Issue - meetings

Rochester Airport

Meeting: 18/12/2012 - Cabinet (Item 12)

Minutes:

Background:

This report provided details of proposals on how the Council intended to safeguard the future of the airport, incorporating a modern airport facility with improved heritage and community facilities.

The report stated that facilities at the airport were nearing the end of their economic lives and it was generally accepted that for the airport to remain open in the medium/long term, investment was needed to make it sustainable.

The options for the future of the airport were set out in the report. It was also noted that a masterplan will be prepared for the site that would set out a clear framework for the reconfiguration of the aviation facilities, as well as the basis for redeveloping surplus and adjoining land for employment related uses.

Decision number:

Decision:

221/2012

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Legal and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Finance Portfolio Holder to:

(a) Grant a lease or leases to an airport operator, which allows the council to take back land freed up by the closure of runway 16/34. A longer lease of the Airport, will allow the private sector and the operator together with the council to invest in the site to improve its facilities, public access and the heritage offer available.

(b) Vary/release covenants on adjacent land and enter into agreements with adjoining landowners on the best terms reasonably obtainable, in order to bring forward land for disposal/development.

222/2012

The Cabinet agreed to receive a further report next summer requesting it to recommend to Full Council that:

(a) A capital contribution (to be defined following the marketing of the leasehold opportunity) is made towards the cost of the new airport facilities.

(b) It delegates authority to the Assistant Director of Legal & Corporate Services, in consultation with the Finance Portfolio Holder, to dispose of the land freed up as a result of the closure of runway 16/34 so that it can be developed.

Reasons:

To safeguard the long-term future sustainability of the airport, to secure the improvement of the airport to provide a modern facility with improved public access and heritage offer and to release additional employment land, whilst meeting the Council’s legal and fiduciary duties.