Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships) meeting held on 3rd December 2020.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd December 2020 were approved as a correct record by the Panel.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary and other interests in relation to any Agenda item.

No declarations of interest were received.

A copy of the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions is attached. Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

The Panel received and noted the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been prepared by the Executive Leader for the period 1st January 2021 to 30th April 2021.

The Panel are to receive a report on the National Air Traffic Service consultation on changes to the London Luton Airport Flightpaths.

Consideration was given to a report by the Operational Manager (People) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the consultation by the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) on the London Luton Airport (LLA) Flightpaths. Also in attendance to answer the Panel’s questions were Nicole Morris, Colin Wyatt and Adrian Ryman from the NATS/LLA Consultation Team.

In addition to the report, Mr Wyatt gave Members a brief presentation on the proposal but focused on the section which most affected Huntingdonshire. Mr Wyatt informed Members that a final decision had yet to be made and that NATS are legally required to respond to all comments they received during the consultation.

Councillor Banks asked whether the holding zone could be moved away from St Neots because it was a highly populated area. Councillor Giles agreed with the suggestion and commented that the holding zone did not need to move far. In responding to the comments, Mr Wyatt stated that due to the north-south flightpaths, the east-west flightpaths and the military airspace, the holding zone would be better located where it was proposed. He added that NATS did model other options but for the reasons already referred to, they were not considered to be feasible. However, the Panel was informed that it might be possible to move the holding zone slightly.

Following a query from Councillor Criswell about the necessity for a holding zone, Members were informed that NATS did consider whether it was required as part of its assessment of the available options, but this was rejected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on the grounds of safety. In terms of flight numbers, Ms Morris stated that it was expected flight numbers would return to pre-pandemic levels in time and that the holding zone was required.

In response to a question from Councillor Alban regarding the effect pollution levels would have upon residents, the Panel was informed that it would be minimal as the mixing that occurred at altitude meant that pollution from the planes would be dispersed. Councillor Alban then raised the suggestion that the holding zone could be located over the North Sea. However, the Panel was informed that due to the distance from the LLA and the timings involved in bringing planes to land, a holding zone located over the North Sea could not be justified.

Councillor Gardener stated that his residents’ main concern was that the noise from a plane at 8000ft would be approximately 55db (according to NATS documentation) and the ambient background noise within parts of the countryside would be 29db. At these levels noise from planes would be intrusive for residents living in rural areas of the District. If the holding zone could not be moved, he suggested that the minimum flying height within the holding zone should be raised to 9000ft. This would reduce the potential for noise from planes within the holding zone to cause nuisance at ground level.

Following a question from Councillor Giles, Ms Morris confirmed that there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Members are to receive a report on the proposed changes to neighbourhood policing in Cambridgeshire. (Report to follow.)

Having noted that the proposed changes to Neighbourhood Policing in Cambridgeshire would not be discussed at the meeting, the Panel,

RESOLVED

that the item be deferred to the meeting in April 2021.

The Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme is to be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme was presented to the Panel. The Chairman informed the Panel that there would be a task and finish review on the floods throughout Huntingdonshire during December 2020.