Archived decisions

COASTAL CAPITAL PROGRAMME

On 7 March 2006 the Executive Member for Policy and Resources approved a budget of £146,000 for coastal schemes and projects in 2006/07. The report also summarised progress on approved schemes for 2005/06 including Coastal Defence Works, Access and Environmental Improvements and various studies and joint projects.

Coastal Defence Works mainly cover emergency works on County Council sites. During 2005/06 work was carried out at Royal Victoria Country Park in connection with the sea wall. Work and projects carried out by the Key Area Working Group (KAWG) also come under this budget heading. Projects supported include feasibility studies at Royal Victoria Country Park and Bunny Meadows, historical photography analysis and a Coastal Change Corporate Communication Strategy. The latter is considered vital for increasing public awareness of climate change issues and to engage stakeholders in relevant policy and decision making processes. As part of this, a Members' seminar and site visit took place on 9 February 2006. This was well received and provided a valuable insight about coastal defence and climate change related issues affecting the County Council's interests on the coast and of the relevant legislation and the processes for policy and decision making.

Access and Environmental Improvements include Solent wide projects such as the Solent Forum's `Around the Solent Project' which in 2005/06 contributed towards a number of schemes to assist management of important coastal nature reserves and recreation sites managed by the County Council and schemes in partnership with other organisations.

Funds allocated to studies and joint projects in 2005/06 contributed towards a number of County Council and partnership projects aimed at improving the knowledge base which in turn will assist management of County Council sites.

Although coastal erosion is a long term issue the County Council is using scarce resources to position itself and the people of Hampshire to be able to fully participate in the development of the Shoreline Management Plan for Hampshire when the relevant authorities start to prepare the plan sometime in the next year or two. Government funding for coastal protection will depend on the outcome of the Shoreline Management Plan, however funding is not the only problem being faced by the County Council.

There may be two main constraints on the County Council's ability to undertake coastal protection works on its land. The first is whether consent for such works would be given because so much of the inter-tidal zone on the coast is designated under the Habitats and Bird Directive. The second issue concerns the formula that is used to justify public expenditure of this type, so much of the land on the coast has been acquired by the County Council for the public to be able to gain access to the coast for recreation purposes. Currently the funding formula fails to give any real status to recreation and consequently the County Council could be prevented from undertaking coastal defence works as a result. Opportunities for influencing these constraints are being fully explored. Until these administrative processes are complete it will be difficult to give an accurate long term cost analysis of the implications of sea level rise on the County Council's estate.

Funding a range of continuing or new projects for the purposes of coastal conservation and

for access and environmental improvements on County Council land, and elsewhere in partnership with others will make a significant contribution to the stewardship of the environment and improving the quality of the County Council's services.

T. K. THORNBER, C.B.E.,

Leader.