Agenda item

(a)  That the response to Heathrow’s Consultation 2 (Airport Expansion Consultation: AEC) be approved for submission.

(b)  That the Director for Regeneration, following consultation with the Lead Members for Regeneration and Strategy and Transport and Environmental Services, be given delegated authority to enter into negotiations with regards to the mitigation package.

(c)  That the Director for Regeneration report back to Cabinet on progress made in regards to the mitigation package.

(d)  That resolution (a) be implemented urgently to enable the agreed response to be submitted by the consultation deadline of 13^th September 2019.  If any further or additional issues were raised by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 12^th September they could be submitted separately.

The Service Lead for Major Infrastructure Projects introduced a report that set out the Council’s draft response to the consultation on the Heathrow Airport Expansion proposals. 

The second consultation included Heathrow’s Masterplan for the future layout and operation of the airport included the new runway and other airport infrastructure such as terminals and road access, and associated developments on and off site.  The consultation would close on 13^th September 2019.  The Council had responded to Heathrow’s first consultation and had inputted directly through the Heathrow Strategic Planning Group and series of bilateral meetings to seek to secure the public transport provision, air quality improvements, enhanced open space and job opportunities for local people.  Whilst the Council had been supportive of expansion it had used the previous consultation to raise concerns about specific aspects of the proposals.  Officers highlighted that there had been insufficient movement from Heathrow on the points raised, and the draft response set out important areas where further progress was needed.  A process of engagement had been agreed with Heathrow Airport to discuss these issues in detail and the Leader and Corporate Management Team would be updated and involved in these discussions over the coming weeks.

Officers summarised the key aspects of the Council’s draft response which included the need to improve public transport connections to enable residents to work at the airport; support for the inclusion of land in Poyle for industrial redevelopment; mitigating against the traffic and congestion impacts during the construction phase; the importance of a ‘Green Envelope’ and new green space in the Colne Valley; and the reprovision of the Lakeside energy from waste plant.  The response concluded that the Council’s support for the airport’s expansion was based on the benefits to the area and some of these specific issues now needed to be further advanced and confirmed by Heathrow.

The Leader highlighted that the response clearly set out the areas where it was considered the current proposals fell short of Slough’s needs and there would be individual meetings on each of these areas to seek to get further movement.  Lead Members welcomed the strong response and high level of detail in the draft as it provided a clear focus for negotiation.  The expansion and associated development provided a significant opportunity to address current issues with the airport, particularly surface access and it was considered crucial to put in place the public transport infrastructure to promote model shift.  The Heathrow Masterplan had an eastwards focus in terms of the economic development opportunities and Members therefore emphasised the importance of both improving public transport access from Slough and the west, and opening up industrial land in Poyle.  In terms of air quality, it was commented that a joint approach between Slough and Heathrow was needed to ensure any plans for Ultra Low Emissions Zones were properly aligned.  Members discussed the specific impacts on Colnbrook including to Pippins School, community facilities and housing.  It was considered to be essential that a strong and stable community be maintained in Colnbrook and that the Council be involved in the housing strategy.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Smith made a number of comments about Heathrow’s proposals including the importance of protecting green space and biodiversity in the Colne Valley Park; addressing flood risk issues; securing community facilities in Colnbrook; improving access to the Poyle Industrial Estate to minimise congestion on local roads; and addressing air quality concerns.  The Leader highlighted that the Council’s proposed response reflected these issues and Officers had noted some specific points to take forward in future discussions with Heathrow airport.

Councillor Dhaliwal raised a number of issues including the diversion of the A4, the need for bus services to be aligned to airport shift patterns and the noise impacts of the likely flight paths.  He stated that representatives from Heathrow would be attending the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on 12^th September.

In order to meet the consultation deadline it was agreed that the decisions would be implemented urgently in that the proposed response be submitted as set out in the report and appendix and that any further issues raised by scrutiny be submitted separately.

The Cabinet agreed that a strong response to the consultation be made and agreed that the draft was clear and specific in the issues that needed to be addressed through the agreed process of engagement with Heathrow.  After due consideration, the Cabinet agreed the recommendations and their urgent implementation.

Resolved –

(a)  That the response to Heathrow’s Consultation 2 (Airport Expansion Consultation: AEC) be approved for submission.

(b)  That the Director for Regeneration, following consultation with the Lead Members for Regeneration and Strategy and Transport and Environmental Services, be given delegated authority to enter into negotiations with regards to the mitigation package.

(c)  That the Director for Regeneration report back to Cabinet on progress made in regards to the mitigation package.

(d)  That resolution (a) be implemented urgently to enable the agreed response to be submitted by the consultation deadline of 13^th September 2019.  If any further or additional issues were raised by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 12^th September they could be submitted separately.