Issue - meetings

To consider any questions submitted by Members of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11 (b).

In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11, 4 questions had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.

(A)  Impact of Luton Airport Expansion

Councillor Chris Lucas to Councillor Daniel Allen, Leader of the Council.

(B)  Lithium-Ion Battery Hazards

Councillor Jon Clayden to Councillor Mick Debenham, Executive Member for Regulatory.

(C)  Recycling Rates

Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Amy Allen, Executive Member for Environment.

(D)  Penalty Charge Notices

Councillor Matt Barnes to Councillor Donna Wright, Executive Member for Place.

Audio recording – 2 hours 7 minutes 21 seconds

In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11, four questions had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.

(A)  Impact of Luton Airport Expansion

Councillor Chris Lucas to Councillor Daniel Allen, Leader of the Council:

‘In light of the Labour Secretary of State for Transport’s announcement on 3^rd April giving the go-ahead to expand Luton Airport from 16.7m passengers to 32m passengers and Alistair Strathern, the Labour MP for Hitchin’s endorsement of the expansion plan, could the Labour Leader of North Hertfordshire District Council explain the impact this will have on the residents of North Hertfordshire, specifically those who live under the current flight path or adjacent to the airport?’

Councillor Daniel Allen provided the following response:

‘Luton planned to increase the passenger numbers to 32 million a year. They have clarified they want to achieve this by the 2040’s. So, this change will happen gradually and slowly, but I know for many the scale of the change with cause considerable concern. Seeing as you mention Alistair Strathern, I will share his work. He has been engaging with the Department of Transport, Ministers and their teams to share the concerns on the impact Luton Airport is already having on nearby communities and to push for consideration on the further impact that expansion will bring. I will continue to push for all relevant stakeholders to improve traffic flow around the site and through our constituency towns and villages. I want to make sure there are more robust monitoring and enforcement on the noise impacts of flight paths and flight times.  It is shame that you have never written or emailed him about it Cllr Lucas, because he would have been very happy to discuss it with you. But in a direct answer to your question, we don’t know yet. We are working with our MPs, with Luton Borough Council and with the Liberal Democrat led County Council to make sure that our residents are supported in the best way possible. I also am looking to the positives of this. We need to capture every opportunity that this brings for our residents in infrastructure improvements and the potential 28,000 new jobs and new housing that will come along with this.’

Councillor Chris Lucas asked a supplementary question, as follows:

‘No, I haven’t written to Alistair Strathern on this matter, but I have actually spoken to him at length on this matter and the answers I got from him are wholly unsatisfactory as was the response and answer that you have just provided. In light of this, I wonder if you could give us some assurances and reassurances to the people who are directly affected by this terrible decision to expand Luton Airport is going to have on the local community and can you give assurances that you will be campaigning and fighting tooth and nail against this expansion?’

Councillor Daniel Allen responded:

‘I can’t. The decision has been made. I  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36