Archived decisions

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

1. Summary

1.1 This report presents the notes of the Annual River Hamble Forum on 4 April 2006,and provides answers to the specific questions asked by stakeholders.

2. Corporate Strategy

2.1 This report supports Aim 1 (Maximising Life Opportunities), Aim 2 (Stewardship of the Environment) and Aim 5 (Improving Services) of the Corporate Strategy by providing advice on answers to a number of specific questions raised at the Annual Forum.

3. Notes of the Meeting

3.1 Notes of the River Hamble Forum are attached.

4. Questions Asked and Proposed Answers

4.1 At the meeting of the Annual River Hamble Forum on 4 April 2006 the following questions were put forward. Proposed answers are in italics:

(i) Graham Brown - Managing Director, Sea Sure Limited, would like to see details of calculations of income from Harbour Dues, minutes of meetings, etc.

"All reports (which contain the calculations) and minutes of official meetings are published on Hantsweb and are available from Information Centres throughout the county and the Records Office in Winchester upon request. Members of the public can also contact the relevant officer in Democratic Services Section of Chief Executive's Department to request to view these documents at any time."

(ii) From John Selby - Mooring holder:

(a) "Why does the financial support provided to the Harbour Authority still cost £20,000 per annum despite the appointment of a Marine Director with responsibility for the budget?"

· "The £20,000 finance charge consists of £5,000 Central Finance and £15,000 for the Devolved Finance Unit (DFU). £15,000 is less than it actually costs the DFU to support the Hamble (and has been for quite some time).

· Central Finance covers such matters as financial and budget advice and monitoring by the County Treasurer's Department, and a small provision to cover the costs of recovering bad debts.

· The DFU essentially provides a book-keeping and budget monitoring service, plus support and advice from the Contracts team when required. They are also closely involved in cost-benefit analysis work.

· The DFU has also been closely involved in a number of one-off projects eg visitor strategy, negotiations with the Crown Estate, new Harbour Dues structure, installation and testing of the Harbour Management System, and the leasing of the former Solent School of Yachting.

· Finance input is still required on current projects such as the Fishermen's Jetty and the replacement of the Harbour Master's Jetty in Warsash.

· Monthly budget monitoring has actually become more time consuming since the appointment of the Marine Director, due to the increased level of detail and scrutiny which he demands in order to exercise proper control over the budget.

· DFU staff attend all meetings of the Harbour Board and Management Committee, plus the associated Chairman's Briefings - a total of 20 meetings per annum.

· The DFU also produces monthly budget monitoring documentation, and assists with the preparation of the annual budget and mid-year budget revision."

(b) "Has the CCTV camera at Bursledon Bend ever worked?"


"Yes, although there have been significant problems with the reliability of the radio link to the Harbour Office."

(iii) From Peter Crick - River Hamble Mooring Holders Association:

(a) "What is the Harbour Authority/County Council definition of `consultation' and how does the Harbour Authority/County Council ensure that it hears what is said?"

"Consultation means seeking and obtaining views as expressed by interested parties which will be taken into account by the person or body making the decision.."

(b) "What is going to be done as the first process or action arising from the Forum?"

"The first action resulting from the Annual Forum will be a formal discussion by the Harbour Management Committee and Harbour Board of the matters arising and questions asked.".

(iv) From Jeremy Clark - Solent Protection Society:

(a) "Is there a time limit imposed when the Harbour Authority grants works consent for a development?"


"No."

(b) "Would it not be better if consent was granted for a fixed period?"


"Harbour Authority works consent is invariably conditional upon other statutory consents and licences being given. These other consents and licences usually have a time limit imposed and it would be nugatory for the Harbour Authority to impose an additional limit as a further condition."


(c) "Is there anything in the legislation that prohibits such a limit being set?"

"No, nor does the legislation require that a time limit be set."

(v) From John Mitchell - River user:

(a) "Is there a plan to take new aerial photos of the River so that the number of boats can be counted?"

"No. The controlled issue of Harbour Dues stickers provides a very accurate means of counting the vessels berthed on the River".

(b) "What will the total number of boats be when all the new developments are complete?"

"There will be no change in the total, because all the developments taking place involve exactly the same number of boats as before."

(c) "What will we do if the total is more than 3,261?"

"It won't be allowed to exceed this number unless the current limit (set by the Harbour Authority and adopted by the relevant Local Planning Authorities) is amended or abolished."

(d) "What is being done to include dry-sailed boats in the boat count?"

"Dry-sailed boats are not included in the current limit."

5. Impact Assessments

5.1 This report covers answers to questions raised by members of the public, therefore an impact assessment in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 has not been undertaken.

Recommendation

That the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee agree to the wording of the answers set out above and advise that they be approved and published by the River Hamble Harbour Board.

910/DE