Eastleigh Borough Council Airport Consultative Committee Meeting

Councillor John Savage requested that it was recorded that the Appointment of Chair should have been the first item on the agenda of this meeting.

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

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 4) and asked to agree to abide by its principles.

RESOLVED –

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

The Operations’ Director reported that:

·  There had been no safety issues or incidents reported in the last 4 months.

·  The vaccine and testing centre at the airport was now closed.

·  Financial losses of £4.7m were expected for 2022.

·  British Airways had started flying 11 routes from 30 April, but they had lost Nice and Florence.

The Operations’ Director provided a timeline for airspace change and modernisation (see appended slides).

It was reported that between 1 January 2022 and 21 May 2022, 180 noise complaints were received from 41 households. 112 complaints had been received from the Bitterne Park area, and 53% of those 112 were from one household.

Councillor Savage pointed out that the while the email address link to report noise complaints was buried at the bottom of the noise page on the website, the link to the online noise reporting form on the noise complaints page failed to work. In addition, the link to the noise action plan didn’t work.

The Operations Director stated he would ensure it was looked at and links corrected after the meeting.

Lisa Hayes reported that Townhill Park residents had raised concerns to her that they felt aircraft noise was currently noisier than before, and wondered whether it was linked to more flights departing and landing.

The Operations Director explained that prevailing winds could also play a part in how sound travels and that there had been no major changes in airport operations that should have resulted in the residents hearing more noise, although there was a slight difference in plane size on some routes between summer and winter. He also added that it is always worth people putting a complaint in with the day and time as sometimes, when the airport’s airspace is closed, other airport’s flights will fly over and it could be them that people are hearing.

Dave Cox explained to the Committee that there can also be thrust differences in relation to load and weather that can sometimes means planes sound louder, and also that there were more flights now than there had been in the last couple of years due to the pandemic.

Councillor Bunday pointed out that some people did not complain to the airport as they did not have faith in the complaint’s procedure, but that they did complain often to their local councillors.

RESOLVED:-

That members of the Airport Consultative Committee agreed to keep an advance copy of the Noise Action Plan, which would be sent out via email, confidential.

The Operations Director presented the report.

The Operations Director invited representatives from each council to sit down with the airport and the Sustainability Director to discuss how carbon offsetting works and what options are available if the three councils wanted to change how it is offset for next year.

The Operations Director reported that Justice Holgate had handed down his judgement to dismiss the Judicial Review on 23 May 2022.

The campaigners have since lodged an appeal.

The Operations Director confirmed that the Navigator Quarter team for Solent Freeport were working closely with Eastleigh Borough Council and Hampshire County Council to establish options for highways improvements to access the site.

The Operations Director updated the Committee that the Accessibility Forum had met in April and that Councillor Janice Asman was appointed as Chair.

The Operations Director extended an invite to any charities and groups that wanted to join the Forum, and asked people to contact him with suggestions.

Customer feedback was generally positive, and Winchester Area Access for All had attended and carried out an audit of the site, which they had found good with a few small points of feedback around signage needed to be larger.

Councillor Savage requested that Southampton City Council’s recent accessibility report be taken on board by the Forum.

Councillor Cook queried whether signage for blind visitors was taken into account when the consultation was carried out.

The Operations Director confirmed he would look into whether signage for blind visitors was part of the consultation and come back to the Committee with a full answer in the future.

The next Accessibility Forum was due to take place in October, with a date set to be confirmed.

The Operations Director stated all items discussed at the meeting had been covered in today’s agenda.

There were two nominations for Appointment of Chair for 2022/23.

A recorded vote for each took place.

Councillor Tim Groves for Chair:

For - 8

Against - 7

Abstain - 5

Councillor John Savage for Chair

For - 6

Against - 8

Abstain - 6

RESOLVED –

It was agreed that Councillor Tim Groves be elected as Chair for 2022/23.

There were two nominations for Appointment of Vice-Chair for 2022/23.

A recorded vote for each took place.

Councillor Janice Asman for Vice-Chair:

For - 11

Against - 4

Abstain - 5

Councillor John Savage for Vice-Chair

For - 4

Against - 11

Abstain - 5

RESOLVED –

It was agreed that Councillor Janice Asman be elected as Vice-Chair for 2022/23.

RESOLVED –

It was agreed that Laura Johnston be appointed as Honorary Secretary for 2022/23.

It was agreed the next meeting would take place on Friday 7 October 2022 via Microsoft Teams.