Archived decisions

Contact: David Evans, tel 01489 576387 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides an overview of the scope of a number of projects which the Marine Director proposes to undertake during the next two to three years. Each project will entail full consultation as work progresses and none requires a decision at this stage.

2. Corporate Strategy

2.1 This report supports Aims 1 to 5 of the Corporate Strategy (Maximising Life Opportunities, Stewardship of the Environment, Achieving Economic Prosperity, Building Strong and Safe Communities, and Improving Services) by contributing to the statutory duties entailed in the management of the River Hamble.

3. Issues

3.1 A number of issues pertaining to the future governance, management and funding of the River Hamble have been identified, each of which will require careful research, consultation and consideration before seeking approval for implementation.

3.2 The issues identified to date are:

(i) governance and strategic management of the river;

(ii) relations with the Crown Estate;

(iii) harbour dues and supervision charges;

(iv) visitors;

(v) byelaws;

(vi) river capacity and boat count; and

(vii) environmental funding.

3.3 There are currently three issues relating to the river which have already been scoped by the Spatial Strategy Group of the Environment Department, although no further work has been carried out:

(i) River Hamble Car Parking Study;

(ii) River Hamble Capacity Study; and

(iii) River Hamble Mooring Restriction Areas Study.

4. Governance and Strategic Management

4.1 Of these issues, the highest priority is the resolution of the governance and

strategic management of the river. The consultation exercise is now complete and the results are being analysed.

Crown Estate

4.2 A slightly lower priority, but still vitally important, is to review the relationship with the Crown Estate, which must include a review of the current financial arrangements for the administration of mooring licences and for the collection and apportioning of visitor income.

Harbour Dues

4.3 The Marine Director is concerned to investigate ways in which the charging of Harbour Dues can be made more equitable. As a basic principle, it is felt that everyone who uses the facilities of the river should pay their share and that everyone should know what they are getting for their money. Logically, this would mean that day sailors, visitors and dry-sailed vessels should all pay, but there clearly needs to be a cost-benefit analysis to ensure that the income generated significantly exceeds the costs of collection and enforcement. The controlled issue of coloured stickers to indicate those who have paid their dues would provide a straightforward means of enforcement and a very accurate means of determining the boat count on the river.

Supervision Charges

4.4 The current system of charging mooring holders for `supervision' should also be reviewed. It is currently unclear exactly what those who pay supervision charges are actually getting for their money and there is an obvious risk of litigation if the Harbour Authority fails to deliver an `appropriate' level of supervision. The Marine Director would be interested in ideas which would permit the phasing-out of supervision charges over a period, whilst maintaining sufficient income to run the harbour efficiently and safely.

Visitor Strategy

4.5 Visitors to the river are an important source of income, not just to the Harbour Authority but to the commercial operators (marinas and boatyards), and to the local economy as a whole. The Marine Director is keen to develop a `Visitor Strategy' to establish the basis for encouraging visitors to the river (by land and sea) and to establish the range of facilities required (both ashore and afloat). Clearly, this would also need to examine the charging regime and the funding of facilities. Tourism South East is currently working on a strategy to encourage yachtsmen to visit harbours throughout the south-east and the proposed Visitor Strategy would need to draw upon its work. At this stage, the Marine Director proposes to develop a scoping document, designed to outline the process by which a coherent strategy for visitors to the river might be produced in the longer term.

Byelaws

4.6 The Byelaws of the River Hamble were last reviewed and amended in 1983. The Marine Director and Harbour Master aim to carry out a thorough review of the byelaws once the governance issue is resolved.

River Capacity and Boat Count

4.7 There is a clear requirement to count accurately the number of boats currently berthed on the river, so that a baseline can be established. This data, which can most easily be derived from counting the number of harbour dues stickers issued, as suggested above, could then be used to inform a complete review of the capacity of the river, taking into account navigational safety, environmental and economic drivers.

Environmental Funding

4.8 The Marine Director is acutely aware of the Harbour Authority's role in the protection of the environment, but would wish to review the funding of environmental work to ensure that the costs are appropriately attributed to those whose activities impact upon the environment.

5. Way Forward

5.1 At this stage the Marine Director wishes to encourage ideas, suggestions and advice from Members of the Advisory Committee on any of the issues outlined above.

Recommendation

That the proposals be noted and to agree that, collectively, the proposals represent a realistic way forward.

9088M/DE