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KENT INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (K.I.A.C.C.)
Draft –
subject to approval
Minutes of the meeting held at 2.00pm
on Tuesday 20 November 2007 at the Passenger Terminal Building, Kent
International Airport
Present:
Chairman: Paul Twyman
Secretary: Pauline Hodding
Members:
John Bragg DDC & Sandwich Town Council
Len Claisse KAPC Canterbury
Bernard Clayson
St Nicholas & Sarre Parish Council
Jack Cohen
Birchington Parish Council
Nicholas Cole Monkton Parish Council
Gerry Glover Minster Parish Council
Sandra Hooper
KAPC Dover
Jon Inchley
Acol Parish Council
Malcolm Kirkaldie Manston Airport Group
Simon Moore Thanet District Council
(part of meeting only)
Michael Roberts
Thanet District Council
Kevin Whiffen T&G Section of UNITE
Substitute
Members: Hilton Holwill
Cliffsend Residents’ Association
Richard Nicholson
Thanet District Council
Reporting to
Committee
Matt Clarke KIA
Paul Martin Thanet District Council
Brian White Thanet District Council
In
attendance:
John Worrow Birchington Parish Council
APOLOGIES
Apologies for
absence were received from Rodney Chew, Ron Flaherty and Jack Mannering.
1.
UPDATE FROM CHAIRMAN
1.1
The Chairman and members of the Committee congratulated Matt Clarke on
his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of KIA.
1.2
The Chairman reported on a briefing meeting with Caroline Lucas MEP,
Green Party, with regard to
correspondence from local residents expressing anger at the airport operator,
TDC and the Committee. The
background, current situation and masterplan had been discussed together with a
specific issue of water run-off into Pegwell Bay.
It was felt that by Ms Lucas that the Environment Agency needed to be
more closely involved in this matter. Matt
Clarke reported to the committee that the Environment Agency is working very
closely with KIA consultants to conclude this issue.
1.3
A separate briefing meeting had been held with CPRE (Kent) which had
expressed an interest in joining the Committee.
Gerry Glover reminded members that the reconfiguration of the Committee
had been discussed the previous year when it had been decided not to include
CPRE. John Bragg advised that if one
national organisation were to be represented there would be difficulty in
refusing others. Jack Cohen pointed
out that Kent was the strongest branch of CPRE.
1.4
The Chairman recommended that, in the light of past experience, a
‘stand-in’ should be nominated to take the chair in the absence of the
Chairman.
IT
WAS AGREED:
That,
in the absence of Paul Twyman, Nick Cole should take the chair and, in the
absence of both Paul Twyman and Nick Cole, Richard Nicholson should take the
chair.
2.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE AND HANDLING COMPLAINTS
2.1
Matt Clarke explained that KIA was looking to upgrade the website for
real-time feedback from airport users, passengers and local residents including
complaints and comments. The
Committee was asked to provide a list of data fields to appear on the website.
Malcolm Kirkaldie had emailed suggestions on 19 November 2007 and Nick
Cole suggested the addition of counters to record the number of comments and the
individual tick boxes completed to assist with providing feedback to the
committee.
2.2
Malcolm Kirkaldie recommended that the provision of an automatic response
would provide a further audit trail and advised that provision should be made
for people without access to broadband or a computer.
Matt Clarke reported that the feedback procedure would be supplemented by
the website rather than replaced and that Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) would
also be provided online.
2.3
Brian White believed that TDC would be interested in cross referencing
the feedback obtained and suggested that complaints should be logged to identify
one person making several complaints as well as individual complainants and also
to identify those items which had been replied to.
2.4
The main purpose of the feedback was to identify which aircraft had
caused the complaint. Public confidence and trust depended upon action being
taken.
2.5
The Chairman reported that he had attended the latest Scrutiny Committee
meeting at TDC at which KIACC had been asked to provide evidence.
However TDC would be asked to clarify what would be done with the
information gathered. Nick Cole emphasised that investigation of complaints was
vital to see whether the S106 agreement had been breached and if so, whether
fines had been imposed. Matt Clarke
gave the instance of an Oasis flight which had drawn some complaints from the
public. The aircraft had been
performing lower than usual circuits
in order to achieve air display ratings for the Margate airshow. The pilot was
accompanied by a CAA inspector ensuring safety compliant flight levels were
maintained at all times. Letters had been sent out explaining the circumstances
to a few residents that had complained.It had not been possible to advertise the
flight in advance as the flight time relied upon suitable weather conditions to
enable it to take place.
2.6
Brian White stated that TDC would be better placed to answer public
questions and assess any breaches of the S106 agreement with the new format for
reporting noise and the new schedule of aircraft and relevant noise levels.
2.7
The availability of paper complaint forms was emphasised and Matt Clarke
confirmed that information would be provided on where these forms could be
obtained. District and Parish
Councils could publicise the contact details.
John Bragg stated that 90% of complaints would be made by telephone and
dedicated staff would be needed to deal with the call
IT WAS AGREED:
(a) That the data to be
captured on the website, duplicated on paper forms and used for registering
telephoned complaints should include:
(i)
the complainant’s location at time of complaint
(ii) approximate time
(iii) date
(iv) possibly the direction
(v) tick boxes for whether the complaint was about noise
or off route
(vi) box for other comments.
(b)
That there should be a
reference number for each complaint or comment and a more detailed reporting
system for complaint handling
(c)
That an automatic response be generated.
(d) That forms are Disability
Discrimination Act compliant and copies available in libraries, Parish and
District Council offices.
(e) That when possible staff
should be provided to answer
telephones.
(f)
That Matt Clarke will liaise with the Chairman on production of the draft webpage and the draft be emailed to Committee
members by the end of January 2008.
3.
AIR QUALITY REPORT
3.1
Brian White submitted a report on nitrogen dioxide and benzene air
quality report for June to September 2007 as recorded on the website www.kentair.org.uk
and noted that none had exceed the EU standards.
The ‘spikes’ on the graph covered 14 day periods and the causes were
not known but did not relate to aircraft. Matt
Clarke confirmed that flight activity for the relevant periods had been checked
and were all at low levels indicating that aircraft activity appeared to have a
negligible effect on local air quality.
3.2
All monitors had been checked and were functioning but TDC did not have
sufficient resources to undertake research into past peak levels.
Matt Clarke confirmed that the recorded aircraft movement levels included
all aircraft landing at or taking off from KIA, but not aircraft overflying the
area bound for other airports. Burning
tyres, ferries starting up and climate quirks would affect the recordings. The
purpose of the system was to establish trends and the data gathered was low in
comparison to national standards.
4.
AIRPORT UPDATE
4.1
The Committee received a presentation by Matt Clarke on the background to
the S106 agreement in respect of Runway 10 departures
towards Ramsgate and Runway 28 departures away from Ramsgate.
The five relevant guidance points were:
·
right turn 1.5 nm DME after departing Runway
28.
·
When carrying out circuits do not descend below
1500ft until final approach.
·
endeavour to fly over sea when operating in the
Northern circuit 3nm from centre point of runway except on final approach.
·
keep North and clear of Sandwich when operating
in the Southern training circuit
·
applies to aircraft over 5,700kg
4.2
Monkton and Minster were shown to be on the circuit due to their location
near the end of the runways. There
followed discussion over discrepancies between route maps produced in 2001 and
those shown in the presentation.
4.3
Matt Clarke confirmed that aircraft needed to take off and land into the
wind unless the wind was lighter than 5 knots and the Chairman asked if the
direction of travel could be changed from time to time for those training
flights on circular routes.
4.4
Nick Cole referred to the rules governing training as set out in the CAA
Notice issued in December 2005 and the significant changes made to a later
version which had not been notified to the Committee.
Matt Clarke explained that the rules of use of the airport as issued to
pilots are relate to airport capability and any restrictions applied are
governed by the operating capability of the airport.
4.5
Nick Cole queried why the permitted times of operation had been removed
and the Chairman asked whether TDC was aware of this.
Brian White stated that he needed to check the original S106 agreement
together with the attached plans showing the geographical area covered by the
airport. TDC had not agreed anything
with Infratil concerning training flights and Matt Clarke explained that he was
not aware of any previous agreement restricting the operator.
Any agreements reached with regard to training flights or aircraft routes
may have been with the previous operator and had not been passed on to Infratil.
The Chairman stated that the Committee should have been told about changes to
training flights at the ATC presentation.
4.6
Brian White stated that training flights had not been controlled on the
S106 planning agreement. It could be that an arrangement had been made between
the Committee and the original airport owner but the S106 did not
cross-reference with operating restrictions imposed by the airport and
promulgated in the Pilot Information Guide.
The S106 agreement was purely for planning purposes; owners and operators
worked with the CAA regarding take-off and landing information for pilots.
Local Traffic regulations were airport regulations.
IT
WAS AGREED:
(a)
That Brian White research the original S106 agreement and the routes
shown at that time and provide a written report to Committee.
5.
CAA REVIEW OF FUNCTIONS
5.1
The Chairman reported on the work of the House of Commons Transport
Select Committee and the establishment of a review of the CAA to which this
Committee might wish to contribute, in particular regarding regulations devised
by airports, the role of consultative committees, resources, links, etc.
IT
WAS AGREED:
That the Chairman research the nature
of the review and report back to the committee to decide upon whether or not to
contribute to the process.
(The
committee did not sanction the Chairman to do this on their behalf without
further consideration)
6.
PUBLIC MEETING
IT WAS AGREED:
(a)
That the meeting of the Committee to be attended by the public be
held on 5 December 2007 at 7.30pm in the Departure Hall of the airport.
(b) That publicity be
given to the event by a press release, through the Parish and District
Council network and on the websites of Thanet, Canterbury and Dover District
Councils.
(c) That
the agenda for the meeting contain:
(i) Airport
update presentation
- Matt Clarke
and Infratil's future plans
(ii) Complaints procedure
(iii) Air Quality and noise report
(iv) Community Fund report
(v) S106
agreement report
- TDC
(vi) Discharge consent update
- Matt Clarke
(d) That 30 minutes be included for public questions to be answered by
Matt Clarke and Brian White.
7.
BUDGET SUB-COMMITTEE
IT WAS AGREED:
That a
Sub-Committee be formed to determine and monitor the Committee’s budget
and the membership be comprised of the Chairman, John Bragg and Nick Cole.
8. COMMUNITY FUND
(Note No. 5/25/11/07)
IT WAS
AGREED:
(a) That
the applications for funding submitted by Herne & Broomfield Parish
Council and Monkton Village Hall Committee be considered by the Chairman,
Nick Cole and Ron Flaherty.
(b) That the contact for
application forms be the Secretary.
9. THANET DISTRICT COUNCIL
REPORT
9.1 Brian White reported
that a TDC Members’ Working Party was looking at the
S106 agreement and a meeting was scheduled before Christmas.
9.2 The Chairman wished to
know the purpose of the Working Group and that it would not detract from KIACC.
Brian White referred the Chairman to Councillor Bayford, Chairman of the TDC
Scrutiny Committee
10.
FUTURE MEETINGS
IT
WAS AGREED:
That
future meetings of the Committee be held on 11 March 2008, 17 June 2008, 23
September and 25 November 2008.
7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
7.1
Nick Cole referred to 17 flights outside hours and asked what fines had
been imposed and what monies were in the fund.
7.2
Matt Clarke replied that all movements between the hours of 2300 –
0700 had been reported to the committee. None
of the movements related to noisy aircraft as defined in the s106 agreement,
therefore none of the movements attracted a contribution to the community
fund. There are no scheduled or programmed night flights at KIA.
7.3
Brian White referred to the S106 agreement penalties schedule for
aircraft between the hours of 2300 and 0700 which were of a quota count
greater than 4. This figure had
been considered by TDC in 2000 to be appropriate but this was no longer the
case. TDC could only enforce the
rules and Infratil was complying with the rules.
7.4 Nick Cole suspected that
the rules had changed as they had previously referred to any movements over 4
with the exception of humanitarian flights.
Matt Clarke noted that this was incorrect and that the rules remain the same.
7.5 Malcolm Kirkaldie stated that
noise over 100dB caused a problem, that there was a night flying policy and
that it was a problem.
IT WAS AGREED: That this matter be
an agenda item for the next meeting.
The
meeting ended at 4.30pm
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