Agenda item

BIGGIN HILL AIRPORT NOISE ACTION PLAN REVIEW

Minutes:

Report HPR2022/001

 

Five years after the signing of the Deed of Variation on their lease with the Council, Biggin Hill Airport Limited (BHAL) had submitted a Noise Action Plan (NAP) review, as required. The Council had obtained independent reports on the review. BHAL’s NAP review and comments on the review were presented in the report together with next steps for further improvements. The report also considered BHAL’s overall compliance with the NAP. 

 

The report had been scrutinised by the Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee on 5th January 2022. The Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Christopher Marlow, thanked members of the public and Flightpath Watch for their submissions and stated his view that BHAL had not demonstrated full compliance with the NAP. He recognised that some Councillors had emphasised the importance of the thriving airport to the borough’s economy, but he felt that there was an issue of trust, that many people felt that the Airport had not kept to its commitments. He had therefore proposed amendments to the recommendations to require the Airport to provide further information by 30th June 2022. The PDS Committee had supported the amended recommendations, which the Executive accepted.

 

RESOLVED that

 

(1)  It is noted that Biggin Hill Airport Ltd (BHAL) has submitted a review of the Noise Action Plan (NAP), as required by the NAP and the Management Information Letter (MIL). 

 

(2)  The Flightpath Watch report and the work undertaken by the Council in conjunction with and following external legal advice, as requested by Flightpath Watch, is noted. 

 

(3)  The reports of RSK Acoustics dated 8 September 2021 and the Civil Aviation Authority dated 20 December 2021 be noted. 

 

(4)  It is noted that the Council has forwarded the above reports to BHAL and they have acknowledged receipt of the same.  

 

(5)  It is noted that the review of the NAP submitted by BHAL does not fully demonstrate compliance, owing to a failure to provide evidence in connection with various actions as set out in the Civil Aviation Authority report (CAA report) dated 20 December 2021, with particular reference to Appendix C of the CAA report. Reference is also made to clause 4.33 of the NAP, which requires BHAL ‘to assess performance with respect to the previously forecast noise envelope… by reference to the number of people and dwellings affected’. 

 

(6)  Officers be authorised to inform BHAL of the conclusion reached under recommendation 2.5, and to request an updated review of the NAP that addresses areas of the review that have been highlighted as requiring evidence, to be submitted to the Council no later than 30 June 2022, in order to allow for a report to be brought to the Executive as set out in (13) below. 

 

(7)  It is noted that no Executive Decision will be considered regarding the tenure of the airport until the updated review as set out in recommendation 2.5 is received by the Council, and deemed by the Executive to fully demonstrate compliance, or explain non-compliance with appropriate reparative measures and timescales for implementation. 

 

(8)  Officers be instructed to assist BHAL with the preparation of the updated review described in recommendation 2.6 upon request. 

 

(9)  Officers be authorised to prepare a report detailing potential improvements to the NAP using best industry practice, as recommended by the CAA, having regard to feedback from residents and as proportionate to the size of the airport.  

 

(10)  It is noted that the work referred to in paragraph (9) above is to include but not be limited to the following: 

 

(a) The suggestions made within the attached reports, including the updating of noise modelling software, as recommended in paragraph 56 of the CAA report; 

(b) Consideration of noise levels as monitored by noise contours with regard to governmental guidelines, as suggested in para 2.8 of the RSK Acoustics report; 

(c) Limiting hours when circuits can be flown as suggested in para 9.3 of the RSK Acoustics report .

 

(11) Officers be authorised to request BHAL provide additional and ongoing evidence of adherence to the existing Noise Action Plan, particularly through the forum of the Airport Consultative Committee. 

 

(12) Officers be authorised to request that BHAL provide information and produce a timetable for the implementation of the outstanding “reasonable endeavours” provisions of the NAP. 

 

(13) It is noted that a further report will be presented to the Executive in autumn 2022 detailing progress against the recommendations identified in the report. 

Supporting documents: