Item 1

AT A MEETING of the RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE held in the Former Grand Jury Room on 14 December 2001.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillor K.B. Estlin (Chairman); Mrs P.G.E. Holden-Brown; T.G. Knight; A.W. Rice, TD.

Eastleigh Borough Council

Councillor H. Moneypenny

Fareham Borough Council

Councillor T.M. Cartwright

Winchester City Council

Councillor Mrs C. Sutton

Association of Hamble River Yacht Clubs

J.H.R. Selby

River Hamble Boatyard and Marina

C. Moody

Royal Yachting Association

D. Alexander

11. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2001 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:


Minute 136 - Report of the Harbour Master - 27 April 2001

The Highways Agency was still to provide details of their investigations into safety measures to prevent contamination from the M27 motorway seeping into the River Hamble. The Executive Member's Group was to discuss this at their next meeting.

Minute 7 - Report of the Harbour Master - 25 July 2001

The marina and boatyard operators had indicated that they were willing to release staff to be trained for, and able to assist Harbour staff with oil spill and response. The matter was being pursued, and would be discussed by the Executive Member's Group at their next meeting.

12. TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Management Committee received and noted the Terms of Reference of the Management Committee (Item 2 in the Minute Book).

13. REPORT OF THE RIVER HAMBLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Management Committee considered the oral report of the County Planning Officer, who outlined the composition of the River Hamble Advisory Committee.

The Secretary was requested to send Members a copy of the Hamble Advisory Panel Minutes, but appreciated the short time-scale on this occasion.

14. MODERNISATION AND CHANGES TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE RIVER HAMBLE

The Management Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) outlining administrative changes affecting the River Hamble.

The report set out the forces of change, described the consequences and related the extent to which changes had developed. A new symbiotic relationship had been forged with the Crown Estate, which from 1 January 2002 would result in the taking of two 50 year peppercorn leases of the River Hamble. The County Council would provide a management service for the 600 moorings currently licensed out to individuals; improve visitor facilities and promote the unique characteristics of the River Hamble.

The modernisation of local government had led to the adoption of decision making by a Leader and Cabinet model within the Council.

Decisions on the River Hamble would be made by the Executive Member for Environment on the advice of the Executive Member's Group. As the Executive Member (Environment) had a pecuniary interest in the setting of the River Harbour Dues, this decision would be made by the Cabinet. The new River Hamble Harbour Management Committee's remit was :-

· to advise the Executive Member for Environment in the discharge of his duties in respect of the River Hamble;


· prepare and maintain a strategic plan for the management of the River Hamble day to day decision-making being the responsibility of the Executive Member for Environment in consultation with the Executive Member's Group;


· comment on an Annual Report from the Executive Member for Environment


A one year delay was expected in determining the result of the Municipal Ports review which would have a knock-on effect on plans to delegate decision-making to an Executive Group comprising seven people (three elected Members; the Harbour Master and three Specialist Members with experience in the environment; marine industry and recreation/sailing). A Harbour Revision Order may be required to give effect to this proposal.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

15. REPORT OF THE HARBOUR MASTER

The Management Committee considered the report of the Harbour Master (Item 5 in the Minute Book) summarising activities and events on the River for the year 2001.

The summer patrols, which had been made daily, until 22.00 hrs had been made possible by additional staff. A survey of visitors and the impact of traffic on the Hamble area had been completed. A report setting out findings was to be made to the June 2002 Management Committee.

Concerns were raised at the use of anti-fouling agents and their pollutant effects. It was anticipated that government control of substances would limit their use in future.

The difficulties of controlling vessels speeding on the River were discussed. The newly appointed "Designated Person", Marine Enforcement Limited (EML) of Sarisbury Green would deal with such incidents. The Harbour Master was requested to include a wider definition and logging of incidents describing breakdowns. These should in future include Tables of Incidents, details of insecure pontoons and those adrift.

The Chief Executive was to speak to the Harbour Master regarding the classification of visitors and the demand for less than annual moorings. These should include instances of "visitors" remaining in the Hamble for 3-4 months.

Further questions were raised regarding dredging; the lack of chandlering services on the river and trials of the oil boom. The Designated Person appointment had been made to Marine Enforcement Ltd., of Sarisbury Green.



RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

16. THE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HARBOUR AUTHORITY AND PROPOSED DELEGATED POWERS FOR THE EXECUTIVE MEMBER

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) regarding the statutory responsibility of the Harbour Authority.

The report described a framework within which the Executive Member's Group could advise the Executive Member for Environment, who would then make `day to day' decisions. Where projects departed from `existing' policies, decisions would be referred to the full Management Committee, before the Executive Member takes the decision.

Members requested that should it be necessary to dispose of urgent business, a Special Meeting of the Management Committee be convened.

Members requested that all proposed Executive Member decisions be circulated before the decisions were taken.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the policy objectives set out in the report be agreed.


(ii) That the Executive Member (Environment) receive advice from the Executive Member's Group in respect of any decision he proposes to make in discharging the County Council's responsibilities as Harbour Authority.


(iii) That the Executive Member (Environment) be asked to refer back to the Management Committee for consideration, any decision which he proposes to take which is inconsistent with the policy objectives approved by the Management Committee.

17. ANNUAL REVIEW OF CHARGES

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) introducing the new management arrangements for the County Council, and the reversion of the Moorings to the Crown Estate after 31 December 2001, and the way Harbour Dues and Mooring Rentals are set.

The Cabinet had at its meeting on 19 November 2001 approved the changes for the year starting 1 January 2002. These would represent a 3% increase over 2001:

Current Charge New Charge Imperial
(2001) (2002) Equivalent
per metre per metre per foot
(excl. VAT) (excl. VAT) (excl. VAT)
£ £ £

Harbour Dues 7.45 7.67 2.34
Moorings supervision 7.98 8.22 2.50

In future the Crown Estate would set mooring fees for the moorings currently
licensed to individuals boatyards and sailing clubs. The Harbour was to manage the moorings for the Crown Estate for which a fee would be charged. There would also be a supervisory element, which was set by the Harbour Authority for 2002, as detailed above

RESOLVED:

That the charges for 2002 be noted.

18. NAVIGATION APPLICATION: REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING JETTY AND INFILLING OF REDUNDANT SLIPWAY - HAMBLE YACHT SERVICES

The Committee considered the report of the Harbour Master (Item 8 in the Minute Book) seeking consent to replace the existing jetty and infilling a redundant slipway for Hamble Yacht Services. This application was approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 13 November 2001, subject to no objection being made by the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the decision taken by the Executive Member for Environment, and set out below, be ratified.

1. "That, under Section 10 of the Southampton Harbour Act 1924 and Section 48 of the Southampton Harbour Act 1949, consent be granted to Hamble Yacht Services to replace an existing jetty, as indicated on the attached site plan, subject to the following conditions as specified by the Harbour Master, that:


(i) the pontoon and other materials used are similar to and in keeping with those forming other such facilities in the adjacent area of the river;


(ii) all costs associated with completing the work covered by this consent are borne by Hamble Yacht Services;


(iii) Hamble Yacht Services obtains consent from the Crown Estate and meets the costs of any additional rent;


(iv) subsequent to the work, the pontoon and access ramps be kept in good repair, to the satisfaction of the Harbour Master; and


(v) this consent shall be considered null and void if the work involved is not implemented in full within two years.


2. That Eastleigh Borough Council, the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Ports Division), the Environment Agency, Trinity House and the Crown Estate be informed."

8hM81201