Minutes of the external advisory group, 28 October 2005
28 October 2005, Great Minster House
Attendees: David McMillan Chair Jim Bailey - SASIG Jonathan Sharrock DfT Ken Crawford - SE Martin Capstick DfT Mike Toms - BAA Sam Whatling DfT Rowena Burns - MAG Dipak Valand DfT Tim Johnson - AEF Emily Robertson DfT Alison Pridmore - SDC Simon Evans - AUC Nic Ferriday - FoE Roger Wiltshire - BATA Lucinda Turner - CBI Paul Ellis- BA Caroline Wood, Catherine Adams - Eddington Transport Study Team
Apologies: Simon Buck - Charter Airline Group, Barry Humphreys - Virgin Keith Jowett - AoA, Danny Pedri - DHL, Gareth Harper - Transport 2000
Introduction
David McMillan was grateful for the Group's suggestions on topics to be covered at future EAG meetings. Two of these subjects were due to be discussed at this meeting and others would be considered for future meeting agendas.
Update on report to the October Programme Board
Jonathan Sharrock summarised the October Programme Board report:
Stansted - Work is underway with BAA on the next phase of the planning application. The status of this work area remains red, reflecting Ministerial priorities and time pressures.
PSDH - Good progress reported across the work area on surface access, airspace and air quality work. Progress has also been made on mixed mode. The Project Board is now in place.
Birmingham, Edinburgh & Other Airports - This work area is rated as green reflecting the progress made with the Project Boards for Birmingham and Edinburgh, which are both now in place. A new member of staff is responsible for overseeing the Government Office's work on White Paper implementation issues.
Emissions Trading - There is progress to be reported on emissions trading work. The next step will be for the Environment Council to reach a conclusion on emissions trading.
Route Development & European Policy - Work on slots allocation is progressing well. The Government is continuing to lobby Member States on slots allocation mechanisms. The Commission have said they will produce a proposal to reform the slots regulation by the end of the year. We feel this is optimistic.
Progress Report 2006 - covered under item 5.
The group discussed the October Programme Board report. It was agreed that Heathrow would be covered in detail as a future agenda item. The group was interested in finding out whether there was a mechanism in place for checking consistency of master plans against the White Paper and for monitoring master plans submissions. Some group members were interested in regional and related airport development funding. The Chair explained that regional development would be considered alongside local, regional spatial strategy and master plans and that DfT is approaching these issues geographically rather than by transport modes.
OGC Recommendations
David McMillan thanked those who had participated in the recent OGC Gateway Review of the White Paper Implementation Programme. The main OGC recommendations were summarised and the group was advised that the Programme was expected to undergo another Gateway review towards the end of 2006.
The group felt that the Review was a useful exercise and were generally positive about the process.
They also felt that the EAG was a valuable forum for discussion on key issues but that it would be important to ensure that it did not turn into just a 'talking shop'.
Eddington Transport Study - Caroline Wood and Catherine Adams
The group received a presentation on the scope of the Eddington Transport Study. The study was undertaken by Rod Eddington and his team, following a request from the Secretary of State and the Chancellor, to advise on 'the long term impact of transport decisions on the UK's productivity, stability and growth'. The objective of the work is to help understand and identify exactly how transport supports economic growth.
The work will focus on looking at material and data already available, from previous studies. It will be considering the wider implications of transport on employment, movement of goods in light of DfT economic growth objectives. As a part of their work, the Eddington team are also engaging with stakeholders to help to identify the needs of the transport suppliers. [The team aims to report to Ministers in mid 2006.]
Action: EAG members to send in comments or suggestions on the study or stakeholders to approach to Caroline Wood.
Progress Report 2006
Jonathan Sharrock briefly explained the current work on the 2006 Progress Report. The Report is expected to be published in December 2006. It will be for Ministers to take decisions on the scope and content of the Progress Report; a submission will be put to Ministers in November and Aviation Directorate will be representing to them the views of stakeholders. The group was invited to offer suggestions on the scope, style and content of the Report.
The following questions were put to the group for discussion:
Cross-cutting issues/ new developments - what themes would you like to see covered?
Priority ATWP work areas - what are your priority topics and how would you like to see them covered?
Level of progress that will be achieved by end of 2006 - what are your expectations/ ideals?
Structure and presentation - how closely to follow ATWP? Any other preferences/ suggestions?
The group expressed their views on cross-cutting issues/new developments the comments are listed:
They felt that it is important for the Progress Report to deal with new developments, to ensure that ATWP policy continues to be robust.
They would also like to see air traffic forecasts reviewed as part of the Progress Report.
Would like to include the planning process and surface access provision covered in terms of their interaction with wider DfT and Government policies.
The group mentioned under priority areas that they would like to see the following points covered in the Progress Report:
The Heathrow mixed mode consultation and conclusions of assessment work on R3, and also implications for Gatwick.
The conclusions of the airspace change process reported.
Under the Emissions Trading Scheme, not only a report on progress, but also an assessment of whether it will be enough to achieve the environmental objectives.
The noise study reported on.
In response to the question on level of progress, the group made the following comments:
There is a risk that progress on workstreams and consultations may be deferred if the Progress Report is treated as a 'terminus' in the work.
Some members would prefer the publication date to be moved if this would enable the Report to capture important progress milestones.
Members of the group felt that the timing - December 2006 - was important, to fit in with the timetable for the Regulatory Review.
There is a risk of letting progress and decisions drift if the Report is published before key milestones are reached.
The group suggested that the structure and presentation of the Report should cover the all airports, and have a narrative that takes stock 'in the round'. It is important for local stakeholders at individual airports to be able to check progress. Coverage of airports in the context of airport master plans was also welcomed.
Action: EAG members to submit any further comments about the Progress Report to Jonathan Sharrock as soon as possible.
The next meeting will be scheduled for February 2006.
Programme Management Office
Airports Policy Division
8 November 2005
