Agenda item - Expansion of Gatwick Airport - Notice of Motion

Extract from the proceedings of the Economic Development & Culture Committee meeting held on the 26^th November 2015, together with a Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor Morgan (copies attached).

68.1         Councillor Morgan noted that the Economic Development & Culture Committee had agreed to support the expansion of Gatwick Airport and stated that whilst a reduction in overall air travel was a valid aspiration, the expansion of Gatwick would result in benefits to the local economy and should be supported.  The airport had one of the cleanest fleets and had taken innovative action to reduce noise levels.  In view of the likelihood that either Heathrow or Gatwick would get a second runway, he believed as did many other businesses and organisations in the region that Gatwick was the right choice.

68.2         Councillor Littman referred to the recent Paris Climate debate and the comments of the Director General of the CBI which supported his view that the intention to increase air travel with a second runway was taking the climate change policy in the wrong direction.

68.3         Councillor West questioned the view that a second runway at Gatwick would have economic benefits for the city in so much as there were other factors that needed to be considered such as traffic flows.  The transport links passed through the National Park and the National Park Authority had already expressed concerns over the impact of increased traffic through the area.  He believed that further consideration needed to be given to environmental factors and the incompatibility with any expansion at Gatwick.

68.4         Councillor G. Theobald stated that there was a need for Gatwick to remain at the centre of air travel for Europe rather than lose that to an airport abroad.  The expansion of Gatwick would have the potential to release further opportunities for the residents of the city as well as the local economy and it was the right thing to support this proposal.

68.5         Councillor Bell stated that the expansion of Gatwick Airport had to be supported as the potential benefits for the economy; jobs and the development of transport links were evident and should not be ignored.

68.6         Councillor Greenbaum queried how any expansion of the airport could be justified when the recent Paris summit had made a commitment to a 2% increase in global climate change.  She believed that around 80% of flights at Gatwick were leisure related and argued that any increase in its capacity could not be justified in terms of climate change.  There were other local airports that could take more flights and these options should be explored There were other local airports that were underused and the issue was about Gatwick promoting its business interests which the city did not need.

68.7         Councillor Druitt questioned where the potential for jobs would come from as a result of a second runway at Gatwick.  He also suggested that people should be encouraged to stay in this country and visit the city rather than making it easier for them to go abroad for a holiday.  He believed that a healthy economy relied on a healthy environment and the protection of the environment had to be the prime concern.

68.8         The Mayor stated that the notice of motion had been referred for information and noted that a request for a recorded vote had been made which she was inclined to accept.  She therefore asked for the voting system to be activated and put the motion to be noted to the vote which was carried  by 38 votes to 0 10 with 10 abstentions as detailed below:

68.9         RESOLVED: That the decision to support the expansion of Gatwick Airport as outlined in the agreed Notice of Motion be noted.

Note:   

68.10      Councillors Inkpin-Leissner and Bennett withdrew from the Chamber during the debate and voting thereon, having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the item.