Eastleigh Borough Council Airport Consultative Committee Meeting

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

RESOLVED –

It was agreed that Councillor Janice Asman be elected as Vice-Chair for 2024/25.

RESOLVED –

It was agreed that Laura Johnston be appointed as Honorary Secretary for 2024/25.

The Committee was asked to consider revisions to the Committee membership and resulting changes to the Committee’s constitution.

RESOLVED –

That the revisions to the Committee membership and resulting changes to the Committee’s constitution be agreed.

Members of the Consultative Committee were reminded of the Code of Conduct for meetings (Agenda Item 6) and asked to agree to abide by its principles.

RESOLVED –

That the Committee agreed to abide by the Member Code of Conduct.

The Chair welcomed Gavin Williams as the new Managing Director for AGS Airports Ltd.

The Managing Director for AGS Airports Ltd gave his report (appended to minutes), which included actions completed from the last meeting, route updates, current and future key developments, evolving opportunities at the airport, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance’s relocation to the airport, Spitfire Wellbeing Fund, and community engagements.

The Managing Director for AGS Airports Ltd updated the Airport Consultative Committee that the passenger numbers were now forecast to be under 1 million for 2024.

The Head of Planning and Development for AGS Airports Ltd gave his report (appended to minutes, Item 123).

Councillor Savage queried the long term plan for five million passengers, as planning permission had only been granted for up to three million.

The Head of Planning and Development for AGS Airports Ltd confirmed that they would need to apply for further planning permission if they wanted to allow five million passengers, but that this was a long term plan and was not expected to happen any time soon.

The Terminal Operations Manager for AGS Airports Ltd gave his report (Agenda Item 9).

The Chair and Vice-Chair congratulated the airport on achieving this status for the first time.

Head of Airside Operations for AGS Airports Ltd gave his report (appended to minutes, Item 123).

Head of Airside Operations for AGS Airports Ltd confirmed that the website had been updated with an explanation on how the noise contours for the Noise Insulation Scheme worked, as requested at the last meeting, and that no households currently qualified under the scheme.

Head of Airside Operations for AGS Airports Ltd informed the Airport Consultative Committee that complaints had increased, and there had been 229 complaints from 34 households, with the majority of complaints from the Bitterne Park area.

Councillor Cooper queried how the Noise Forum membership was constituted, and who was on it.

The Head of Planning and Development for AGS Airports Ltd responded that the terms of reference and membership information was available on the Noise Forum website.

Councillor Harwood raised concerns on how the noise contours were measured and that they were being misrepresented. He requested that the airport arranged for soundings to be taken from the Broadwater area before the next meeting, so that they could be further discussed.

The Chair stated that it may be more appropriate for that request to be raised at the Noise Forum, but it would be looked into.

Councillor Asman introduced the item and encouraged people with disabilities who were planning to travel from Southampton Airport to get in contact with the assistance team, or visit the assistance pages on the airport’s website.

John Lauwerys raised a procedural point that it would be helpful to have the information in the slides attached to the agenda so that people have time to read and digest the information in advance.

The next meeting will take place on Friday 7 February 2025 at 2pm in the Oak Suite at The Holiday Inn, Eastleigh.

A member of the public spoke to ask whether a representative for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance could be invited to meetings of the Airport Consultative Committee, and whether it could be considered that they be given a place on the Committee.

It was confirmed that Richard Corbett, Chief Executive for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was at today’s meeting.

The Chair responded that any changes to the Committee membership would be discussed outside of the meeting, and brought before the Committee to agree changes once decided.