Archived decisions

Contact: Merrick Denton-Thompson, ext 6826

email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That approval be given to transfer the responsibility for the County Council's involvement with the Chichester Harbour Conservancy from Recreation and Heritage to Environment.

(ii) That approval be given to transfer the precept budget allocation of £118,450 from Recreation and Heritage to Environment.

2. Reason

2.1 The functions and responsibilities of the Chichester Harbour Conservancy are more closely associated with the functions of the Environment Department portfolio.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 To leave the responsibility where it is with Recreation and Heritage.

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

Contact: Merrick Denton-Thompson, ext 6826

email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 Chichester Harbour straddles the Hampshire/West Sussex coastal boundary. Historically the point of contact between Hampshire County Council and the Chichester Harbour Conservancy was through the Recreation and Heritage Committee. Over the last 7-10 years the office contact with the Conservancy has been largely through the Planning Officer - now the Director of Environment.

1.2 The purpose of this report is to recommend a transfer of responsibility and budget for Chichester Harbour Conservancy from the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage to the Executive Member for Environment.

2. Background

2.1 Chichester Harbour is the easternmost of a series of three natural harbours (the others are Portsmouth and Langstone Harbours) and is of great importance for nature conservation (designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area and candidate Special Area of Conservation), landscape quality (designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), including extensive areas of surrounding land), and recreation (more than 5,000 moorings). Chichester Harbour has 17 miles of channels and a water area covering about 11 square miles. The Chichester Harbour AONB, which covers not only the water area but also tracts of adjoining coastal land, totals around 29 square miles (c18,000acres/7,500 hectares) in extent. About 17% of the AONB is in Hampshire, the remainder in West Sussex. The Hampshire part is entirely within Havant Borough.

2.2 The Chichester Harbour Conservancy (CHC) was established by an Act of Parliament in 1971 in order to manage the harbour and its environs in an integrated way. The CHC's constitution requires West Sussex and Hampshire County Councils to contribute to the funding of the Conservancy through an annual precept, which provides around one-fifth of the CHC's income. The constitution makes provision for elected members from the County Councils to serve on the Conservancy, and Hampshire County Council has four representatives nominated from within the Recreation and Heritage portfolio.

2.3 In recent years the CHC has invested increasingly significant resources in the AONB and environmental management, and has just been awarded very substantial grants from the Countryside Agency and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The time has come to reappraise the County Council's involvement and, in particular, to consider transferring responsibility from Recreation and Heritage to the Environment portfolio.

3. Chichester Harbour Conservancy - Role and Remit

3.1 Chichester Harbour is managed by the Conservancy, established by the Chichester Harbour Act, 1971.

3.2 The main functions of the CHC may be summarised as:

(i) harbour management, especially the management of moorings and safety of navigation;

(ii) planning consultee with regard to development control (commenting on about 40 planning applications per month, and increasing) and development plans (structure and local plans);

(iii) environmental, AONB and coastal zone management and improvements; and

(iv) environmental education, based on school visits to the Dell Quay Centre and on a programme of guided walks and other activities.

3.3 The Secretariat for the CHC is provided by West Sussex County Council. There are nearly 30 operational staff, mainly based in the harbour office at Itchenor.

3.4 The CHC operates through various committees of which, from the County Council's viewpoint, the most significant is the Planning Committee. Wider stakeholders are involved in the policy- and decision-making of the CHC through its Advisory Committee.

4. CHC Expenditure and Income

4.1 The annual turnover of the CHC is currently in the region of £1,350,000, of which £237,000 is funded from the precept levied on the two County Councils (£118,500 each).

4.2 According to the proposed budget for 2003/04, the main categories of expenditure are staff (operational - £597,000, West Sussex County Council - £60,000), regulating leases (£183,000), AONB and HLF projects (£131,000), buildings and infrastructure, and vessels and vehicles.

4.3 The main categories of income are Conservancy moorings (£367,000), other moorings (£140,000), `council contributions' (ie precept - £237,000), harbour dues (£236,000), general grants (£181,000), car parks (£50,000) and countryside stewardship schemes (£11,000).

5. Hampshire County Council's Role

5.1 As indicated, the County Council makes a significant contribution to the running costs of the CHC through the precept arrangements. The precept will be £118,450 for 2003/04. This represents a 9.2% increase compared with 2002/03, which was a 9.2% increase compared with 2001/02 (see table below). Hampshire County Council pays the same as West Sussex County Council, even though only 17% of the area covered by the CHC is in Hampshire. Hampshire County Council's precept is currently paid out of the Countryside Service budget within the Recreation and Heritage portfolio.

5.2 The statutory Harbour Authority functions and the emerging importance of the AONB Management Plan and coastal management are the key issues of importance to the County Council. The County Councils have a statutory duty to prepare the AONB Management Plan but have a Memorandum of Understanding with the CHC to prepare it for them. This requires the draft to be approved by the County Councils before it is sent to other consultees.

5.3 The preparation of the AONB management plans in Hampshire is being coordinated by the Director of Environment. In addition, the Corporate Coastal Zone Manager is located in the Department of Environment. The other similar harbour authority in Hampshire, for the River Hamble, is also managed by the Director of Environment. Consequently, it would seem appropriate for the responsibility for the County Council's involvement to transfer from Recreation and Heritage to Environment, and for the Executive Member for Environment to sit on the Conservancy Board. The Director and Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage support this proposed transfer.

Recommendations

1. That approval be given to transfer the responsibility for the County Council's involvement with the Chichester Harbour Conservancy from Recreation and Heritage to Environment.

2. That approval be given to transfer the precept budget allocation of £118,450 from Recreation and Heritage to Environment.

8269/MDT