Hampshire Police Authority
Item: 8
Date: 10 June 2008
Daedalus Airfield
Report of Chief Constable
Contact:
1.
Insp 2501 Anthony Turner
0845 045 45 45 ext 79 2215
Summary
1.1 This report provides the Police Authority with information regarding
the current status of General Aviation (GA) at the Daedalus Airfield
and invites the Authority to comment on the basis for calculating
the charge to be payable by GA users.
2.
Recommendations
2.1 The Police Authority note the contents of this Paper and the
intention of the Chief Constable to commence detailed discussion
with GA users on the charge to be made and the practical
implications of these arrangements.
3.
Gold Group
3.1 On 6 May 2008 the Daedalus Gold Group met to discuss Lee
Flying Association Ltd’s proposal for the continuation of GA at the
Daedalus Airfield.
3.2 At the conclusion of this meeting two options for consideration by
the Chief Constable were proposed by the Chair, DCC Readhead:
3.2.1
Option1
At midnight on 15 May 2008 GA at Daedalus Airfield would
cease. Owners would be required to remove individual
aircraft with a temporary facility for take off.
3.2.2
Option 2
Subject to implementation of the proposed partnership for
radio supervision between the Gliding Club and GA, current
GA users only to be afforded a 6 month rolling licence,
reviewable every 12 months, at a ‘fair’ rate to be determined
by Hampshire Constabulary’s Department of Finance and
Resources (DoF&R).
3.3 After communication with the Chief Constable and Chief Executive
1
Officer for Hampshire Police Authority in which clarification was
afforded regarding the improved safety measures at 3.2.2, this,
coupled with verification from the Force Solicitor regarding the
insurance liability being covered by the existing policy, a decision
was made in favour of Option 2.
4.
Cost Analysis
4.1 A ‘fair’ rate for GA users is one which strikes an appropriate
balance between the Authority’s duty to the council tax payers and
to the GA users. It has been necessary to review prior cost
submissions to ensure that current and relevant figures are used to
calculate the charge. This has to be based on a reasonable
apportionment of the estimated costs of running the airfield plus a
calculation of the costs that will only be incurred as a result of GA.
4.1.1
In furtherance to the Chief Constable’s Paper to the Police
Authority dated 20 November 2007, paragraph 3.3 stated
that the Air Support Budget for 2007/08 totalled £1.2m from
which the running costs of the airfield were estimated to be
in the region of £80k, a figure which has now been
confirmed as £80,700 (Appendix A).
4.1.2
In March 2007 a Freedom of Information request was
received by Hampshire Constabulary regarding annual
costs associated with maintaining the Air Support Unit
(ASU) aircraft at Daedalus (Appendix B).
The figure quoted in response, £56,316, represented an
apparent disparity between this total and the £80,700
identified at 4.1.1.
However, this figure related to 2005/06 statistics, not those
for 2007/08, which coupled with other inherent factors
(Appendix C) provides reconciliation in this regard.
4.1.3
In consequence of the decision at 3.3, for the purpose of
calculating a “fair” charge the DoF&R have provided revised
calculations regarding the total running costs of the airfield,
inclusive of GA usage, which amounts to £258,740.
(General running costs of £ 219,250 plus £39,490 costs
specific to GA) These calculations are higher than those
previously reported as they include:

Estimates for maintenance and replacement where it is
believed that GA should bear a proportion of such costs
under the definition of a “fair” rate as given in para 4.1.
(Some costs are not believed to be attributable to GA
and therefore have been excluded from the
calculations);
2

Costs directly attributable to GA use of the airfield.
In terms of the fair apportionment of the costs, which is
reflected in the ultimate licence provision, the Air Support
Unit Executive Officer has determined that based on GA
usage of the airfield at a ratio of four to one, GA users are
required to contribute 20% towards the general running
costs of £219,250, namely £43,850 pa (Appendix D).
In addition there will be a further requirement for GA users
to pay 100% of those costs incurred, which extend beyond
the core policing requirement, namely £39,490 pa
(Appendix E).
The sum of these two figures therefore represents the total
per annum licence fee cost to be divided among existing
GA users of Daedalus Airfield, namely £83,340 from which
the licence fee is to be calculated.
4.1.4
To this end and based on an estimated 39 such units
currently in situ at the airfield (recent SEEDA audit), this
represents a licence fee of £2,137 per unit per annum.
VAT will be added to this charge.
However, it should also be noted that any reduction in these
numbers will represent a further increase in this total. A full
breakdown of the cost to which this paragraph relates is
available at Appendix F.
4.1.5
The Licence itself will contain provision for the Fee to be
varied annually taking account of costs, maintenance
requirements, number of aircraft and lease obligations to
the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) plus any other
factors that have a material bearing. It will be dependent on
the MCA as landlord giving its consent.
The Fee will be paid in two instalments, six months in
advance. Failure to pay the Fee will result in a Licence
being immediately revoked.
4.2
5.
The Authority is invited to comment on the proposed basis
of calculations, having regard to the difficult balance that
has to be struck between its duty to council tax payers and
arriving at a reasonable charge for GA use.
Conclusion
5.1 Until eighteen months ago, GA users of Daedalus were paying
£410 per annum to use the airfield. The new charge of £2,137
+vat per annum therefore represents a significant increase.
3
5.2 However, the figure of £2,137 +vat per unit per annum is
comparable with other airfields in the region. For instance, the fee
at Blackbush is £2,700 +vat for unlimited landings and at
Bournemouth is £1,926 +vat for up to 75 landings a year. Further
comparison is included at Appendix G.
As well as being comparable with the market rate, the charge is
calculated to ensure that GA users make a reasonable
contribution to the estimated running costs of the airfield and
meet the entire direct costs of GA presence at the airfield. These
costs would otherwise be borne by Hampshire Constabulary and,
ultimately, the tax payer.
5.3 Furthermore and following the advice from the Force Solicitor,
Section 25 of the Police Act 1996 states that the ‘Constabulary
may provide, at the request of any person, special police services
at any premises or in any locality in a police area for which the
Force is maintained, subject to the payment to the Police
Authority of charges on such scales as may be determined by
that Authority.’
5.4 Significantly the Act provides complete discretion as to how the
scale of charges are drawn up as long as they are reasonable.
4
APPENDIX A
Hampshire Constabulary Air Support Unit ‘Running and Premises Costs’
2007/08
£10,500
EM100
Air Support Mgr Recharge @ 15%
£5,400
PR110
Tennant Building Maintenance
£10,000
PR120
Routine grounds maintenance
£22,500
PR200
General rates
£15,200
PR210
Building Rents - leases
£7,000
PR301
Electricity
£7,100
PR302
Heating Oil
£1,400
PR310
Metered Water
£200
PR400
Window Cleaning
£600
PR420
Cleaning / Domestic Materials - Consumables
£800
PR603
Building Fixtures and Fittings
------------£80,700
=======
5
APPENDIX B
6
APPENDIX C
Reconciliation figures from £56k in 2005/06 to Approx £80k in 2007/08
1.
£10k - Air Support Mgr recharge not included on 2005-06 figures
2.
- £5k - building maintenance figure included in 2005-06 was £10,611
compared to £5,400 budget for £2007-08
3.
£5k - Routine Grounds maintenance figure included in 2005-06 was
£4,860 compared to £10,000 budget for 2007-08
4.
£7k - General Rates figure included in 2005-06 was £15,601 compared
to £22,500 budget for 2007-08
5.
- £5k - Building Rents - Leases figure included in 2005-06 was
£20,281 compared to £15,200 budget for 2007-08
6.
£7k - Electricity figure included in 2005-06 was a net impact of zero
compared to £7,000 budget for 2007-08
7.
£2k - Heating Oil figure included in 2005-06 was £5,339 compared to
£7,100 budget for 2007-08
8.
£1k - Metered Water not included in 2005-06 figures
9.
£2k - Cleaning / Domestic Materials consumables and Building Fixtures
and Fittings not included in 2005-06 figure
7
APPENDIX D
Reconciliation figures regarding general running costs from £80,700 to
£219,250
£80,700
-£10,500
Excludes cost of Air Support Manager
£850
Previously not included - cost of insurance - employers' liability
for the staff listed above and buildings / contents insurance for
the control tower
-£400
Reduction in 2008-09 utilities budget
-£7,100
Exclude Heating Oil from current calculation
-£1,600
Exclude window cleaning, cleaning consumables and fixtures
and fittings from current calculation
£30,000
Maintenance of new gates, not included in previous £80k figure
supplied
£7,300
Routine grounds maintenance (grass cutting), increase in
contract price
£49,000
Previously not included - Landlord building Maintenance - six
year average used
£5,000
Cost of maintaining wooden perimeter fence
£30,000
Cost of bunding the runway every 5 years was not included in
£80k
£6,000
Cost of replacing the electronic gates every 20 years was not
included in £80k
£30,000
cost of replacing the fencing every 25 years was not included in
£80k
TOTAL
£219,250
GA contribution at 20% = £43,850
8
APPENDIX E
Costs incurred as a direct result of General Aviation users
£10,500
Nov 2007 charge for Air Support Manager
£2,500
2008-09 salary increase for Air Support Manager
£500
previously not included - cost of scale 5 to answer the phone,
check the gate and open the gate
£10,000
Professional Indemnity associated with GA use
£9,750
Surveyors fees / monitoring annual renewal based on 39 total
GA users @ £250 per user
£3,900
Force Solicitor involvement in relation to fees / monitoring
annual renewal based on 39 total GA users @ £100 per user
£2,340
Cost of processing invoices based on 39 total GA users @ £30
per user
TOTAL
£39,490
GA contribution at 100% = £39,490
9
APPENDIX F
Z:\Headquarters\
Corporate Services\Management Support\Committee Support\POLICE AUTHORITY\MAIN MEETINGS\10 Jun 08\Daedulus Airfeild AppF.xls
10
APPENDIX G
Airfield
Fee per annum
Comments
Daedalus
£2,137 +vat
Unlimited landings
Blackbush
£2,700 +vat
Unlimited landings
Bournemouth *
£1,926 +vat
Up 75 landings pa
Southampton *
£24.45 + approx £100
Per landing
Agent Handling Fee
Thruxton **
Single engine £10.00
+vat
Twin engine £20.00 +vat
Goodwood (Grass) **
£16.29 incl vat
Per landing
Shoreham **
£18.00 incl vat
Per landing
Lydd **
£12.00 incl vat
Per landing
Popham (Grass) **
£5.00 +vat
Per landing
£10.00 day pass
Unlimited landings
Single engine £10.00
Per landing
Old Sarum (Grass) **
+vat
Twin engine £15.00 +vat
*Limited capacity due to International Status
** To accommodate a similar requirement, this level of service would
require an additional 3 members of staff to count / log the landings and
provide monthly invoices on a retrospective basis
11