Membership and Code of Conduct

Gatwick terminal check-in area 1958Membership and presence at meetings

The members of the committee are drawn from three broad groups:

  • Users: travel and tourism industry, aviation industry including airlines, passengers
  • Local authorities: all those whose boundary abuts Gatwick Airport or the M23 spur road
  • Local interest groups: groups representing local people affected by the airport’s operations including environmental and noise groups, business and economic groups and employees

All member organisations commit to providing the most senior person available with the required knowledge to represent them at GATCOM.

All members commit to working on GATCOM business between meetings and giving timely responses to requests for comments and feedback between committee meetings.

GATCOM Membership

Chair

Mr Tom Crowley

Tom Crowley was appointed as the independent chair of the Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee in September 2018 and took up his position upon the retirement of the former chair, John Godfrey, at the end of the year. Until April 2018 Tom was Chief Executive of Horsham District Council, a role he held for thirteen years.

Tom has over forty years’ experience in Local Government the bulk of which time was spent with district councils in West Sussex and Surrey. A Chartered Town Planner by profession Tom has substantial experience of working to balance the conflicting demands and expectations of individuals and organisations in relation to the social, environmental and economic impacts of development. He has worked closely with local communities and their elected representatives and, having lived and worked in the area since 1980, has personal experience of the importance of the airport, including the contribution it makes to the local economy as well as its less desirable effects.

Tom is involved in voluntary work – he Chairs Action on Empty Homes, a national campaigning charity and is also a Governor with the Chichester College Group.

Married with two grown up sons, Tom lives in Horsham and, in his spare time, likes to read, watch films, attempt home improvements and keep fit through swimming, cycling and going to the gym.

The appointment of Tom Crowley was announced in September 2018 – click here to see press release.

 Committee Members
East Sussex County Council

Mr Rupert Simmons

(Mr Nick Bennett – substitute)
Surrey County Council

Mr Graham Knight

(Mrs Helyn Clack – substitute)
West Sussex County Council

Mr Roger Elkins

(Mrs Janet Duncton – substitute)
Kent County Council

Mr Michael Payne

(Mr Matthew Balfour – substitute)
Crawley Borough Council

Mr Geraint Thomas

(Mrs Brenda Smith – substitute)
Tandridge District Council

Mr Ken Harwood

(Mrs Leslie Steeds – substitute)
Horsham District Council

Mrs Liz Kitchen

(Mr Adrian Lee – substitute)
Mid Sussex District Council

Mr Christopher Hersey

(Mr Jim Knight – substitute)
Mole Valley District Council

Mr Charles Yarwood (Vice-Chairman of GATCOM)

(Mrs Vivienne Michael – substitute)
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council

Mr Alex Horwood

(Mr Richard Biggs – substitute)
 Rusper Parish Council

Mr David Lawton

(Mr Alan Sheridan – substitute)
Horley Town Council

Mr Mike George

(Mrs Fiona Stimpson – substitute)
Burstow Parish Council

Mr R Alan Jones

(Mr Phil Hamlet – substitute)
Charlwood Parish Council

Mrs Carolyn Evans

(Mr Nick Hague – substitute)
Gatwick Airline Operators Committee

Mr Douglas Moule

(Mr Jamie Hobbs – substitute)
South London Business

TBA

(TBA – substitute)
ABTA

Mrs Angie Hills

(Mr Luke Petherbridge – substitute)
Gatwick Diamond Business

Mr Jeff Alexander

(Mr Brett North – substitute)
Airlines UK

Mr Philip Allport

(Mr Alun Adler – substitute)
Environmental and Amenity Groups

(represented by the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign)

Mr Peter Barclay

(Mrs Sally Pavey – substitute)
Which?

Mr Chris Larkman

(Mr Bill Taylor – substitute)
Airlines International Representation in Europe (AIRE)

TBA
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry

TBA

(Mr Sean McKee – substitute)
Passenger Representative

Mr Peter Hall

(Mrs Samantha Williams – substitute)
Tourism South-East

Mr Nigel Smith

(TBA – substitute)
Coast to Capital Local Economic Partnership

Ms Katie Nurcombe

(Mr Matthew Wragg – substitute)
Trades Union Congress Southern and Eastern Regional Council

Mr Jamie Major

(Ms Claire Simpson – substitute)

Advisers to the Committee

Honorary Secretary

Mr Tony Kershaw
Honorary Deputy Secretary

Mr Barry Smith
Assistant Secretary

Mrs Paula Street
Technical Adviser

Mr Brian Cox

Also Present at GATCOM Meetings

Department for Transport

Mr Tim May

Gatwick Airport Limited

Chief Executive Officer

Mr Stewart Wingate
Head Airspace Strategy and Engagement

Andy Sinclair
Director of Corporate Affairs, Planning & Sustainability

Mr Tim Norwood

 

 

NATS

Community Relations Manager

Mr Robin Clarke

Gatwick Air Traffic Control

General Manager, ANS

Mr Markus Biedermann

South Terminal upper forecourt

GATCOM Steering Group Membership

Chair

Mr Tom Crowley
Environmental and Amenities Groups

Mr Peter Barclay
Crawley Borough Council

Mr Geraint Thomas
Passenger Representative

Mr Peter Hall
Horsham District Council

Mrs Liz Kitchen
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council

Mr Alex Horwood
Airlines UK

Mr Phillip Allport
Mole Valley District Council – Vice Chairman

Mr Charles Yarwood
West Sussex County Council

Mr Roger Elkins
Airlines International Representation in Europe (AIRE)

TBA
Surrey County Council

Mr Graham Knight
Gatwick Diamond Business

Mr Jeff Alexander

British Airways airplane

Passenger Advisory Group

GATCOM Members appointed annually:

Chair

Mr Tom Crowley
Gatwick AOC

Mr Douglas Moule
Mole Valley District Council

Mr Charles Yarwood
ABTA

Ms Angie Hills
Which?

Mr Chris Larkman

Gatwick Airport Limited appoints independent passenger representatives following advertisement and interview:

Mr Paul Audu Mrs Ann Bates
Mrs Claire Booth Mrs Fiona Bowers
Mr Clive Brooks Mr Nick Brooks
Ms Sabrina D’Anjou Mrs Wendy Dudley
Mr Peter Hall Mrs Fenella Hunter
Ms Sheila Plant Mr Mark Reddick
Mr Gareth Thomas Mrs Claire Vickers
Mr Tony Wheeler Mrs Samantha Williams

World's largest bag drop

Gatwick Airport Limited’s Noise and Track Monitoring Advisory Group (NATMAG)

GATCOM also appoints seven representatives to serve on Gatwick Airport Limited’s Noise and Track Monitoring Advisory Group (NATMAG).

The following members are appointed for a term of two years:

  • Mr Matthew Balfour (Kent County Council)
  • Mr Peter Barclay (Environment and Amenities Groups)
  • Mr Mike George (Horley Town Council)
  • Mr Ken Harwood (Tandridge District Council)
  • Mr Alan Jones (Burstow Parish Council)
  • Mrs Liz Kitchen (Horsham District Council)
  • Mr Charles Yarwood (Mole Valley District Council)

Airplane in flight

Member Code of Conduct

GATCOM has adopted the Code of Conduct set out in the Department for Transport’s Guidelines for Airport Consultative Committees:

Respect:

Committee members should treat each other with respect and courtesy at all times.

Commitment:

Committee members should dedicate sufficient time to prepare for and attend meetings, including seeking advice and views from others in their organisation where appropriate.

Conflicts of Interest:

Members should identify and declare any conflicts of interest (actual, potential or perceived), particularly where members do not represent an organisation.

Participation:

Members should participate fully in meetings. They should listen to what others have to say and keep an open mind while contributing constructively to discussions. Actions assigned to members should be fulfilled in a timely manner and progress reported back at the next meeting.

Openness and Accountability:

Members should be open and accountable to each other and the organisations and communities they represent about their work on the committee.

Confidentiality:

Members should respect the status of any confidential issues they discuss.
Gatwick architecture