Archived decisions

Contact: Richard Exley, tel: 01489 576 387

1. Summary

1.1 This report summarises activities and events on the river from January 2002 to date. The report also briefs Members on progress with various projects being undertaken and introduces additional projects to be initiated before December 2002.

2. Report

2.1 The river has been patrolled daily during daylight hours by the duty harbour staff, supplemented during the spring series. Three seasonal staff, previously employed in 2000 and 2001, have been re-engaged for the coming summer sailing season and, with supplementary training for the new Safety Management System, have now been rostered to extend operational hours from 0600 to 2200 daily.

2.2 Harbour staff have assisted the Police and Coastguard in a number of searches for Daniel Nolan, who failed to return home from fishing on 1 January 2002. Patrols continue to search the many creeks and inlets from the river on suitable high tides.

2.3 A table of incidents, required by the Port Marine Safety Code, is attached. The following still remain issues of concern and will be addressed as the Safety Management System is implemented and refined:

(i) Vessel speeds and subsequent wash;

(ii) general knowledge of the International Collision Regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea;

(iii) enforcement of the Byelaws for the River Hamble undertaking;

(iv) conflict for water space; and

(v) swimming and jumping from structures.

Additionally, patrols regularly encounter and deal with:

(i) the attitude of owners to both harbour staff and other river users;

(ii) unauthorised use of moorings leased to individuals, in particular by sea-schools; and

(iii) vandalism and theft.

3. Current and Proposed Projects or Initiatives

3.1 The Safety Management System and the draft Estuarine Management Plan are the subject of separate items on this agenda.

Oil Spill Contingency Plan

3.2 Research continues as a part of the ongoing review of the location, method of deployment, mooring and recovery of the oil boom to protect the estuary.

3.3 A computer model study of tidally generated surface water currents has now been undertaken by the Harbour's retained hydrographer ABP (MER). The information, charts and supporting discussion notes have been passed to oil spill contractors, seeking their advice on:

(i) location;

(ii) deployment and mooring;

(iii) ancillary equipment required;

(iv) Tier II contractor and exercise cost.

Integrated Consents and Planning Group

3.4 Following the successful seminar in June 2001, a working group has been established, consisting of:

(i) the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) - Ports Division;

(ii) the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA);

(iii) the Environment Agency;

(iv) English Nature;

(v) the Crown Estate (Humberts as agents); and

(vi) Borough Council Planning Officers.

This group, unique to the River Hamble, meets quarterly, hosted by the Harbour Authority and supported by the Assistant Harbour Master (Environment) as the group's facilitator. The group considers a wide range of planning and environmental topics and offers advice to applicants, who may rehearse their development proposals and applications in advance of full submission.

Education

3.5 Members of the harbour staff, coordinated by the Assistant Harbour Master (Environment), are now liaising with local schools and youth groups offering advice on the river environs as part of students' research projects and water safety.

Municipal Ports Review

3.6 On 6 December 2000 the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions published a significant statement for the future sustainable management of British Ports (the report of the Chief Executive and the Harbour Master of 1 November 2000 refers). This statement also introduced a review of Municipal Ports, of which the River Hamble Harbour Authority is one of some 30 ports managed by County, District and Unitary Councils.

3.7 Officers have now met with the relevant officials and hosted a 'fact finding' visit of the river, discussing:

(i) Constitution - River Hamble Revision Orders 1969 and 1982;

(ii) Policies and Procedures;

(iii) Accountability;

(iv) Best Value; and

(v) Enforcement of Byelaws and Statutory Role.

3.8 Following modernisation of local government and being in receipt of DTLR best advice, the River Hamble Executive Member's Group was formed in December 2001, in anticipation of the expected recommendations of the review (the Chief Executive's report to Cabinet on 19 September 2001 refers), together with the River Hamble Harbour Advisory Committee.

3.9 However, as a result of the events in New York of 11 September 2001, DTLR officials undertaking the review were redeployed to other national emergency duties and the review suspended.

3.10 The Harbour Master has been advised that, following an internal reorganisation of the relevant Ports department, and pressure from the British Ports Association (BPA), the review will now be resumed in July, with another programme of 'fact finding visits' to produce a report to the Minister before the end of the year.

3.11 If it is assumed that the review remains on a revised timetable, it is expected that a new constitution complying with the review's recommendations could be sought by a Harbour Revision Order (HRO) possibly commencing sometime in 2003. Such an HRO would incur considerable legal costs, including the costs of Parliamentary Agents. There will inevitably be costs to be borne by the Harbour Authority in submitting the HRO, yet to be quantified. If the HRO is opposed, which may result in a Public Inquiry, then costs to the Authority would be even greater.

Administration of Crown Estate Mooring

3.12 On 1 January 2002 the moorings in mid-stream were transferred to the Crown Estate, and those moorings licensed annually to individuals are now administered by the Harbour Authority on behalf of the Crown.

3.13 As part of this process, the waiting list was also audited and the various conditions for application introduced. This process has reduced the list from over 3,000 names listed or retained to some 463 serious applicants. The list still remains open to previous applicants, who have failed either to respond to the audit process or notify of change of address, upon their compliance with the new conditions and verification of their original application date.

3.14 Harbour staff have also undertaken an extensive tele-sales campaign, with over 200 current applicants being offered moorings and 108 moorings being re-licensed. At this time only five piled moorings, recently surrendered, and three mooring sites are unlet. However, six of these sites have now been offered to applicants and are awaiting confirmation.

3.15 Of concern is the 50% failure to take-up of moorings offered. Two predominant reasons are given by those applicants who declined one or more moorings offered:

(i) remoteness of mooring from public access or applicant's club; or

(ii) no pontoon pre-positioned.

Dredging Plan

3.16 Following a recent decision by DEFRA that all dredging campaigns, both capital and, significantly, 'maintenance', will in future require the applicants to undertake full and costly impact assessments, the Harbour Authority convened a workshop, bringing together dredging consultants, marina and boatyard operators and two of the relevant authorities, English Nature and the Environment Agency.

3.17 The meeting resulted in a full and open discussion of the implications resulting from the decision, and unanimous agreement by all participants that a river dredging plan was now required to be developed cooperatively by all current and potential applicants, to be coordinated by the Authority. Probable costs for a fully-researched and computer-modelled plan could be in excess of £30,000 and possibly up to £50,000, depending upon the extent and validity of existing dredging data available. The meeting agreed that all costs would be shared equitably on a formula based upon harbour dues - length overall. A Harbour Authority contribution of up to £10,000 will be allocated from Reserves for this project.

3.18 A Dredging Plan is a recommendation of the draft Estuarine Management Plan and will consider:

(i) compilation of historical data and tonnages to date;

(ii) future coordinated maintenance dredging;

(iii) the opportunity for controlled capital dredging to minimise future maintenance dredging;

(iv) the beneficial use of dredged materials;

(v) the effects of the Mooring Strategy, to consider future disposal of mooring areas and sites; and

(vi) the anticipated effects of sea level rise.

Interreg Bid

3.19 This project (the subject of Item 8 to the River Hamble Executive Member's Group on 1 March 2002) would provide up to 50% match funding for relevant actions and staff support to achieve and enhance the aims outlined in the County Planning Officer's report on the Vision for the River Hamble, elsewhere on the agenda.

3.20 It was hoped that agreement could be achieved in July this year. However, one of the partners has still to agree the overall management of the funds and it is now proposed to submit the bid in September.

Strategy Working Group 25 June 2002

3.21 In addition to the future strategies of the Harbour Authority and Crown Estate for the sustainable management of the river, there are a number of river or river environ-related plans being developed by a number of other organisations, researching, for example, access, marketing and tourism.

3.22 There is some concern that a number of these independent strategies may be overlapping or duplicating research already underway or completed.

3.23 It is proposed to bring all these groups together at a workshop to consider each plan or strategy, coordinate research and maximise resources available.

Recommendation

That the report be noted.

7207/RE