Archived decisions

Contact: Merrick Denton-Thompson, ext 6826

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1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions were taken:

That it be a recommendation to the County Council:

(i) That approval be given to the principle of the establishment of a River Hamble Harbour Board to discharge the County Council's responsibilities as Harbour Authority.

(ii) That approval be given to the preparation of amendments to the County Council's Constitution to be considered by the County Council.


(iii) That authorisation be given to the preparation of a Scheme of Delegation and protocols defining the working arrangements between the County Council, the Harbour Board and the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee, this to include provisions for the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee to have a strong scrutiny involvement. Further to this, meetings of both the Harbour Board and River Hamble Harbour Management Committee will be held in public and will be subject to the County Council's deputation procedures.

(iv) That approval be given to the creation of an Appointments Panel for the Harbour Board comprising the Chairman of the Harbour Board, a representative of the Royal Yachting Association, the British Marine Federation, the Integrated Agency and a Member of the County Council (in addition to the Chairman of the Board), and that support be given to the Panel by the County Council's Human Resources Department.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision 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 creating a fit-

for-purpose Harbour Board to discharge the County Council's statutory

obligations on the regulatory Harbour Authority for the River Hamble.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Do nothing and fail to comply with the relevant advice on modern ports contained in the Review of Trust Ports published in 1999.

3.2 Make changes to existing arrangements but without a Harbour Board; this option would also fail to comply with recommendations of the Trust Ports Review.

3.3 Promote a Harbour Revision Order to set up a Harbour Board as a Municipal Port within the County Council. This would take considerable time as it would almost certainly have to be considered by a Public Inquiry, it would be expensive and the outcome would be uncertain.

3.4 Promote a Harbour Revision Order to set up a Trust Port. There would be little or no advantage of a Trust Port in preference to continuation of a Municipal Port; it would be more expensive as the Ports Division would likely require a two year operating fund to be made available by the County Council; and the running costs to users of the Hamble would be likely to be more expensive because of the loss of the economies of scale.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member 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

9139Decn/MD-T