Contact: Alan Inder, ext 6759

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the County Council makes a financial contribution to the Solent Forum at the rate of £5,000 per annum, for three years commencing 2002/03.

2. Reason

2.1 To help to fund, jointly with other authorities and agencies, a range of initiatives and projects being undertaken or planned by the Solent Forum.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 None.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Introduction

7.1 The County Council took the lead in setting up and running the Solent Forum in 1992. It has over 80 members representing more than 50 organisations, and meets twice a year. The Forum has facilitated much more integrated planning and management of the Solent. In the United Kingdom context it was a pioneering coastal forum and, because of its success, it has been used as a model for similar organisations elsewhere.

7.2 A project officer was appointed in 1996 to prepare Strategic Guidance for the Solent and to implement it through a range of `flagship projects', including:

(i) setting up an extensive website;

(ii) holding a prestigious Solent Science Conference;

(iii) establishing the Solent Research Group; and

(iv) publicising the first State of the Solent report (in January 2002).

7.3 The work of the Forum is now undertaken by two officers, one full-time and one part-time, both based in the County Planning Department and line managed by the County Council's Coastal Manager. The posts are jointly funded by the County Council and a dozen other authorities and agencies.

8 Current and Future Work

8.1 The workload is guided by a steering group of representatives of the funding organisations. The current main projects are:

(i) publication of a guide to marine consents;

(ii) development of a strategy for access and environmental improvements; and

(iii) dissemination of information about spatial datasets held by member organisations.

8.2 The Strategic Guidance is to be reviewed, following which a new action plan will be drawn up. Increasingly, the emphasis of the Forum's work is likely to focus on facilitating the exchange of data and information between the planning and management agencies in the Solent area, as this is the work so highly valued by member organisations.

8.3 Continued funding of the posts is being sought in order to progress these projects and initiatives and to continue ongoing work such as organising Forum meetings, publishing Solent News and maintaining the website. The County Council, as the instigating authority, has contributed more than any other single agency. Now that the Solent Forum is on a more sound financial footing it would be appropriate for the County Council to reduce its level of funding from £8,000 to £5,000 per anum, to bring it in line with other leading authorities. The County Council will continue to provide `in kind' contributions of office space and line management in addition to the funding contribution. It is proposed that this contribution be approved for three years commencing 2002/03 and then reviewed.

9. Financial Implications

9.1 The County Council's contribution to the Solent Forum is funded from the base budget of the County Planning Department. The proposed reduction will, therefore, produce a modest saving for that budget.

10. Legal Implications

10.1 The County Council has the power under the Local Government Act 2000 to do anything that is likely to achieve the promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of an area. In particular, Section 2 of the Act enables the County Council to incur expenditure and give financial assistance to any person for the promotion or improvement of the environmental well-being of the area. Environmental well-being includes anything to do with the locality.

7075/AI