Contact: Alan Inder, ext 6759

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That, subject to the approval of the budget by the County Council, £135,000 be allocated to fund the capital programme for coastal schemes and projects in 2003/04.

2. Reason

2.1 To fund a range of continuing or new projects for the purposes of coastal conservation and for access and environmental improvements on County Council land and elsewhere in partnership with others.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Taking no action.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

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 T K Thornber

7. Introduction

7.1 On 14 February 2002 a budget of £133,000 for 2002/03 to fund the capital works programme for coastal improvements was approved. The purpose of this report is to summarise progress on the funded schemes and projects and request support for a capital programme of schemes totalling £135,000 for the year 2003/04.

8. Capital Programme 2002/03 - Progress Report

8.1 The approved programme was divided into three categories and progress on schemes in each category is summarised below.

Coastal Defence Works

8.2 A sum of £10,000 has been allocated in this category for a study of the coastal defence options for the County Council's landholdings on the west side of Hayling Island, including options for the re-routeing of the Hayling Billy coastal path if that should prove necessary. This study is about to start.

8.3 A significant contribution was made towards Havant Borough Council's scheme for improving the sea wall and penstock at Emsworth Mill Pond. This scheme includes establishing a system of remote control for the penstock which will reduce the incidence of local flooding.

8.4 Some of the spending in this category has been deferred because of the delay in finalising the review of the effects of climate change on the County Council's landholdings, and it is requested that the outstanding amount (about £10,000) be carried forward to 2003/04 to help fund any projects approved by Members when the outcome of the review is considered later in the year.

Access and Environmental Improvements

8.5 The main scheme in this category is the reconstruction of the main slipway at Calshot Activities Centre, the contract for which is about to be let. A total of £35,000 was allocated from this year's budget, with the firm intention to contribute a further £30,000 from the 2003/04 budget (see below).

8.6 A further phase of access improvements was carried out at Manor Farm Country Park, including better access to the riverside along the Upper Hamble.

8.7 Valuable contributions were made from the coastal capital programme towards improvements to:

(i) the shoreline footpath around Langstone Harbour (lead agency: Langstone Harbour Board); and

(ii) the coastal footpath and viewpoint immediately east of the public car park by Hill Head Sailing Club (lead agency: Fareham Borough Council).

8.8 Minor contributions were made from the programme towards schemes to assist management of important coastal nature reserves managed by the County Council:

(i) improvements to access and interpretation facilities at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve;

(ii) alterations to Normandy Farmhouse, Lymington Coastal Reserve, to provide a site office; and

(iii) provision of a barn at Hacketts Marsh, Bursledon, to assist grazing of the coastal marshes.

8.9 The schemes to carry out repairs to the public footpath along the north side of Eastoke Creek (Havant Footpath 103 on Hayling Island), and divert the Solent Way onto a better route through Brockhampton (Havant), have both been deferred due to delays in obtaining all the necessary consents.

Studies and Joint Projects

8.10 The County Council has made a valuable contribution of £8,000 this year to the Solent European Marine Sites project to help facilitate preparation of the management scheme, due for completion in December 2003.

8.11 A major allocation of £27,000 over the past two years has been made towards the implementation of the EU-funded study into the conservation of internationally important lagoons on the Lymington-Keyhaven Coastal Nature Reserve. Although this project has been set back because of the delays in obtaining all the necessary approvals and the need to carry out archaeological investigations, it is hoped that works will commence before the end of the current financial year.

8.12 Progress has been made towards the implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for Hampshire's Coastal Habitats through instigating a joint initiative with English Nature and the Environment Agency. This initiative will be broadened to become Solent-wide, by including the coastal BAPs for the Isle of Wight and West Sussex and by involving other key partners. A workshop is being planned for March, which will launch this broader initiative and gain the commitment of those organisations that have an important part to play in taking action to meet BAP objectives.

8.13 Last summer a contribution was made from this category towards a survey of visitors to a small number of informal recreation sites and key footpaths on the mainland and the north coast of the Isle of Wight, in a joint project with the Solent Forum and the Isle of Wight Council. The results of this survey have been of benefit to the County Council's Countryside Service.

8.14 A small contribution is to be made from this budget towards a major national project to produce good practice guidance for the managed realignment of sections of coastline. This project, which is being commissioned by CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and Information Association), is also being sponsored by a range of other local authorities, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency, English Nature and other organisations.

9. Capital Programme 2003/04

9.1 Proposals for the coastal capital programme for the coming year are grouped under the same headings. The proposed expenditure for each category is:

Coastal Defence Works £20,000

Access and Environmental Improvements £80,000

Studies and Joint Projects £35,000

Total £135,000

Individual schemes and projects are summarised in the attached appendix.

Coastal Defence Works

9.2 Again, it is considered premature to budget for any major schemes in the coming year, pending decisions made following the completion of work on the review of the effects of climate change on the County Council's coastal landholdings. However, it would be prudent to allocate £20,000 to cover minor emergency works on County Council sites.

Access and Environmental Improvements

9.3 As reported above, work is to commence shortly on the reconstruction of the main slipway at Calshot, to give a long-term future to this important facility which is the only major public slipway on the western side of Southampton Water. Financing of the scheme is heavily dependent on providing a contribution of £30,000 from the 2003/04 budget, as mentioned in last year's report on the coastal capital programme.

9.4 The Solent-wide Strategy for Access and Environmental Improvements has been prepared by the Solent Forum on behalf of the local and harbour authorities, and other Forum members, and is now being implemented. A number of improvements are being planned by the borough and district councils that might merit a contribution from the County Council. These include:

(i) New Forest District Council: landscape improvements at Eling, Milford, Barton-on-Sea and Lymington; footpath improvements at Lymington, and between Lepe and Calshot; and public slipway improvements at Hythe;

(ii) Eastleigh Borough Council: footpath improvements at Hamble-le-Rice and Netley Abbey;

(iii) Fareham Borough Council: coastal footpath improvements at Portchester;

(iv) Gosport Borough Council: improvements to public access at Haslar and Forton Lakes, Hardway, and Workhouse Lane; landscape improvements at the Esplanade and Ferry Gardens; and

(v) Havant Borough Council: landscape schemes at Emsworth, Langstone, Warblington, Northney and Mill Rythe.

9.5 Although discussions with the local councils about these schemes are generally at an early stage, and it is too soon to draw conclusions about priorities and to make firm commitments, it is envisaged that assisting such schemes will form a major priority for the coastal capital programme in the coming year. An allocation of £30,000 would enable three or four of the most significant schemes to be funded in a way that makes a difference.

9.6 The County Council and Botley Parish Council have aspirations for improving the environment and public access at Botley Quay, from where a slipway gives access for small boats to the beautiful upper reaches of the River Hamble. The first phase is being realised through the restoration and reuse of the Bark Store, and a scheme is being planned to reinforce the sea wall and provide a surfaced footpath and landscaping. It is suggested that it would be appropriate for the coastal capital programme to allocate £10,000 towards this scheme.

9.7 A further £10,000 should be allocated for access and environmental improvements on County Council coastal sites, such as Lymington Coastal Reserve, Lepe Country Park, Royal Victoria Country Park, Manor Farm Country Park, Titchfield Haven and Hayling Island.

Studies and Joint Projects

9.8 It is vital for the County Council to make a significant contribution (£8,000) to the Solent European Marine Sites project, in order to facilitate the preparation of the management scheme (a statutory requirement) on behalf of the relevant authorities. It is planned that the management scheme will be completed in the 2003/04 financial year, and that the contributions required from funding bodies in subsequent years may be reduced significantly, as the management scheme enters the implementation and monitoring phase.

9.9 As reported above, it is expected that in the next few months the main partners responsible for implementing the BAP for coastal habitats will agree action programmes for habitat and species protection and management; habitat restoration and re-creation; survey, research and monitoring; and communication and publicity. In order for the County Council to play its part as a key partner, it is suggested that £10,000 be allocated for priority actions in the agreed programmes to be carried out in 2003/04.

9.10 A coastal tourism and recreation study is planned for 2003/04 which will examine trends in activity and demand; the impacts on the environment; the need for facilities; management needs and other issues. The study is being organised by a consortium of organisations, including Hampshire County Council, some district councils and harbour authorities, the Environment Agency and Solent Forum. It would be appropriate for the County Council as a key partner to contribute around £10,000.

9.11 During every year requests are received from organisations, such as district councils, harbour authorities, the Environment Agency and English Nature, for the County Council to consider making contributions towards preparing non-statutory plans or joint studies or projects in the coastal zone. Whilst it is not possible to predict at this stage what requests will come forward, and it would not be possible or appropriate to respond positively in all cases, it would be prudent to make an allocation in the budget of, say, around £7,000 for such purposes.

7693/AI

APPENDIX

Proposed Coastal Capital Programme - 2003/04

Summary Table