- Heathrow announces refreshed approach to community engagement with the appointment of former Minister for Aviation, Baroness Liz Sugg, as chair of the newly formed Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport (CISHA)
- The airport’s local community and noise forums also welcomed two new independent chairs
- New appointments come alongside publication of the 2021 Sustainability Report, providing an update on the progress made last year and work undertaken to relaunch Heathrow’s 2.0 Sustainability Strategy
Heathrow has today announced Baroness Liz Sugg will chair the Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport (CISHA) following unanimous approval from the selection panel.
CISHA was formed following extensive stakeholder consultation and has been designed to maximise the efficiency and transparency of Heathrow’s community engagement, including scrutinising Heathrow’s sustainability progress and establishing stronger links between Heathrow Airport’s five existing community forums. The Council will succeed the Heathrow Community Engagement Board (HCEB) and will fulfil Heathrow’s Airport Consultative Committee (ACC) requirement.
Baroness Sugg will take up her two-year appointment in September and brings with her a wealth of experience and a strong track record of public engagement, having previously served as Minister for Aviation and Minister for Sustainable Development. CISHA will hold its first Open Forum on 20th October.
Commenting on Baroness Sugg’s appointment, Heathrow Chief Executive John Holland-Kaye said: “We’re delighted that Liz will be joining CISHA as the independent chair, holding the airport to account on its actions locally, and supporting greater dialogue and understanding between Heathrow and our wider community forums. As former Minister for Aviation, Liz brings with her a wide breadth of experience and a strong understanding of the range of stakeholders working to deliver better outcomes for those close to the airport. The consultation work conducted by Heathrow’s communities team and the HCEB highlighted the importance of a more joined up approach to engagement as we rebuild post-pandemic, and I look forward to working collaboratively with Liz and CISHA during our recovery and beyond.
Baroness Sugg said: “I’m delighted to be taking on this new role, as I believe all those involved and associated with, and impacted by, Heathrow Airport must be properly represented. As a former aviation minister I am well aware of the complex issues around airports, which require sustained, honest and transparent engagement. The airport and its surrounding communities. users and other stakeholders will not always agree, but it will be my responsibility to ensure voices are heard, effective discussions are held and that we deliver open and honest engagement and feedback to Heathrow, the CAA and the Government. I’m looking forward to working closely with the established forum chairs and meeting with stakeholders all around the airport.”
As a further part of the airport’s refreshed approach to community engagement, and in response to community feedback, Heathrow has also appointed independent chairs for the first time to two of its newly redesigned forums. Dr Roger Green, independent academic urban community researcher and community engagement advisor, will chair the Local Community Forum, formerly the Local Focus Forum. Andreas Lambriano will chair the Noise & Airspace Community Forum, formerly the Heathrow Community Noise Forum, having held several non-executive and independent chair roles, including NHS Primary Care Trusts in Hounslow and West London. Both forums are set to meet next in October.
The appointments come as Heathrow publishes its annual Sustainability Progress Report, which provides an extensive overview of the action taken last year, as part of Heathrow’s long-term commitment to sustainable management of the airport.
Heathrow’s primary focus in 2021 was updating its sustainability strategy, which was relaunched in February 2022, alongside Heathrow’s revised Net Zero Plan. The strategy’s simplified framework centres on two key areas: Heathrow’s plan to take the carbon of flying this decade, with 2019 as the year of peak carbon and a longer-term view to net zero by 2050; and the steps we will take to ensure that Heathrow is a great place to live and work for our colleagues and communities.
Despite the challenges COVID posed to Heathrow and the wider aviation sector last year, Heathrow still made significant headway with its sustainability agenda, highlights from 2021 include:
- The first shipment of sustainable aviation fuel was delivered to Heathrow's main fuel supply, kickstarting the use of SAF at the UK’s hub airport
- Airlines representing over 65% of Heathrow’s flights committed to using 10% or more sustainable aviation fuel by 2030.
- Over £315,000 was contributed to Heathrow Community Trust, funding 49 projects to improve quality of life for communities near the airport.
- The airport retained the Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark for the twelfth year running and became a founding signatory of the Get Nature Positive campaign.
- We continued support to local schools and families via our Heathrow Community Rangers, delivering laptops during COVID lockdowns to facilitate home learning, and providing donations to local foodbanks.
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Notes:
(1) About the Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport (CISHA)
CISHA is an independently chaired body constituted to provide the functions of an airport consultative committee for Heathrow Airport (in accordance with Section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982) and the functions of the Heathrow Airport community engagement board. The purpose of CISHA will be to ensure independent oversight of the way Heathrow engages with stakeholders, fully integrated with Heathrow’s wider community forum structure, and provide a transparent mediation process for constructive and effective engagement with the airport.
(2) About Baroness Liz Sugg
Baroness Sugg was Minister for Aviation at the Department for Transport in 2017 - 2019. She represented the Department on all transport issue in the House of Lords. She subsequently was Minister for Sustainable Development in the Department of International Development and Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Prior to joining the House of Lords, she served for six years as Director of Operations and Campaigns at 10 Downing Street under Prime Minister David Cameron. Liz is currently a backbencher in the House of Lords and Chair of the charity Malaria No More UK.
(3) Explanation of ACC Requirement
Section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 (s35 CAA 1982) requires designated airports (of which Heathrow is one) to provide adequate facilities for consultation with respect to any matter concerning the management or administration of the airport which affects the interests of its users, certain local authorities, and other organisations representing the interests of anyone concerned within the locality in which the airport is situated. The Department for Transport’s preferred method for designated airports to discharge their functions under s35 CAA 1982 is through an Airport Consultative Committee as laid out in its Guidelines for Airport Consultative Committees issued in 2014 (DfT Guidelines). The Heathrow Community Engagement Board Limited (HCEB Ltd) was set up in 2018 to fulfil and deliver the requirements an Airport Consultative Committee and will now deliver the requirements of an Airport Consultative Committee under s35 CAA 1982 through the Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport.
(4) 2021 Sustainability Progress Report
The 2021 Sustainability Report is available in pdf format on this webpage.
