Item 2

AT A MEETING of the RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE held in the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Rope Walk, Hamble on 27 June 2003.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); Mrs. S.E. Allbright; Mrs E.S.M. Barron; J.V. Bryant; C.R.H. Davidovitz; E.F. Gale; Mrs P.G.E. Holden-Brown; K. House; T.G. Knight; R.H. Price; A.W. Rice, TD.

Eastleigh Borough Council

Councillor W.J. Pepper.

Winchester City Council

Councillor Mrs. C. Sutton

Fareham Borough Council

Councillor T.M. Cartwright

Royal Yachting Association

D. Alexander

Association of River Hamble Yacht Clubs

J.H.R. Selby

British Marine Federation

S.J. Bourne

R.J.S. Saint

Hamble River Boatyard and Marina Operators

Mr C. Moody

Also in attendance:-

M. Denton-Thompson (Environment Department)

A.G. Inder (Environment Department)

A. Thorne (County Treasurer's Department)

T. Clatworthy (Acting Harbour Master)

Capt. M.G. Capon (Designated Person)

Mrs K. Everett (Chief Executive's Department)

A.R. Knight (Chief Executive's Department)

41 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at a meeting, they should, normally at the time of debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed:

Solent Inshore Rescue Association

Councillors J.V. Bryant and E.F. Gale

Moorings Holders

Councillors Mrs S. Sutton; D. Alexander and J. Selby.

42 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2002 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

Minute 27 - River Hamble Budget 2002/03 and Harbour Dues, Charges 2003

The Executive Member for Environment reported that he could not guarantee the costs of a possible Harbour Revision Order would be met in full but every effort would be made to provide some finance for this purpose if required.

43 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported that the Harbour Master was on long term sick leave until the end of July. Members expressed their appreciation to the Acting Harbour Master, Mr Clatworthy for his work during that period. Adrian Thorne of the County Treasurer's Department was introduced to Members as the new Financial Adviser for the Committee.

44 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

45 MINUTES OF THE RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Committee received the Minutes of the River Hamble Harbour Advisory Committee (Item 5 in the Minute Book held on 9 June 2003).

Arising thereon:

Discussion ensued regarding the appropriateness of the phrase "Criminal Offence" when applied to alleged speeding offences on the River. Whilst the phrase might engender feelings of sensitivity in some quarters, it was explained that speeding was a criminal offence in law, although it would not result in a statutory criminal record for persons successfully prosecuted.

46 HARBOUR MASTER'S REPORT

The Committee considered the report of the Harbour Master (Item 6 in the Minute Book) summarising events and activities on the River from December 2002 to date.

Mr Clatworthy and Captain Capon explained that in practice, alleged offenders would be approached and the action taken would depend upon the severity of the incident. It was anticipated that court action would follow only where river users were clearly in breach of speed limits and causing excessive wash or endangering the safety of other river users. The regulations and penalties for alleged speeding incidents on the River Hamble would be published in Harbour Master's Direction Number 1.

Captain Capon explained the arrangements in hand for dealing with oil spills and that the Harbour Authority was obliged by law to put in place measures to deal with incidents large or small. Members were advised that the Highways Agency had allocated money for sluices and run-offs to be constructed, to deal with any emergency resulting in oil or toxic substances spillage in the vicinity of the M27 Hamble road bridge. Information was being sought to establish if the M27 road bridge was to be upgraded to current motorway standards in this respect. Members thanked Alan Williams for his work while in the post of Assistant Harbour Master (Environment).

Members sought information regarding the decisions taken at the Executive Member Group meetings and were advised that these would be reproduced and distributed to Advisory and Management Committee members in future. This would first occur quarterly in September 2003.

Members questioned the removal of part of the Mercury Piles leaving just one in place and considered that prior consultation would have been useful. The Chairman explained that he agreed this action on safety grounds; he supported the retention of the remaining maintenance piles on the river.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

47 RIVER HAMBLE BUDGET 2003/04 AND HARBOUR DUES CHARGE 2004

The Committee received the report of the County Treasurer presenting the budget for the year 2003/04 and the recommended charges for harbour dues for the year January to December 2004 (Item 7 in the Minute Book).

The budget had been broken down into three areas of activity:-

(i) Harbour undertaking which referred to the Harbour Authority functions to be funded from Harbour dues;


(ii) Management of the moorings which comprised the cost of managing the moorings on behalf of the Crown Estate.


(iii) Visitor Facilities Partnership, the income and expenditure from which the subject of the Visitor Partnership with the Crown Estate.


Inflation had been allocated at 3.5% of salaries and 2.5% of all other expenditure. The increase in Harbour dues for 2004 would be 3.4% to meet the anticipated inflation.

The possible funding of a Harbour Revision Order and major repairs to the jetty would need to be considered as part of budget monitoring, but may need to be a call on the reserves.

RESOLVED:


(i) That, the Executive Member for Environment approve the proposed budget charges for 2004.


(ii) That, the timing of financial proposals for forthcoming years be investigated by the Executive Member.

47 RIVER HAMBLE FINAL ACCOUNTS 2002/03

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer presenting the final
accounts for the year ended 31 March 2003 (Item 8 in the Minute Book).

These accounts would then go to the Executive Member for Environment for approval. The Treasurer reported that stringent financial monitoring of Harbour Authority expenditure and income would be carried out in order to have a more accurate picture of activity. Quarterly budget monitoring would take place in keeping with the County Council's reporting timetable. The budget monitoring report would be presented to the Executive Member's Group in September and a report made to the Advisory Committee and Management Committee subsequently in June and September each year.

Against the revised budget, the account showed an underspend on gross revenue expenditure of £3,970 and an underspend on capital of £11,594. The total income for the year stood at £518,560, which was £7,668 greater than expected. The moorings rental and harbour dues accounts had been merged from 1 April 2002.

Councillor Knight drew attention to variations from the budget and sought information regarding these. A written note would be circulated to Members on this, and the cost of SMS.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the Committee note the report.


(ii) That the Chairman notifies members of the outcome of financial office deliberations.

48 DRAFT RIVER HAMBLE MOORINGS PLAN - RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book), outlining the main issues covered in the summary of consultation responses.

The Director of Environment reported on the response to the consultation process which had been held in the early part of the year. The County Council was anxious to build on the input of consultees and incorporate their ideas for change and other comments into the final moorings plan. The consultation process had been divided into several areas.

The County Council and Crown Estate proposed to set up a working party comprising the lead stakeholders in the area where most concerns arose with a view to preparing a detailed development brief for a range of mooring options, to include layout plans, financial appraisals, indicative mooring costs in addition to consideration of the environmental implications. This group would include representatives of the main groups in the Warsash area, the parish councils, local residents, and local authorities. It was anticipated that the meeting would take place on 14 July 2003.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee support the contents of the report as the response to the consultation exercise and supports the suggested way forward, in particular the approach to the development of co-ordinated proposals for improvements in the Warsash area.

49 MUNICIPAL PORTS REVIEW UPDATE

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) indicating that the Municipal Ports Review had been postponed indefinitely and informing Members of the need to consider the consequences.

The current administrative arrangements comprising the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee, The River Hamble Advisory Committee, the River Hamble Executive Member's Group and the Executive Member for Environment's decision meetings were not thought to be the most effective structure for administering the River in the long term. There would be several options including the possibility of a Harbour Revision Order, which would be an expensive measure.
These options should be brought back to the next meeting of the Management Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

50 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

Friday 12 December 2003 in the Wellington Room, The Castle, Winchester.

(NB. - this has been rearranged for Wednesday 17 December 2003 in the Wellington Room).

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