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

Minutes of meeting held at 14:00hrs on the 19th July 2006 at Thanet District Council

 Present: 

APOLOGIES AND WELCOME

                        Apologies for absence were received from:

1.0 MINUTES

1.1 The minutes of the meeting held on the 7th March 2006 have been circulated, were accepted and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

2.0 MATTERS ARISING

2.1 Noted that the secretary is being provided by Infratil.

2.2 Peter Bagley from Manston Parish Council has retired, Michael Denyer in place for MPC.

2.3 4.6 of previous minutes was raised. The Chairman advised that it had not been agreed by theCommittee that it changes its constitution, membership or terms of reference.

2.4 Point 6 was raised; Brian White responded that there is nothing firm to report on the new Section106 agreement and dialogue between Infratil and the Council was ongoing, it being understood by both organisations that the airport continues to operate under the existing 106 which remains the same.
2.5 The MAG representative, with reference to 9.2, drew the Committee’s attention to a report regarding named airports in the South Easter. Separately, Brian White will circulate the information to all Committee Members.

3.0 POSITION OF CHAIRMAN

3.1 The Chairman distributed Appendix 1 to all Committee members. After the Committee had been given time to read this Appendix the Chairman highlighted Point 9 which states that after and fair and independent selection process had been completed, the Selection Committee, chaired by the independent Chair of Standards at Thanet) recommended that this Committee endorse the of appointment of Mr. Paul Twyman to the position of Chairman. 

3.2 The Chairman requested that the KIACC confirm the appointment of the new Chairman as soon as possible and preferably before the next KIACC meeting as he did not feel it was appropriate for him to maintain his position given the potential conflict of interest in view of his position as Chief Executive of the Planning Authority, especially when TDC was in negotiation with KIA over a new s106. The Chairman then invited questions and discussion.

3,3 Several members expressed their concerns that they had not had any involvement in the selection process. The members felt that when the preferred three candidates were identified that they then should have each addressed the members of the Committee before any decision was made. 

3.4 The Chairman reminded the Committee that the selection process had been agreed at the last meeting and that it was clearly stated in the minutes of 7th March, which had just been approved by the Committee at the beginning of the meeting. TDC had followed the instructions of the Committee and had therefore fulfilled its obligation. It was also noted that the selection process was intended to be independent and that Infratil had accordingly not been involved. Several Committee Members felt that this was not what was agreed. 

3.5 A recommendation that the 3 personnel be invited before the Committee was made. This was seconded. 

3.6 The Chairman advised caution, and pointed out that all three potential candidates had been informed that the preferred candidate would need to be endorsed by the Committee. The Chairman also said that the two unsuccessful candidates in the selection process had been advised that they were not successful. Mr. Twyman had been informed that the decision of his appointment as Chairman would need to be endorsed by the Committee. 

3.7 After more discussions over the selection process and the agreement of the Committee, the Committee came to the view that it would like all three of the short listed candidates to appear and address the Committee, with a copy of each individual’s CV be supplied to each Committee member. The Chairman advised that he would have to contact each of the candidates to get their agreement, and he thought that none of them would be happy with this proposal even though all three of them would have been appointable. The selection process had been based on Leadership ability and independence, and he saw no value in an additional selection process. The Committee was reminded that each member had some form of representative or constituency role. The value of the Committee being that collectively it should represent the entire community. It therefore followed that because each Committee member had a sectional interest, an independent selection process would be difficult to achieve.

3.8 It was then moved that the Committee formally consider and vote on the proposal to have all three candidates appear before it. The Chairman agreed that the proposal would be put to a vote, but first the recommendation of Mr Twyman as Chairman had to be decided. The proposal was put to a vote and defeated.

3.9 In an attempt to draw the lengthy debate to a close the Chairman proposed to the Committee that all three candidates would be contacted and be invited to speak before them. The Chairman noted that this was against his better judgment and that in his view they were voting on a process that was flawed. 

3.10 Before pointing out that, in his opinion, the process was flawed, the Chairman then dealt with the motion that all three short listed candidates be contacted with the view to them addressing the Committee members. This was agreed by a clear majority.

3.11 The Committee noted that the agreed process should not be seen as an interview panel and a clear program of how the presentations will be conducted will be provided and made available to Committee Members and the 3 individuals. Committee Members suggested that a presentation on given topics could be appropriate rather than questions and answers.

3.12 The Chairman advised that, if possible, votes should be avoided and the approach should be consensual.

3.13 The Committee requested that after the appointment of a new Chairman consideration should be given to the creation of a new position of Vice Chairman to avoid recurrence of the current issue. It was agreed that this would be one of the first matters for the new Chairman to consider.

4.0 AIRPORT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 

4.1 Business to date

4.1.1 Phill Vann reported movements as per Appendix 2.

4.1.2 Kent Escapes are well underway, with good progress.

4.1.3 World Airways private charter from the USA has successfully run its programme, which will be repeated every two years.

4.2 New Business 

4.2.1 Passenger: Flights are scheduled for next summer season to run form KIA to Virginia with Cosmos.

4.2.2 Negotiations are ongoing for Esperia, a Greek owned company, to run passenger flights. No agreements at this stage have been signed.

4.2.3 Freight: Das Air Cargo already in place bringing in planes with Cargo and Technical checks.

4.2.4 Talks have been going on with a Middle East freight company; however, no agreements have been signed at this stage.

4.3 Other Business

4.3.1 The coastguard have been based back at KIA, and this was to go to press in this weeks papers.

5.0 AIRPORT STATISTICS

5.1 See Appendix 3 - the Chairman invited questions and answers.

5.2 The Committee member Mr Kirkaldie noted that there was one incident of night time flying during April 2006. 

5.3 He added that he believed that this incident of night time flying should be fined. Mr Kirkaldie saw the failure of KIA to notify the residents as indicative of Infratil being confrontational in their approach. He also highlighted that there was also a serious breakdown in communication in regards to the 106 agreement.

5.4 Phil Vann explained the aircraft in question had a noise category that was within the limits outlined in the s.106 agreement and was therefore compliant. KIA was in Mr Vann’s view very open in their approach and did all things necessary of it in relation to night time flying. He added that he did not therefore believe that Infratil were in fact being confrontational.

5.5 Several felt that there were quite a number of movements not following the flight path; Phill Vann advised that any situations recorded would be investigated.

6.0 UPDATE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

6.1 See appendix 4 - Chairman invited Pierre Abignano to update on the noise monitoring, and Paul Martin to update on Air Quality.

6.2 Pierre Abignano advised that there were various difficulties with the previous system of recording, and that 2 noise monitoring systems were now in place, being compliant with the 106 agreement.

6.3 Brian White then stated that it was both the view of the Council and Infratil that even though the traffic was significantly lower than April 2005 there were few complaints in comparison. Mr White went on to add that the Council, having reviewed the technical information in relation to the new noise monitoring equipment could confirm that it was compliant with the current s.106 agreement. It was also felt that given the low number of movements currently at the airport that it was a opportune time for a change. The objective was that data from the monitored records would eventually be shred on both the Council and Infratil website. 

6.4 Paul Martin reported that the Air Quality around the airport was found to be the same as in other areas around Thanet and that this is well below action levels. Again, the shared objective is that data will be posted on the websites.

6.5 Chairman invited any questions. 

6.6 Committee asked that if there were more aircrafts then would there be more pollution? Paul Martin advised that it would require a major increase in flights to influence the statistics. The night air pollution source in Thanet is road traffic. He pointed out that the big advantage of the monitoring regime is that trends are being monitored.

6.7 The question was raised in regard to the previous mobile noise monitoring system, which the Committee was told had been removed by Manchester Airport. Now arrangements with regard to the need for a mobile unit and its provision were under discussion.

7.0 MEMBERSHIP OF KIACC

7.1 See Appendix 5. Brian White recommend that, until a new Chairman is in place, this would be held in abeyance.

7.2 Chairman invited any questions.

7.3 Graham Murfet questioned the current level of Committee representation available to Trade Unions. The Chairman advised that they are included in the 1999 constitution, and will no doubt be included in discussions around future membership.

8.0 KIA COMMUNITY FUND

8.1 See Appendix 6

9.0 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

9.1 A question was raised in regard to Vortex and the potential hazard of residential houses being damaged. The CAA guidance covers only aircraft on aircraft issues, and is silent on property. It was felt that this subject is a matter for local discussion with the airport.

9.2 Phill Vann recommended that the Committee Members visit the airport, either individually or as a group.

9.3 A question was raised with regard to the secretarial arrangements. Phill Vann stated that the secretary will be provided by Infratil.

10.0 DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING

10.1 Next meeting two meetings to be held late September and mid December; dates to be circulated at a later stage, and meetings agreed to be held at the airport.

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