AT A MEETING of the RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE held at the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Rope Walk, Hamble on 21 June, 2002.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillor K.B. Estlin (Chairman); Mrs. S.E. Allbright; Mrs. E.S.M. Barron; C.R.H. Davidovitz; Ms. J.M. Kelly; T.G. Knight; A.W. Rice, TD.

Eastleigh Borough Council

Councillor W.J. Pepper.

Fareham Borough Council

Councillor T.M. Cartwright

Winchester City Council

Councillor Mrs. C. Sutton

Royal Yachting Association

D. Alexander

Association of River Hamble Yacht Clubs

J.H.R. Selby

British Marine Federation

S. Borne

Associated British Ports

P.J. Fuller

Hamble River Boatyard and Marina Operators Association

C. Moody

Also in attendance: M. Denton-Thompson (Assistant County Planning Officer); A.G. Inder (Coastal Manager, County Planning Department); B. Ingram (Assistant County Treasurer) ; Capt. R. Exley (River Hamble Harbour Master); Capt. M.G.C. Capon (Designated Person); A.R. Knight (Chief Executive's Department).

19 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 December, 2001 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

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

In reply to a question on progress to ascertain what anti-pollution measures existed on the M27 road bridge over the River Hamble, the Chairman reported that it was Highway Agency policy to bring roads and bridges up to modern standards. Whilst the M27 West had been brought up to these standards, emergency action would be requested for action to be taken in respect of the motorway bridge across the River Hamble on the M27 East. Local maintenance programmes were dealt with under Highways Agency arrangements by the County Council and Mott McDonald.

20 MINUTES OF THE RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Committee received and noted the Minutes of the River Hamble Harbour Advisory Committee held on 5 June, 2002.

21 HARBOUR MASTER'S REPORT

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 3 in the Minute Book) for the period January, 2002 to May, 2002 and the forward plan of activity for the period to September, 2002.

The Harbour Master reported that the Harbour Authority office was now staffed daily from 06.00 to 22.00 hours.

Harbour Authority staff, with assistance of the police and coastguards had carried out a number of searches for Daniel Nolan, who had failed to return home from fishing on 1 January, 2002. The searches were continuing.

Research was continuing as part of the Oil Spill Contingency Plan. There was an ongoing review of the location, method and deployment; mooring and recovery of the Oil Boom to protect the estuary. This would enable better use of equipment to exclude oil from the river. The main pollution threat was considered to be in the event of an accident involving a tanker carrying chemicals or other dangerous substances, which would run off the Motorway bridge.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

22 HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE CROWN ESTATE "PARTNERSHIP" - THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CROWN ESTATE

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on the development of the relationship with the Crown Estate.

The Assistant County Planning Officer reported that 50 year leases had been completed between the Crown Estate and the County Council in respect of the Upper and Mid/Lower sections of the River Hamble (non mooring areas). The Crown Estate had used its relationship with the County Council as a national pilot scheme.

Good progress had been made in establishing the relationship with the Crown Estate in establishing a 50 year strategy, the primary objectives of which were sustainability and safety on the river. The waiting list had been reduced to approximately 460 applicants and the waiting time was now some 5 years. Councillor K. Estlin declared an interest as a mooring holder. The Interreg bid for funding towards the "Vision", had been put on hold until September, 2002 with a decision expected by October, 2002 and implemented over three years starting in December of this year.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.


(ii) That progress with the partnership between the County Council and the Crown Estate be welcomed.

23 A VISION FOR THE RIVER HAMBLE

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on progress on "A Vision for the River Hamble" requesting that it be endorsed and submitted to the Executive Member for Environment for approval.

The River Hamble Harbour Authority was required to produce a number of plans to meet its statutory obligations. It was also the intention to work in partnership with the Crown Estate to promote the social, environmental and economical well-being of the area for the benefit of those who live near or made use of the River Hamble. It was intended that the plans would be drawn up using a "house style" for ease of recognition. Comment was made that although the consultation exercise had drawn only 84 comments, these had included 5 sailing clubs with a combined membership of 7,500. The County Council would be talking with Eastleigh Borough Council and Fareham Borough Council to devise measures to alleviate the acute parking problems in Hamble caused by the influx of the sailing community from further afield.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.


(ii) That the vision set out in the document "Our Aspirations for the River Hamble area" be endorsed and submitted to the Executive Member for Environment for approval.

24 PORT MARINE SAFETY CODE, POLICIES AND COMPLIANCE

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) recommending that the Port Marine Safety code be endorsed and submitted to the Executive Member for Environment for approval.

The Harbour Authority had responsibility for improving, maintaining and managing the River Hamble. The duty had recently been restated in the Port Marine Safety Code, which imposed national standards and made the Authority responsible and accountable for the discharge of its duties, which included the safety of marine operations, regulation of safety and navigation on the River Hamble.

The Designated Person outlined the measures in-hand to ensure compliance with these aims and requirements. Members requested a report on Water Quality and asked that a speaker from the Environment Agency be requested to attend a future meeting in order to make a presentation on the subject.

RESOLVED:

(i) That, the notification received from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions that the Harbour Authority was compliant with the Port Marine Safety Code, be welcomed.


(ii) That, the proposals embodied in the report and the actions to be taken to implement the duties and responsibilities set out in the code, be endorsed.


(iii) That the report be submitted to the Executive Member for Environment for approval.

25 DRAFT ESTUARINE MANAGEMENT PLAN - PUBLIC CONSULTATION

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer on the development, public consultation programme and implementation of the draft Estuarine Management Plan for the River Hamble (Item 7 in the Minute Book).

The Harbour Master reported that consultations had begun and that workshops had been held involving representatives of the various stakeholder groups. A Stakeholder Day had been held at the Warsash Sailing Club on the 29th November, 2001, and the draft Estuarine Management Plan had since been prepared and was to be forwarded to groups who had attended the meeting and to other an interested persons on the river.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the process of public consultation be endorsed.


(ii) That a further report on the public consultation be submitted to the Committee prior to approval by the Executive Member for Environment.

26 FINAL ACCOUNTS 2001/02

Several members declared an interest as mooring holders on the River Hamble: Councillor K.B. Estlin; J. Selby, D. Alexander and Councillor Mrs. C. Sutton.

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 7 in the Minute Book).

The accounts were being presented to the Management Committee for information, and would then be sent to the Executive Member for Environment for their approval. The Treasurer reported that the accounts showed an underspend of gross revenue expenditure of £24,009 against the revised budget; an underspend on capital of £10,226 and a sundry income achieved over budget by £15,040. The County Council was to manage the Moorings for the Crown Estate and would merge the balance on the Moorings Rentals Reserve with the Harbour Dues Reserve to form a single reserve. Expenditure relating to the partnership arrangements with the Crown Estate had been charged to the Crown Estate Partnership Reserve and visitor income had been credited to that account from 1 January, 2002.

A report on the Visitor Partnership was requested for the Management Committee for December, 2002. The Chairman, in answer to a question on the format of accounts during the period of change from the previous system, reported that the accounts would change format from next year.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee note the report and agree with the County Treasurer's proposals for amalgamation of the reserve account.

27 RIVER HAMBLE BUDGET 2002/03 AND HARBOUR DUES, CHARGES 2003

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer setting out details of proposed charges for the River Hamble for 2003 (Item 9 in the Minute Book), which were to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

The overall net cost of the Harbour undertaking for 2002/03 was budgeted to be £297,600. The recommended charge for 2003 was £9.63 per metre plus VAT, which represented an increase of 25% over the charge for 2002, although in monetary terms this amounted only to an increase of £23.03 per year for a 10 metre boat (including VAT).

The possibility of a Harbour Revision Order was discussed, together with possible sources of finance. It was proposed that this be financed from reserves.

An alternative proposal was made that £14,000 should be taken from reserves on 2002/03 to suppress part of the increase in Harbour Dues for 2003. The matter was put to the vote for = 2, against = 9.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the proposed budget and proposed charges be noted.


(ii) That the budget be submitted to the Cabinet for approval as per the officers recommendations, with the caveat that Members were concerned about the scale of increase. The Cabinet would also be asked to consider if there could be other sources of finance for the costs of a possible Harbour Revision Order.

28 RIVER HAMBLE MOORINGS PLAN - OUTLINE PLAN

The Committee considered the report of the County Planning Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book). The County Planning Officer reported that the County Council as Harbour Authority had been considering rationalisation of the moorings on the river to achieve benefits for recreation, navigational safety and the environment. The River Hamble Local Plan - First Alteration adopted in 1992, had sought to improve the navigation and appearance of the river by removal and relocation of piled and buoyed moorings from certain areas. Although Eastleigh and Fareham Borough Councils had incorporated this policy in local plans, little had been done over the years to implement them.

The main thrust of the Moorings Plan was to improve safety and navigation on the river. The support of Eastleigh and Fareham Borough Councils would be sought and it was hoped to take a decision on the implementation of the proposals in the New Year. The moorings plan would be implemented over the next 10 to 15 years and would coincide with the end of the life of the present piles, now in Crown Estate possession.

Objectives of the Plan

Reconfiguring the moorings would achieve the following main objectives:-

(i) To clear existing and proposed mooring restriction areas and to widen navigation channels, by the relocation of moorings to other areas.


(ii) To establish concentrations of "walk ashore" public moorings around existing marinas, boatyards and sailing clubs where there is established public access.


(iii) To offer a choice of mooring types, locations and charges, including lower cost public moorings.


(iv) To balance access arrangements by combining appropriate car parking provision with a river bus service.


(v) To minimise the requirements for dredging.


It was intended that extensive consultations would take place with the yards, clubs and the public. The proposals would be presented in outline at the Southampton Boat Show where, it was hoped that the public would respond with comments on the proposals.

RESOLVED:

That, the report be endorsed as the basis for initial informal consultation with the competent authorities.

29 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

The next meeting would be held on Friday 13 December, 2002 and the next meeting on the river would be held in June 2003 on the Upper Hamble or at Warsash.

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