Stansted Airport Consultative Committee

	Stansted Airport Consultative Committee
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Abbreviations:

STACC = Stansted Airport Consultative Committee
STAL = Stansted Airport Limited
NATS = National Air Traffic Services Ltd

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Background

It has long been recognised that Airports need effective dialogue with representatives of those who use them and those who live in the area. In this way the difficulties which inevitably flow from the operation of a large and busy undertaking can be more deeply understood and problems can often be avoided, resolved or mitigated.

The importance of such consultation was soon recognised in airports legislation and this is now consolidated in section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 which allows the Secretary of State for Transport to designate airports "for the purposes of consultation". Where Airports are designated in this way the Department for Transport recommends the setting up of a consultative committee according to Guidelines published by the Department - most recently in December 2003.

The Guidelines say that Consultative Committees should :

provide an opportunity for information exchange between the airport and interested parties;
provide a structured forum for discussion so as to make recommendations to the aerodrome management and other bodies when appropriate;
provide the opportunity to reach a common understanding between interested groups about the nature of aerodrome operation, thereby increasing the scope for issues to be resolved amicably. However, people interested in and affected by an aerodrome operation may have mutually inconsistent viewpoints and it is not realistic to expect that all matters of concern will be able to be resolved through discussion;
promote understanding about airport operations more widely, through dissemination of relevant information by committee members;
promote understanding by the airport operator of the nature of its impacts on local communities and businesses.

But as the Guidelines also make clear it is not intended that a consultative committee should -

detract from or constrain the responsibility of the airport owner and/or operator to manage the aerodrome;
prevent interested parties from raising concerns directly with the airport, or through other channels.

serve as a forum for the resolution of disputes;
have any executive or decision-making power over the airport.

The December 2003 Consultative Committee Guidelines can be seen on the website of the Liaison Group of UK Airport Consultative Committees which includes also more detailed information on the statutory backgroundUKACCs webpage on statutory background of Consultative Committees and role UKACCs webpage on the role of Consultative Committeesof consultative committees.

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The Stansted Consultative Committee

Constitution

A copy of the Committee's Constitution Book (updated November 2011) is attached. This also details the Committee's sub-structure

Membership

The Membership of the Committee is set out in the Committee's Constitution Book.

Committee Terms of Reference

To advise BAA plc on any matters which it may refer to the Committee.
To consider any question in connection with the problems of the Airport as they affect the users and communities and organisations represented.
To make suggestions to the Managing Director on any matter connected with the administration of the Airport, which could further the interests of the passengers and the communities and organisations represented.
To stimulate the interest of the local population in the achievements of the Airport.

Meetings

The Committee meets four times a year in January, April, July and October. The meetings start at 2 pm. The meetings are held in Enterprise House (on the Airport site) unless indicated on the agenda.

For details of meetings visit our Diary Page

Administration

The Committee is administered by the Secretary, Graham Redgwell. For contact details visit our Contacts Page

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The Sub Committees

The Membership and other information about the Sub Committees is set out in the Committee's Constitution Book.

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The Wider Scene

STACC keeps in touch with the equivalent committees for the other London area airports - Heathrow , Gatwick, Luton and London City - with whom there are arrangements for exchanging agenda papers and minutes.

There is also contact with airport consultative committees across the country. Each year the Committee's officers meet with their opposite numbers at 21 other UK airports to discuss common issues and to share experience. The Liaison Group website includes the agenda papers and minutes of the annual meetings from 2002 onwards including the 2007 meeting at Stansted in June 2007. The site also includes more information on the statutory background of Consultative Committees and role of Consultative Committeesof consultative committees and on current aviation issues both in the UKaviation issues and in Europe.aviation issues

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