Archived decisions

Contact: Tony Clatworthy, tel 01489 576387

email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 Commercial vessels that visit the river, but do not have a permanent mooring, are liable for Harbour Dues currently set at £0.0702 + VAT per Gross Registered Ton (GRT). Section 2 of this report proposes a significant increase to the charges.

1.2 The processing of each application for Harbour Authority consent involves considerable staff/adviser time and, where reports are necessary from consultants, expenditure. The situation is very much analogous to processing a planning application by a local authority.

1.3 It may also be considered unreasonable that harbour users in general should bear the costs of considering applications to develop/dredge etc, particularly since recent legislation has increased the need to employ consultants to advise the Harbour Authority. The proposed increase of charges is set out in Section 3.

1.4 It is proposed to produce an updated leaflet, available to applicants, outlining the procedures and charges.

1.5 Arrangements for access to the County Council's computer model of the River Hamble by applicants and others are set out in Section 5. It is proposed that these remain unchanged.

2. Commercial Vessel Charges

2.1 The current charges were set in 2004 at £0.0702 + VAT per GRT. This equates to charges of:

(i) Ocean Scene 398 GRT = £27.94 +VAT per visit to the river; and

(ii) Leisure Scene 215 GRT = £15.10 + VAT per visit to the river.

2.2 Harbours in the Solent charge at least £0.10 per GRT, so an increase of £0.0298 (42%) is proposed, bringing the charge to £0.10 + VAT per GRT. This would equate to typical charges of:

(i) Ocean Scene 398 GRT = £39.80 + VAT per visit to the river; and

(ii) Leisure Scene 215 GRT = £21.50 + VAT per visit to the river.

3. Harbour Authority Consent Charges

3.1 The current charges were set by the River Hamble Harbour Authority in 2004. The charges are listed below, together with a proposed increase of RPI + 1% (rounded-up to the nearest whole pound).

3.2 Land area for all works except dredging:

(i) up to and including 100 square metres from £60.50 to £63;

(ii) over 100 square metres to 500 square metres from £121 to £126;

(iii) over 500 square metres to 2,500 square metres from £242 to £252;

(iv) over 2,500 square metres to 10,000 square metres from £605 to £630; and

(v) over 10,000 square metres from £1,210 to £1,260.

4. Capital Dredging

4.1 The charges are for capital dredging, ie areas not previously dredged but excluding dredging to restore previously charted depths.

4.2 Tidal land area below Mean High Water:

(i) up to and including 500 cubic metres from £60.50 to £63;

(ii) over 500 cubic metres to 2,500 cubic metres from £121 to £126;

(iii) over 2,500 cubic metres to 10,000 cubic metres from £605 to £630; and

(iv) over 10,000 cubic metres from £1,210 to £1,260.

(NB No charges for maintenance dredging.)

5. Hydrographic Assessment - The Computer Model

5.1 With the approval of the County Council, applicants and their consultants may have access to the computer model of the River Hamble held by the consultant hydrographer to assist in the development of future projects.

5.2 In recognition that the County Council has made a considerable capital investment in the computer model, a charge of £575 plus 10% of the consultants' hydrographer's contract with the applicant is payable to the Harbour Authority.

5.3 The consultants' hydrographer will notify the Harbour Master of all relevant contracts and will levy the County Council's charges for use of the computer model.

5.4 Where additional survey information is required and is provided by the developer to be entered into the computer model and/or database it will become the property of the County Council.

5.5 Where developers have used the computer model during the development of their proposals, the results of relevant computer information will be made available to the Harbour Authority as part of the application and the Harbour Master will take this into account when assessing costs.

5.6 The Harbour Authority's consultant hydrographer will be permitted to advise applicants on achieving desired results from the computer, but is not permitted to represent a developer in an application without the prior approval of the County Council.

5.7 Where pollution control agencies wish to employ the computer model for pollution control purposes only, access to the computer model will not attract a charge from the County Council.

5.8 Where capital dredging, land reclamation and/or major construction below Mean High Water is proposed, the Harbour Master will consult the hydrographer as to the extent of surveys and use of the County Council's computer model of the River Hamble, etc required to assess the long term effects of the proposed works. Any charges involved would be the responsibility of the applicants.

Recommendations

1. That, under Sections 5, 6, 12, 13 and 48 of the Southampton Harbour Act 1949, as amended by the River Hamble Harbour Revision Orders 1969 to 1989, approval for conditional consent be granted to:

(i) the proposed increase in Commercial Vessel Harbour Dues to £0.10 + VAT per Gross Registered Ton;

(ii) increased charges per land area for all works except dredging:

(a) up to and including 100 square metres from £60.50 to £63;

(b) over 100 square metres to 500 square metres from £121 to £126;

(c) over 500 square metres to 2,500 square metres from £242 to £252;

(d) over 2,500 square metres to 10,000 square metres from £605 to £630; and

(e) over 10,000 square metres from £1,210 to £1,260;

(iii) increased charges for tidal land area below Mean High Water for capital dredging, ie areas not previously dredged but excluding dredging to restore previously charted depths:

(a) up to and including 500 cubic metres from £60.50 to £63;

(b) over 500 cubic metres to 2,500 cubic metres from £121 to £126;

(c) over 2,500 cubic metres to 10,000 cubic metres from £605 to £630; and

(d) over 10,000 cubic metres from £1,210 to £1,260 (no charges for maintenance dredging).

2. That the present arrangements for access to the County Council's computer model of the River Hamble by applicants and others, on the terms set out in Section 5, be retained.

3. That the Harbour Authority produces an updated leaflet outlining the procedures and charge, which will be made available to applicants.

307/TC