James Forbes House, Network Rail, London
Heathrow Area Transport Forum (HATF) Board Meeting 5
Present
- Val Shawcross CBE– HATF (Chair)
- Tony Caccavone– Heathrow Airport Limited (Surface Access Director)
- Kathy Slack– Enterprise M3 (Chief Executive)
- Mark Frost– Heathrow Strategic Planning Group (Head of Transport and Environmental Strategy, LB Hounslow)
- Kris Beuret– Heathrow Community Engagement Board (Non-Executive Director, Transport & Environment Group)
- David Lutton– London First (Executive Director)
- Rupert Walker– Network Rail (Strategy and Planning Director (South)
- Christian Wolmar- London Cycling Campaign (Trustee)
- David Stroud- British International Freight Association (Policy & Compliance Advisor)
- Anthony Smith– Transport Focus (Chief Executive)
- Richard Anderson– Airline Consultative Committee (AOC Chair)
- Colin Kemp- Transport the South East (Board Member)
- Simon Nielsen- Transport for London (Strategic Analysis and City Planning)
Non-members:
- Damilola Dada– HATF (Secretariat)
- Catherine Jenkins– Heathrow Airport Limited (Surface Access Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Lead)
- Pete Burns– Heathrow Airport Limited (Director of Marketing and Digital)
- Andrew Tucker- HATF (Independent Technical Advisor)
- Lucy Owen- HSPG (HSPG Chair)
- Honor Puciato- Heathrow Airport Limited- (Environmental Assessment Manager) Chris Whall- AQ Consultants
Apologies:
- Wayne King– Unite (Regional Officer)
- Stephanie McKay- Heathrow Airport Limited (Head of Surface Access Delivery)
- Graham Vidler- Confederation of Passenger Transport (Chief Executive Officer)
- Shamal Ratnayaka- Transport for London (Aviation Strategy Lead)
Welcome and Introductions
The Chair provided opening remarks and welcomed new guests.
Review of Actions
Key Updates included:
- Development of HATF position statement summarising views on local transport strategy in progress. Scope of paper to be extended to cover topics beyond local transport. Paper to be progressively developed as board explores issues in more detail- especially bus services.
- Initial Business Plan is currently out for consultation.
Monitoring and Enforcement Proposals
HSPG shared and discussed the HSPG Monitoring and Enforcement Proposals.
HAL shared and discussed their emerging thoughts on ‘Future Bodies’
Particular points discussed include:
- Initial thoughts have been shaped by discussions between HSPG, HATF and HCEB.
- Aim of the proposals is to maximise benefits and minimise impacts of expansion.
- HSPG are keen to ensure that future bodies are structured to undertake effective monitoring and enforcement.
- HSPG desire to have income streams support local authorities, either through the retention of business rates or by the hypothecation of funding from the vehicle access charges. Differing proposals to HAL, who would like such funds raised by Road User Charging, parking etc are kept as part of Heathrow’s single till regulation.
Main discussion:
- Both HSPG and HAL propose structures with advisory boards and decision-making boards.
- There is potential for advisory bodies to be built into a chain of monitoring regimes.
- However, HSPG support the concept of an independent monitoring group, separate to any advisory or decision-making body, whose sole responsibility is to collate, quality assure and publish the monitoring data.
- There will be a need for a ‘central processing unit’ to ensure the business management element of the process is incorporated.
- It was identified that business planning cycles for airlines requires long term planning and that this means that the Environmentally Managed Growth that these bodies will monitor and enforce needs to have long term forecasts and planning.
- HATF will need to consider how it is positioned within the developing proposals and whether it may need to adapt its board membership or procedures to fully carry out a monitoring and advisory function as part of the post-DCO monitoring regime.
- Consideration to be given to unintended environmental consequences outside Heathrow Airport.
- Consideration should also be given to monitoring metrics able to measure wider community benefits.
- Importance of considering design principles before going to details of organisational structures flow chart.
- Opportunity to develop Terms of Reference for future bodies. Terms of Reference to outline objectives, key principles, as well as to avoid any duplication of responsibilities or remits by key stakeholders.
- Independence of the whole monitoring and enforcement process is desired. There was strong support for an independent audit function to ensure the quality, consistency and reliability of the monitoring data and reassure the public and stakeholders of the credibility and trustworthiness of data generated by or for Heathrow Airport.
- HAL, HCEB and HSPG will continue to work together to refine their proposals.
Digital HAL- Surface Transport
HAL shared and discussed the ‘Digital HAL- Surface Transport’ proposals
Particular points discussed include:
- Digital plays a role in terms of intelligent mobility.
- Utilising digital and data to personalise passenger experience.
- The Chair queried how Heathrow intend to find a balance between using the platform to maximise HAL’s commercial interests, against pushing passengers to make more sustainable choices. HAL clarified that while the platform is required to meet certain commercial requirements a governance structure on appropriate use is being developed and is being reviewed by the Consumer Challenge Board.
- Need for policy hierarchy as part of digital strategy to promote mode shift.
- Governance structure to support data platforms are not currently in place.
- Balance to get right commercial model with right public interest model.
- The board strongly agreed that the platform needs to provide neutral (factual as opposed to marketing promotional) information in terms of transport options and should offer passengers a choice of journeys that can offer either the best price, time, or environmental benefits.
- The board recommended that the platform should be a key driver to help support modal shift towards sustainable transport, without which the airport would not be able to expand.
- The board identified that after encouraging modal shift, ensuring taxis are backfilled, and for passengers to drive and park rather than getting dropped off by car (kiss and fly) are key requirements, as these measures will minimise vehicle trips.
Air Quality Statement
HAL shared and discussed the ‘Air Quality’ proposals in relation to Surface Access.
Particular points discussed include:
- Generally, air quality across the region is expected to improve, although there will be some localised locations where air quality will deteriorate, albeit while remaining within compliance limits.
- The board identified that some highway schemes, such as M4 smart motorway improvements will increase traffic and reduce air quality.
- Concern raised by board members that the air quality forecasts are very dependent on traffic modelling and underlying scenario assumptions used as inputs. On these matters, TfL, HSPG HE and Network Rail all share significant concerns as raised through the HATF special interest modelling group.
- Importance of Western and Southern Rail in helping meet air quality and mode shift targets.
- Dissonance between digital framework and sustainability objectives.
- The chair stressed the importance of ensuring the air quality impacts of development associated with the airport’s expansion, but outside the DCO, is captured within HAL’s assessment.
- The board identified the importance of the ULEZ charge but noted with concern that this is only applicable for air passengers (excluding employees, freight, taxi and public transport), that it will cease to be in effect once a vehicle access charge is introduced, and that the vehicle access charge does not include any emissions-based pricing.
- HSPG position on proposals is that Heathrow should not worsen air quality.
2020 Work Programme
The Chair presented the provisional 2020 HATF Work Programme.
AOB
- Chair to meet with Aviation Minister, Paul Maynard to discuss High Capacity Rail and Modal Shift for Heathrow
- MP Briefing Session
- Suggestion for future forum on freight strategy.
Date of next meeting: Tuesday 25th February 2020, 10:00-12:00,