14 members present, with 4 apologies.
Helen Hughes, Environmental Adviser, gave a presentaio on the Noise Action Plan being developed by the Airport Company. A sub-group of Committee members, representing areas close to the airfield, had been advising during this process. Members from Ponteland and Hazlerigg agreed to feedback their comments.
The current post holders were elected as Chairman and Deputy Chairman for the coming year.
It was also confirmed that the Airport Company would continue to provide secretariat services.
The list of membership organisations was reviewed. It was identified that 2 local authorities who are part owners of the Airport are currently not represented and they will be invited to nominate members. Further efforts to encourage business representation will be made.
New members who have not attended a tour of the Airport and its facilities will be invited to do so in 2010. They will also be sent copies of the Committee’s Terms of Reference (these are available in the Committee’s section of the Airport website).
The Chairman had circulated copies of a short report on the availability of drinking water fountains and baggage arrival times at other UK airports, which had been obtained through the Liaison Group of Airport Consultative Committees. The report was accepted by members.
At this point in the meeting, the Chairman introduced Will Dougherty, the newly appointed Director of Operations. WD gave members an insight into his plans for moving the Landside Operations forward. He gave an undertaking to report on baggage statistics in Sept. 2010.
Graeme Mason, Head of Plannng and Corporate Affairs, reported on a recent visit to Newcastle by Passenger Focus, which he and the Chairman had attended. The Government has suggested that PF should take over responsibility for consumer issues associated with aviation. They had taken this opportunity to stress to the PF Board that, if this happened, PF should take on members of the Air Users’ Council staff, who have acquired much expertise over the years.
GM reported that difficult trading conditions remain and will do so into 2010. However the Airport had achieved very high punctuality statistics this year. He reported that he had written to the Prime Minister about the impact rising Air Passenger Duty will have on this region. The Airport hotel is now complete, but the hotel company will need its booking engine in place for some time before it opens. The Petrol Station has reported good trading and, in response to a suggestion, GM will discuss directional signage on the main road with the authorities.
He reported that Northumberland County Council has established a central Wind Farm Team to manage applications, which continue to ‘flood in’. This may be helpful to the Airport Company.
The regular Environmental Monitoring work had seen a considerable rise in noise complaints over the summer months, due to helicopter pleasure flights operating from Newcastle Racecourse. The Airport has no control over these and complaints should be directed to the Racecourse or the city council. While sympathising with the complainants, it was agreed to remove these complaints from airport statistics. The Committee expressed its pleasure that complaints about aspects of Airport service were very low.
Finally members commented that the Airport Police had been very supportive during a recent incident in Dinnington.
The next meeting will be on 2nd December.