Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

 

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 1

 

16 November 2006

 

Basingstoke Canal Options Appraisal

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

 

Contact: John Tickle ext. 6000 e-mail: [email protected]

 

1. Summary

 

1.1 The following decision is sought:

    That the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage endorses the following recommendations approved by the Basingstoke Canal Joint Management Committee on 20th October 2006:

    1. Until such a time that an alternative funding model and contractual framework have been agreed, that all authorities accept their ongoing obligations to the Canal on the current basis

    2. Agree the principle that any option for the future management of the Canal requires long term guaranteed funding from all local authorities - the two owners and the riparian partners

    3. In the first instance officers develop alternative funding formula models and a formal funding agreement, using a service level agreement format, including required performance measures (paragraph 4.34 refers).

    4. That senior elected Members then agree the principles of a long term rolling three or five year funding commitment for the Canal, to be effective from the financial year 2008/09, using the information prepared by officers, to ensure that the actual running costs enable the Canal to operate as a safe, navigable waterway and the towpath remain open for recreation, meeting minimum legal requirements

    5. That Surrey County Council and Hampshire County Council develop an updated joint partnership agreement for the operation and management of the Basingstoke Canal as the two owners.

    6. That further discussions are held with SWT, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the Canal Society developing the potential for partnership working

    7. That further work is undertaken by the Canal Director in reviewing the potential to reduce current operational costs and realise further income streams. This is to ensure current costs are at the optimum level for practical and operational efficiency, and also in preparation for any potential move to charitable trust status in the future

    8. That the Income Generation sub-group continues its work in developing the most viable additional sources of income, including exploring the HLF as a source of income to support the capital works to the Canal (Appendix 3 refers)

    9. Whilst the formula allocation and funding agreement are being developed that following options are pursued further:

      · Outsourcing to a private sector company

      · Charitable Trust

    10. That the Regional Park Authority option is not pursued further given the lack of support for this option as a viable way forward for the future management of the Canal (paragraph 7.12 refers)

    11. That given the cost implications set out in the Structural Engineering Report that closing the Canal to navigation (between Deepcut and Brookwood flights) is not pursued further at this time (paragraph 4.96 and Appendix 7 refer)

    12. That the two owners commission a Condition Survey for the Canal as this is imperative for any future model, which will lead to the production of an Asset Management Plan for the Canal (paragraph 7.20 refers)

    13. That the Project Plan set out in Appendix 8 is taken forward 

2. Reason

 

2.1 The decision links to the Corporate Priority of enhancing quality of place by seeking to ensure a sustainable future for the Basingstoke Canal as a key conservation and recreation facility in north east Hampshire.

 

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected.

 

3.1 The full range of options is considered in detail in the report and is summarised in the Executive Summary (Section 2)

 

4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted.

 

    None.

   

5. Dispensation by the Standards Committee

 

    Not applicable.

  

6. Reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent.

 

    Not applicable.

   

Approved by: Date:

 

 

 

........................................... ...................................

Councillor Mrs. M. Snaith