Gatwick provides more details of the setting up of the Noise Management Board, from the Arrivals Review

One of the recommendations of the Arrivals Review was that Gatwick should set up a Noise Management Board (NMB), on which community representatives could sit. Gatwick, in its Final Action Plan on the Arrivals Review,  has now set out details of how the NMB will work. It will have no more than 14 members; 5 will be institutions; there will be 2 places for County Councils. There will be 4 places for District, Borough, Town and Parish Councils, and Community Noise Groups, with two from the east and two from the west of Gatwick.  Gatwick says the NMB: “should be a body with real influence over operational stakeholders around the airport ….” Nothing says it will have any powers or any real influence. Gatwick says it will: “seek to positively influence the noise environment of stakeholders by assisting the development of consensus among the various organisations represented through its membership” [whatever that means in practice?]. The NMB will: “seek to facilitate better understanding by residents through more consistent communication and verifiable data.”  Nothing in the stated objectives says noise will reduce, or that the interests of communities will be given equal weight to those of airlines etc.  If the NMB cannot reach consensus on a matter, it can be agreed by 75%. The community groups only make up 25% or less.
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Gatwick’s initial response to the Arrivals Review, on 31.3.2016 is at

http://www.gatwickairport.com/globalassets/publicationfiles/business_and_community/all_public_publications/2016/gatwick—response-document-action-plan-final-31mar2016.pdf

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Gatwick’s Final Action Plan, on the Arrivals Review , on 2.6.2016 is at

http://www.gatwickairport.com/globalassets/publicationfiles/business_and_community/all_public_publications/aircraft_noise/arrivals-review/gatwick-airport-arrivals-review-final-action-plan-01june2016-final-copy.pdf


Below are some extracts from the Gatwick Arrivals Review “Overview and Final Action Plan” – June 2016 on the issue of the establishment of a Noise Management Board

(Pages 40 43)

RECOMMENDATION Imm-18

“The establishment of a Noise Management Board (NMB) by summer 2016, to be operated under independent Chairmanship and comprising representatives from each of the institutions able to effect change for Gatwick arrivals, as well as the chair of the Airport Consultative Committee (GATCOM), and both elected council members and residents’ representatives”.

Accept/Reject

This recommendation is accepted.

Benefits/Issues

1. Establishment of an NMB should assist in improving alignment of the responsibilities and initiatives of the key organisations able to effect change in the impact of aircraft noise.

2. An NMB can assist in ensuring that community concerns about aircraft noise are fully understood by those key organisations, and in developing a more co-ordinated set of visions and strategies for noise management around Gatwick – focused initially on implementation of recommendations from the Arrivals Review, but then extending to other important noise management issues.

Implementation Plan

1. Following analysis of feedback from many respondents, a planning meeting was held on 18th May 2016 for invited participants to discuss NMB membership and develop a final draft Terms of Reference for consideration and adoption by the NMB at its meeting on 21st June 2016. The Annex following contains the final draft Terms of Reference agreed at the planning meeting, and the attendance list for that meeting.

2. Participants at the NMB planning meeting welcomed an increase to the community group representation to four NMB seats,  [the initial plan had been for just two, to include all District and Parish councils, as well as all community noise groups.  AW note] and agreed that these should reflect a rural, urban, departure and arrival representation. Community Groups at the meeting agreed to develop a consensus on how the increased representation on the NMB will be utilised and to inform the chair by 14th June. If no consensus is forthcoming, an interim solution will be used until a permanent representation can be jointly agreed.

3. Hold the first NMB meeting on 21st June 2016.

Responsibility: GAL Complete: June 2016


Annex – Imm-18 Gatwick Noise Management Board (NMB)

Terms of Reference (Final Draft for consideration by the NMB at its first meeting June 21st 2016)

Purpose

The purpose of the NMB is to develop, agree, oversee and maintain a coordinated noise management vision and consequent strategies for Gatwick, for all stakeholder organisations, intended to improve the situation for those affected by noise from aircraft using Gatwick.

This should include joint and coordinated reports through the NMB on progress of the implementation of these agreed strategies and, should seek to ensure consistent communication across all stakeholder groups, using verifiable data and transparent policies, to support the facilitation of their understanding by residents. This may also include when necessary, research and independent verification of information to be published.

The NMB can assist in ensuring that community concerns about aircraft noise are fully understood by key stakeholder organisations considering issues that may affect noise management around Gatwick.

The NMB will focus initially on the implementation of recommendations from the Arrivals Review, but then extending to other important noise management issues. The NMB should assist in the progressive development of consensus across its membership, to improve the alignment of responsibilities, initiatives and priorities of the key organisations able to influence change in the effect of noise from aircraft using Gatwick, whether for arrivals, departures or related to aircraft ground noise.


Objectives

1. The objective of the NMB is to develop, agree and oversee a coordinated noise management vision and consequent strategies for Gatwick, for all stakeholder organisations

2. The initial focus will be on the implementation of the Arrivals Review Recommendations

3. The NMB’s remit extends to all important noise management issues related to Gatwick, including those related to departures, and aircraft ground noise, as well as arrivals

4. The NMB should be a body with real influence over operational stakeholders around the airport such as on airspace and aircraft operational issues

5. The NMB should influence and monitor the effective use of noise awareness training policies for staff of all Gatwick stakeholders and reported through NATMAG

6. The NMB should be consulted on all Gatwick noise related matters, such as compensation policy, noise insulation and community support

7. The NMB should be a main channel through which GAL, NATS, ANS, Airlines, DfT and CAA communicate actions that are being taken to address the effects of noise from aircraft using Gatwick

8. The NMB should seek to ensure the joint and co-ordinated reporting by stakeholders through the NMB, initially on progress of the Arrivals Review implementation and then on other noise issues and initiatives, and seek to facilitate better understanding by residents through more consistent communication and verifiable data

9. The NMB should establish a mechanism to identify and address unintended and unexpected consequences of noise improvement initiatives

10. Particular care will need to be taken by the NMB to avoid conflicting with the remits or duties of any of the other bodies already involved in noise matters related to Gatwick

11. If and when the Government establishes an Independent Noise Authority the NMB should ensure appropriate alignment between its own Terms of Reference and the remit of such a body

12. The NMB should agree and establish a process to set its SMART objectives and to regularly review and report its progress  [ AW note. SMART generally means 

  • Specific – target a specific area for improvement.
  • Measurable – quantify or at least suggest an indicator of progress.
  • Assignable – specify who will do it.
  • Realistic – state what results can realistically be achieved, given available resources.
  • Time-related – specify when the result(s) can be achieved. ]

13. The NMB should establish and maintain a transparent mechanism to adapt these Terms of Reference when agreed by members of the NMB

14. The NMB will seek to positively influence the noise environment of stakeholders by assisting the development of consensus among the various organisations represented through its membership

15. In the event that it is not possible to reach NMB consensus on any matter, after exhausting all reasonable efforts, a majority decision can be made provided that it represents at least 75% of the NMB Membership  [ AW note: There are 13 organisations listed below as members. Four of those are community groups. They can therefore always be out-voted by the others ] .

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Meetings and Reporting

16. The NMB should meet every 2 months, or at intervals agreed by the members

17. The agenda and minutes of NMB meetings should be published on the (NMB website)

18. NMB meetings will not be open to the public, unless agreed by the NMB members for specific dates or specific topics

19. It is expected that at least one public meeting will be conducted each year by the NMB, to facilitate community dialogue, a reasonable understanding in communities of the work areas of the NMB, and to report NMB progress and plans Membership

20. The NMB will comprise a nominated individual to represent the following organisations:

Institutions

a. GAL

b. Aircraft Operator with a minimum of 10% of the movements at Gatwick

c. ANS – Tower ATC provider

d. NATS – Air Navigation Service Provider

e. CAA

f. DfT

g. GATCOM

Community Members

h. County Council Representative #1

i. County Council Representative #2

j. Community Representative #1 East of Gatwick

k. Community Representative #2 East of Gatwick

l. Community Representative #3 West of Gatwick

m. Community Representative #4 West of Gatwick

 

21. Each member shall have a single named alternate, who can attend the NMB as an observer, or can participate when the member is not available

22. The number of NMB members should ideally not exceed 14; above that the NMB’s effectiveness will increasingly be at risk

23. It is important that all representatives are of sufficient seniority, and where appropriate, is empowered, to reach decisions

24. Care should be taken to ensure that a balanced geographical representation is always achieved for Community members of the NMB.

25. The term of NMB membership is 3 years, renewable. Individuals shall not serve more than 2 terms

26. Care should be taken to ensure continuity of NMB competence during any periods of membership transition

27. Institutional member organisations shall be invited to nominate their representative Alternates will attend NMB when the respective member is not available

28. The County Councils of Kent, Surrey, West Sussex and East Sussex should have either a member or Alternate participation on the NMB. Alternates must not be drawn from the same Council

29. District, Borough, Town and Parish Councils, and Community Noise Groups are each invited to nominate from their proposed NMB representative member, and an Alternate, for East and West of Gatwick

30. NMB meetings will be open to non-members only by specific invitation of the Chairman

31. GAL shall appoint the Independent Chairman and Secretary of the NMB by agreement of the NMB members

32. NMB membership terminates automatically for any member that fails to attend more than three consecutive full meetings of the NMB.

 

http://www.gatwickairport.com/globalassets/publicationfiles/business_and_community/all_public_publications/aircraft_noise/arrivals-review/gatwick-airport-arrivals-review-final-action-plan-01june2016-final-copy.pdf