A Tolhurst welcomed everyone to the July meeting of the Airport Consultative Committee (ACC). 

Apologies for absence were noted as above.

A Tolhurst opened the meeting setting the current scene.  He said that, since March last year we had all got used to a new way of working, and for some, the current arrangement is preferred to how things were in the past.

But, we are nearly at the end of the road map which has had such an impact on our lives.  We are now about to enter a new transition phase.  But can we go back to how things were in 2019? 

Will the general public take to heart the Prime Minister’s urging to use their common sense?  Mixed messages have been a feature of government announcements over the last sixteen months and there is still time before Monday next for further guidance to be issued.

A Tolhurst accepted that it could not be easy to strike a clear path out of the pandemic given its unpredictable nature.  But clarity of message must surely be the guiding principle.

Locally, residents had got used to the relative lack of activity at DSA over the last 16 months, but as the shackles on overseas travel are removed we hope the airport will get busier.  It will be almost like going back to how it was in 2005 when the airport was opened. 

But how will local residents respond to increased activity?  A Tolhurst suggested that Members should perhaps be prepared for an increase in noise complaints.

To prepare for the coming changes, Members would be looking at the pattern of historical noise complaints at Agenda Item 9.

How will the aviation industry respond to the demands of moving to a net zero-carbon world?  As aircraft take to the skies and aviation operations resume, a move to Greener Air Travel will be pressing with operating costs likely to increase .  But how will passengers react to increased fares?

And how will air traffic management systems cope with ever-more crowded skies as use of drones expands and introducing flying cars will pose real challenges?

Concluding his introduction, A Tolhurst said that, while the future looks encouraging there are many challenges which will need clear government leadership to navigate stormy skies.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the ACC meeting held on 15^th April 2021 be agreed as a correct record. 

A Tolhurst informed Members that an ACC Newsletter had produced and published in the local editions of the ‘Today’ Magazines.  It was proposed that further Newsletters would be produced and published bi-monthly following the quarterly ACC meeting. 

Members are requested to note the following changes of membership on the Airport Consultative Committee:

Ø   Doncaster MBC have appointed Councillor Joe Blackham (in place of ex-Councillor Bill Mordue).

Ø   Doncaster MBC have appointed Councillor Barry Johnson (in place of ex-Councillor Mick Cooper).

Ø   Doncaster MBC have appointed Councillor Glyn Jones as the SASIG Member. 

Ø   Doncaster MBC have re-appointed Councillors Steve Cox and Martin Greenhalgh to the Committee. 

Ø   Bassetlaw District Council have re-appointed Councillor David Pidwell and Councillor Sybil Fielding (as Substitute). 

Ø   Sheffield City Council have re-appointed Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs.

Ø   Barnsley MBC have re-appointed Councillor Robin Franklin.

Ø   Nottinghamshire County Council have appointed County Councillor Nigel Turner (in place of County Councillor Tracey Taylor). 

A Tolhurst welcomed new and re-appointed Members to the ACC. 

RESOLVED – That Members noted the following changes of membership on the ACC:-

Ø   Doncaster MBC have appointed Councillor Joe Blackham (in place of ex-Councillor Bill Mordue).

Ø   Doncaster MBC have appointed Councillor Barry Johnson (in place of ex-Councillor Mick Cooper).

Ø   Doncaster MBC have appointed Councillor Glyn Jones as the SASIG Member. 

Ø   Doncaster MBC have re-appointed Councillors Steve Cox and Martin Greenhalgh to the Committee.  

Ø   Bassetlaw District Council have re-appointed Councillor David Pidwell and Councillor Sybil Fielding (as Substitute). 

Ø   Sheffield City Council have re-appointed Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs.

Ø   Barnsley MBC have re-appointed Councillor Robin Franklin.

Ø   Nottinghamshire County Council have appointed County Councillor Nigel Turner (in place of County Councillor Tracey Taylor). 

K Stow provided the Committee with a verbal update on airport business. 

Members were informed that DSA was extremely challenged by the current situation with regards to Government guidance on international travel.  The main issue for DSA was the changeability. 

In order to drive consumer confidence, which in turn drives airline confidence, DSA required a system which gives customers reliability in terms of when they book a holiday, it is seen through. 

DSA believed that the current traffic light system was not fit for purpose and the three-weekly changes were making it very difficult for airlines to make credible plans. 

For example, if airlines have to introduce, reduce or remove capacity at short notice, this makes it very problematic.  Airlines also have to remove staff from Furlough which increases their cost base. 

In addition, if airlines has less than optimal load factors on traffic which they can operate with less passengers, this makes the airline less sustainable, both environmentally and economically. 

Over recent months, DSA had been faced with a number of false starts in relation to recommencing international travel. 

From a communications perspective, DSA had been challenged with customers making complaints to the airport and airlines due to their plans being disrupted. 

As of 19^th July 2021, the ability for people travel who are double vaccinated was a positive to some extent, however, when analysis had been undertaken, it was only a small proportion of the Yorkshire and the Humber population who were double vaccinated. 

DSA, together with the whole of the aviation sector had some very difficult months ahead.  It was expected that travel restrictions would continue into the Winter months.  Consumer demand would take a long period of time to recover with some confidence. 

In relation to the future outlook at DSA, TUI had recently announced expansion at DSA with a fourth aircraft based at the airport. 

There would be the equivalent of 8.5 based aircrafts at DSA from Summer 2022.  6 of these were based aircrafts (4 TUI and 2 Wizz Air), the remaining aircrafts would be non-based central European traffic. 

For Summer 2022, there would be 1.7 million seats on sale by TUI from DSA.  This was the biggest on record at DSA, potentially exceeding traffic levels of 2019 by more than 30%. 

In relation to future traffic, there had been two summers with relative inactivity for travel with pent-up demand for travel anticipated for Summer 2022. 

When looking at local competitors, it was noted that Ryanair did not currently have on sales its Summer 2022 programme of 1.2 million seats from East Midlands Airport. 

It was noted that DSA currently had interest from a further low cost carrier.  At this moment in time, DSA were currently going through a careful consideration process in terms of the disruption that the introduction of low-cost competition could potentially create to established business at DSA. 

Members were reminded that DSA’s Masterplan had ambitious growth plans and provided for growth, but this needed to be undertaken in a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

A Tolhurst welcomed Neal Biddle, Development Director for GatewayEast to his first ACC meeting. 

N Biddle introduced a Community Engagement Issues Matrix which had been developed to create an efficiency in handling matters which had been raised by the local community and to ensure that the ACC holds a record of progress through to resolution of these matters. 

The following updates were provided:-

Flooding First Avenue

A meeting would be held with Peel Land and Property Engineers on 16^th July 2021 to examine the results of the infiltration testing.  RWO would commence infiltration testing week commencing 19^th July 2021. 

Flooding - Pembridge Park Estate

A topographic survey had been commissioned and work would start onsite on 16^th July 2021 focusing on the Pembridge Park area, drainage network and upstream sites. 

Once AECOM had all the data required, they would be able to prepare options for resolving both the short-term and long-term phases of the remediation work. 

Traffic Speeds - Airport Estate Roads

During the last week, specialist Highways consultants had appointed to undertake an exercise to review site wide speed limits, measures and signage with a view to lower the traffic speed limits on the airport estate roads. 

It was anticipated that a report from the consultants would be available during August. 

Traffic Management (ANPR) / 15 minutes Free Car Parking

Further work would be undertaken with Doncaster MBC and specialist Highways consultant before a resolution could be reached. 

An update would be provided in the next iteration of the matrix. 

Children’s Play Facility – Auckley

The transfer of play facility and sports pitch to Auckley Parish Council, with payment of dowry had been agreed in principle by all parties on 14^th July 2021.  It was anticipated that completion was expected by 30^th July 2021. 

Community Communications and Engagement are not meeting the needs of the Community

It was noted that progress had been made to keep local residents informed of the work of the ACC via a newsletter which would be published bi-monthly in the local ‘Today’ magazines. 

Anti-social behaviour Old Bawtry Road and obstruction of a public right of way (spotters) Quarry tenant and Complaints regarding access to old Bawtry Road access for Spotters

Members were informed that the above issues were interlinked and that there was a large amount of detailed work to be undertaken on rights of way by the Property Team before a resolution could be reached. 

A further update together with potential resolutions would be provided at the October ACC meeting. 

K Stow said that when an issue had reached closure it would be presented to the ACC in letter format to try to avoid the reoccurrence of the same issues coming forward again that had previously been explored. 

It was confirmed that any further issues brought to the airport’s attention would be entered onto the matrix. 

The Committee thanked N Biddle and K Stow for the work which had been undertaken to produce the matrix and for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

For the benefit of new Members, G Finch provided the Committee with an overview of GatewayEast and the Airport’s Masterplan. 

Members were informed that the Airport Masterplan had been updated and consulted upon in Spring 2018 to take account of some additional substantial land holding around the airport estate.

The Airport Masterplan had received wide support with a section contained within the Doncaster MBC Local Plan incorporating elements of the Airport Masterplan with a defined specific Masterplan for this area, (known as the Airport Policy Area within the Doncaster MBC Local Plan, now branded as ‘GatewayEast’).  

Members were informed that the Doncaster MBC Local Plan was now moving fast towards adoption.  The Planning Inspectorate’s Report had been received with no unexpected issues brought to Doncaster MBC’s attention with regards to the Plan as a whole and the allocations for development within the Airport Policy Area. 

The Doncaster MBC Local Plan would be presented at Doncaster MBC’s full Council meeting on 27^th September 2021 for adoption. 

G Finch said that there was a requirement to provide more information in relation to the delivery of the Masterplan in an integrated way to ensure all zones are connected by active and sustainable travel means (e.g.by foot, electric etc.). 

The Policy would also require a Green Infrastructure Strategy to be developed to sit alongside Masterplan together with the creation of a Sustainability Strategy and Sustainable Transport Strategy which must incorporate an update to the Airport’s Surface Access Strategy.  Peel Land and Property would also develop a Social Values Framework. 

In relation to the Sustainable Transport Strategy, K Stow said that based on previous discussions around the resurrection of the Airport Transport Forum a consultation and engagement exercise would need to be undertaken to influence the preparation of the Sustainable Transport Strategy, which would become the foundations to resurrect the Airport Transport Forum. 

A full consultant team had now been engaged across all the disciplines needed to deliver the outputs and worksteams of the Local Plan to move forward to advanced development stages of GatewayEast.  Work would take place over the summer months with a view to public consultation taking place later in the year. 

A planning application for the Central Plaza was scheduled to be considered at Doncaster MBC’s Planning Committee on 17^th August 2021. 

A Tolhurst asked to what extent ACC Members should be appraising local residents of the planning applications being submitted to Doncaster MBC.  Additionally, he queried if it was the ACC’s responsibility to highlight this.  

K Stow asked if Members could inform her of the information residents expected to be released by the airport / Peel Land and Property. 

Councillor Cox said that, currently residents were happy with the level of information being shared by the airport and Peel Land and Property.  However, this could change once work commenced onsite. 

It was noted that the site Engagement Plan would be shared with ACC Members at a future meeting for their comments. 

Councillor Rosling-Josephs asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

S Boote informed the Committee that all successful 2021 projects had now received funding form the Airport’s Community Investment Fund. 

K Stow highlighted that there were three 2021 Community Investment projects where a funding contribution towards the full project costs had been made by airport. 

In the event that these projects were unable to deliver within a set timeframe, the ACC would be notified and a recommendation sought for the project to either return the funds, or otherwise, as recommended by the ACC. 

On a separate matter, K Stow reported that in recent months there had been two separate incidents at the airport where DSA First Aiders had made use of defibrillators onsite and had highlighted the lifesaving value of these pieces of equipment. 

As an addition to the Community Investment Fund for 2021, DSA were proposing to open an entry for applications for defibrillators in the community. 

Members were informed that DSA would be pleased to fund three defibrillators in the community to a cost of £1,500 each. 

A discussion would take place with A Tolhurst around inviting applications for the community defibrillators.  ACTION: K Stow / A Tolhurst

RESOLVED – That the update be noted. 

RESOLVED – That the Committee noted the draft minutes of the Noise Monitoring and Environmental Sub-Committee held on 24^th June 2021. 

A Tolhurst informed the Committee that the Annual Noise Report for the period 1st April 2020 to 31^st March 2021 had been presented at the Noise Monitoring and Environmental Sub-Committee held on 24^th June 2021. 

The Noise Monitoring and Environmental Sub-Committee had recommended that the Annual Noise Report for 2020/21 be sent on to Doncaster MBC under the terms of the Section 106 agreement. 

A Tolhurst provided Members with the key highlights contained in the Annual Noise Report. 

The Committee thanked Andrew Dutton and Colin Barnes for producing the Annual Noise Report for 2020/21. 

RESOLVED – That the Committee endorsed the Annual Noise Report for 2020/21 and requested that it be sent on to Doncaster MBC under the terms of the Section 106 agreement. 

The Committee received an extract of Ipsos MORI’s Heathrow Community Engagement Board (HCEB) Study - Suggestions for ACCs.

Based the extract, Members agreed that the ACC had a wide-but-local focus, was visible, demonstrated tangible results and was accessible to a diverse range of residents from different areas, backgrounds and disabilities. 

In response to a query from Councillor Cox around improving DSA’s visibility, K Stow said that, unfortunately DSA were unable to participate in the forthcoming Auckley Show this year, but would like to attend future shows. 

Councillor Cox asked if there were any plans to re-commence the work undertaken prior to the COVID pandemic around the Airport’s Heritage.

In response, K Stow said that the airport would like to re-engage with the project when ACC meetings were back to being held in person. 

Councillor Johnson said that he attended a number of local Parish and Town Council meetings, namely, Rossington, Bawtry and Auckley and would be happy to provide them with feedback from ACC meetings. 

A Tolhurst welcomed and thanked Councillor Johnson for agreeing to provide the local Parish and Town Council meetings listed above with feedback from ACC meetings.     

RESOLVED – That the Committee noted the contents of Ipsos MORI’s Heathrow Community Engagement Board (HCEB) Study - Suggestions for ACCs extract. 

i)          ACC Newsletter

Town Councillor Cropley said that the production of the ACC Newsletter would prove to be very beneficial. 

ii)         Solar Panels at DSA

County Councillor Pearson asked if DSA had any plans to install solar panels around the airport site. 

K Stow replied that Peel NRE (part of Peel Land and Property) were currently in the process of developing a solar scheme for DSA. 

It was agreed that a further update would be made at the October meeting.  ACTION: K Stow

iii)       DfT Jet Zero Consultation

A Tolhurst reported that a DfT news article had been published on 14 July 2021 setting out the Government’s plans for the world’s first ‘greenprint’ to decarbonise all modes of domestic transport by 2050. 

The Government had also launched the Jet Zero consultation, which commits the sector to a net zero emissions target by 2050 and sets out an action plan for how it can be achieved.

The consultation would close for comments on 8 September 2021.

ACC Members were encouraged to respond to the consultation direct.

It was agreed that a link to the news article and consultation would be circulated to Members after today’s meeting.  ACTION: A Tolhurst via A Shirt. 

iv)       Thank you

K Stow thanked Members’ for their attendance at today’s meeting and for their continued engagement with DSA. 

RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the ACC be held on Thursday 14^th October 2021 at 10:00 am.