Agenda item

HEATHROW STRATEGIC PLANNING GROUP

To receive a verbal update from Jenifer Jackson and Phillipa Silcock.

Minutes:

The Head of Planning explained the background to the Heathrow Strategic Planning Group, informing members that it was established in 2015 with the aim of providing a means of dealing efficiently with the demands that would come when Heathrow Airport Limited submitted a Development Consent Order to expand the airport. Members were reminded that the DCO would go straight to the planning inspectorate. The Head of Planning stated that the HSPG had been useful in establishing a dialogue between Heathrow Airport Limited and the local authorities, as the two entities were dealt with in different ways.

 

The Forum was told that RBWM was considered part of HSPG when it was first established, but it had held observer status since 2017 when it was decided not to join the group. The Greater London Authority also attended as observers until this year, before withdrawing due to the Mayor of London’s opposition to the airport expansion

 

Regarding the governance of the group, the Head of Planning explained that a Leaders Board, which would facilitate political discussions with Heathrow Airport and government, was established following a summit in July 2017, as it had been recognised that there was a need for political leadership of HSPG. Detailed technical work was carried out by sub groups, which allowed councils the opportunity to feed in information, matters of local concern, and reaction/critique of policy to Heathrow Airport Limited, in order for them to be better informed with regard to the development of future plans. RBWM has officers attending the Spatial Planning and Transport sub groups. The Forum was told that the Environment Public Health sub group was about to reform and it was feltdesirable to have RBWM representation at these meetings in order to represent the Council’s concerns over noise and air quality/pollution. The work of the sub groups was pulled together at monthly Officer Group meetings. Group responses to documents, such as the HSPG response to the draft National Policy Statements and the first consultation exercise by Heathrow Airport Limited, were formulated by the Officer Group.

 

The Head of Planning explained that the governance structure was based on a voluntary agreement, known as the Accord, which acknowledged that there are a range of attitudes and policy positions relating to the expansion of Heathrow Airport amongst the local authorities represented. The Accord sets out that group members will work in a co-ordinated way, resulting in better spatial planning and management of impacts from the development of the airport, together with maximising the benefits. The Forum was told that Slough Borough Council was the accountable body for the HSPG and administered the money paid by Heathrow Airport Limited to local authorities through the group, in order to provide the information necessary to underpin the Development Consent Order. Without this, councils would be expected to source their own funding. The Head of Planning explained that this mechanism is similar to the pre application process that RBWM operates to provide advice to applicants. The Forum was told that as the accountable body, Slough Borough Council employ the core HSPG team of officers, including the secretariat.

 

The Head of Planning outlined the work carried out by the HSPG to date, including giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee, collating responses to the National Policy Statement and the first Heathrow Airport Limited consultation, and holding three summits to bring together local authority Leaders.

 

The Head of Planning explained that the Development Consent Order would only consider the development within the ‘red line’ shown on plans, rather than wider impacts on road and rail infrastructure and the effects on surrounding communities. It was therefore considered prudent for the Council to consider the impact on the Royal Borough of potential growth at Heathrow.

 

Cllr Beer expressed his surprise that the Council was only an observer at the HSPG, given the potential impact on transport infrastructure in the Royal Borough as a result of enabling works. He also noted that Runnymede Council was a full member of the HSPG. The Head of Planning stated that the possibility of joining as a full member had been discussed, and that briefings with the Council’s Corporate Leadership Team regarding signing the Accord with a view to becoming a member were planned.

 

The Community Protection Principal reminded members of the Non-Disclosure Agreement that had previously been deemed necessary for potential HSPG members to sign, which had been discussed at a previous Forum; this Agreement had now been dispensed with, and it was felt the group was improving its transparency. John Holdstock asked if was possible for any group deliberations or minutes to be made public. Cllr Hilton noted that as the secretariat, Slough Borough Council would be responsible for controlling the minutes. The Head of Planning stated she would ask the HSPG about obtaining the minutes of meetings.

 

Cllr Wilson reminded the Forum that the Airport Consultative Committee had originally said that each of the 14 local authorities surrounding Heathrow, including the Royal Borough, would need to build 5,000 additional dwellings to meet housing needs as a result of expansion. This was in addition to new dwellings that had been mentioned in the Borough Local Plan, which had recently been submitted. Cllr Wilson stated that the Council would be entitled to a share of funding needed to enable the appropriate infrastructure work to be carried, and expressed concerns that more of the funding may go to Slough Borough Council as the appointed accountable body. Cllr Beer stated the subject of additional housing had been overlooked in group discussions around Heathrow, and stated his belief that more of the 70,000 houses needed across the 14 local authorities would naturally be built in the council areas immediately surrounding Heathrow, which included the Royal Borough. He felt that the Royal Borough would therefore need to build more than 5,000 additional dwellings, and stated his concerns that the Royal Borough’s position would not be adequately explained to the HSPG if the Council did not become a full member. The Head of Planning stated that the Borough Local Plan would be reviewed at a later stage if additional housing capacity caused by airport expansion became an issue. She stated that the Council would have the opportunity to present as much additional evidence relating to the implications for housing and transport infrastructure to government as was deemed necessary.

 

A discussion followed where it was agreed there was a lack of information available relating to the future of the Cranford Agreement.