport sector.
This will necessitate, from time to time, presentations from regulators,
other experts and, of course, the Airport itself.
Similarly, the Consultative Committee must be aware of the Business Plans
of the Airport because they, of course, impact on communities.
3.0 The
Airport Advisory Group
3.1
The purpose of the Advisory Group is to ensure that, collectively, the
Local Authorities share a Planning and Economic Agenda for
|
Chairman |
From within the Committee |
|
Elected Member |
Thanet District Council |
|
Elected Member |
|
|
Elected Member |
|
|
Elected Member |
Dover District Council |
|
SEEDA |
|
The elected Members will be agreed and appointed by their respective Local Authorities, and SEEDA will provide a named representative.
3.2 Elected representatives can be accompanied by employed Officers of the Authorities concerned, in order that they may assist with technical issues.
3.3
Meetings will take place at the Airport.
The public will not be in attendance.
3.4
The relationship between the Airport and the Local Authorities plus SEEDA
is a product of the quality of its strategic plans, and in particular the
Masterplan. To carry out its work,
the Advisory Group must also retain a keen awareness and understanding of the
economic social and environmental implications of the Airport in its regional
setting. This does not duplicate the
formal relationship between the Airport and the Planning Authority, nor does it
overlap with the role of the Consultative Committee.
3.5
To be effective in providing steerage and, if necessary, objective
criticism, the Advisory Group should maintain strategic focus.
This will necessitate knowledge of Regional Policy and understanding of
the relationship between development of the Airport in the context of South East
England. It is believed that the
membership proposed in this paper meets that requirement.
Clearly, the Members of the Group will report back to their Organisations
and, in turn, bring forward issues to the Group.
This process will reinforce strategic focus.
4.0
Conclusions and Summary
4.1
Council Officers believe that the framework set down in this paper
fulfils the twin aims of complying with Department of Transport guidance on the
achievement of good local community engagement, whilst it also enables Local
Authorities and SEEDA to be actively involved in the strategic development of
the Airport. Now, with a new Airport
Owner in place, is a good time to review and change.
2.
3.
Agreement pursuant to Section 106,
Town and Country Planning Act 1990
and Section 111 of the Local Government Act.
KIA and Thanet District Council - dated September 2000
Contact
B
J White
Head of Development Services
Thanet District Council