Agenda item

To undertake appropriate external scrutiny of Manchester Airport Group, with regards to the provision of airport services and employment opportunities for residents of the Epping Forest District at Stansted Airport.

The Chairman welcomed the three officers from the Manchester Airport Group (MAG), Alistair Andrew (Planning Manager), Jonathan Oates (Corporate Affairs Director) and Marcella M’Raberty (Corporate Social Responsibility Manager) who were in attendance to talk about the provision of local airport services at Stansted Airport. The committee had raised specific issues that included:

(a)          the planned expansion of the airport and associated infrastructure requirements;

(b)          future capacity and infrastructure requirements arising from likely significant housing development across Essex and the south east;

(c)          the handling of increased passenger numbers in the short-term;

(d)          the provision of employment opportunities for local residents;

(e)          opportunities for partnership working with local further education facilities (particularly Epping Forest College);

(f)           improvements to the existing railway infrastructure serving the airport; and

(g)          the apparent high cost of the taxi services at the airport, compared with other local private hire services.

The Planning Manager advised that following MAG’s acquisition of Stansted Airport in 2013, a Sustainable Development Plan had been published in 2015. This set out the short to medium term ambitions for the airport and making best use of the single runway and existing airport. Currently, the airport had received planning permission for a new arrivals facility that would begin in January 2019, creating separate arrivals and departures facilities for the future. The airports intentions were to expand passenger numbers by 8 million, although not through the intensification of aircrafts landing and taking off at the airport or increasing the noise footprint.

He stated that the airport had 50% of passengers accessing the airport through public transport and the live planning application had included mitigation proposals for access at the M11, junction 8 and improvements to the bus station and car parks onsite. It also took into account Uttlesford Local Plan and housing needs until 2033.

The Corporate Affairs Director advised that £150 million had been invested since MAG’s takeover, resulting in trebled the number of airlines, numerous new facilities and 40 new destinations being available which had led to the increase of 10 million passengers per annual. The airport benefited from an increased number of check in desks, more retails units and seating in the departure lounges and it was the fastest growing major airport in UK. There had been a number of issues in 2018 that had effect performance although they were largely out of the airports control including weather, delays relating to air traffic control staff, congestion in air space. Furthermore, the largest airline had undergone a retendering of their baggage handling operation which included significant investment, increase in staff and equipment, to make the operation more efficient and resilience.

The Corporate Social Responsibility Manager advised that the airport was the biggest employer in east of England, employing 12,000 people, of those 200, were within the Epping Forest District. The airport had a dedicated employment skills facility which was opened every day, providing free training programmes to job seekers and existing staff and there were currently 377 vacancies. Furthermore 250 children from the district had visited the facility for educational purposes. 

The Planning Manager advised that MAG intended to increase the use of public transport using national rail and the Stansted Express, matching up the quieter periods at the airport with quieter periods on public transport and the use of 12 car trains. He advised that the airport had no influence over the taxi fares charged to and from the airport and MAG had not procured an independent taxi service.

The Planning Manager advised that data was tracked regarding noise complaints with no more 1% of complaints being received from the Epping Forest District within   4 years. The key noise issues were related to night noise and aircraft arrival traffic in Sheering, Epping Green and Sawbridgeworth.

Councillor M. Sartin stated that with the next generation of quieter aircrafts, noise complaints may not increase, although did MAG have any control over the larger cargo planes. The Planning Manager advised that the cargo planes had longer leases and were therefore older and noisier than the more modern aircrafts which was a world wide issue. MAG were encouraging the use of quieter aircrafts and included plans to reduce them from accessing to the airport overtime.

Councillors N. Bedford had concerns about the increased capacity of the airport because of previous issues he had experienced regarding the waiting times for baggage. The Corporate Affairs Director advised that with the intensification of the airport over 5000 jobs would be created. In addition, the largest baggage handler has been overhauled which included a £12 million investment, built in resilience, changes to the baggage policy and the airport monitoring the situation.

Councillor S. Neville asked whether MAG was aware of the noise pollution guidelines from the World Health Organisation and how it would be monitored. The Planning Manager advised that they were aware of the guidelines, although they were not UK policy or set by the Government, which was what the airport followed. Live noise monitoring was available on the web track system published on the Stansted Airport website and there were serval fixed monitoring points. The general air quality was monitored by airport and data was drawn from the local district councils, although this tended to focus on highways pollution because the aircraft pollution was dispersed over a larger area.

Councillor J. Lea asked how the passenger number could increase by 8 million, if the number of aircrafts had not and whether the congestion outside the airport reduced.  The Planning Manager advised that the figures had included the increased aircraft interior providing an 10 extra seats per aircraft and that the average aircraft capacity would increase. The Corporate Affairs Director advised that £1 million had been spent improving the entrance of the terminal which included reconfiguring road lines, encouraging better flow through this area and the recruitment of additional marshals. The drop off charge ensured that gridlock was prevented and that passengers had a better experience. The airport provided a free drop off point in the mid-stay car park and many passengers were using public transport.

Councillor A. Mitchell asked how the disabled facilities would be improved. The Planning Manager advised that Passenger of Reduced Mobility were able to advise the airport beforehand and would be provided with a staff member if required, from the moment they arrived through to departure.

Councillor R. Baldwin advised that he had concerns over the particle emissions and how efficient the aircraft actual were. The Planning Manager advised that air quality issues had been considered thoroughly in the current planning application. The next generation of aircraft were significantly more economic in the amount of fuel they consumed and how they dealt with the emissions. The assessment carried out for the planning application provided monitoring that compared to an industry model and demonstrated no breaches in air quality standards, which would continue to be observed.

Councillor H. Whitbread asked what promotion was being undertaken for employment opportunities, in particular apprenticeship schemes for young people. The Corporate Social Responsibility Manager advised that the Stansted Employment and Skills Academy was built onsite and any one interested, could walk in. MAG worked closely with the local schools, Job Centre Plus, the Princess Trust and other organisations. Both primary and secondary schools requests were welcome and relevant speakers would be organised. Epping Forest Primary schools that were due to visit included Coopersale & Theydon Garnon C.E, Theydon Bois and a Loughton primary school had registered an interest.

Councillor D. Wixley asked whether they anticipated any effects of Brexit. The Corporate Affairs Director advised that MAG needed to maintain consumer confidence in air travel pre and post the Brexit world. He remained confident that a deal in aviation would be reached and MAG were supportive of the Government communications and were pressing for further details if a no deal scenario occurred.

Councillor S. Heather asked whether there was a short cut through the airport for passengers of restricted mobility. The Corporate Affairs Director advised that there was not, although the airport provided a pre-registered escorted service through the airport. The airport had a Disability Forum which brought together staff, businesses and disability campaigners.

Councillor N. Bedford asked whether any lessons had been learnt from the recent fire at the airport. The Corporate Affairs Director advised that the incident was still under investigation, although the airports response was governed by Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport. The first response ensured the safety of passengers, although this resulted in the requirement of all passengers having to go through security again.

Councillor G. Mohindra asked the Corporate Affairs Director to comment on Boarder Force. He advised that the current targets that were adhered to were not meeting the customer’s needs and masked poor performance. Their Service Level Agreement required a performance of clearing passenger within 25 minutes for EU travellers and 45 minutes for non-EU travellers, which was not acceptable. The MAG were pushing for a long term strategy on resources and staffing from Boarder Force.