ITEM

AT A MEETING of the RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR BOARD held at Bursledon Village Hall on 24 November 2006

PRESENT

Hampshire County Council

p Councillor J.V. Bryant

p Councillor K. Evans

p Councillor K. House

Independent Members

p Mr. T. Lovell

p Mr. C. Moody

p Dr. S. Tomson

Marine Director

p Mr. D. Evans

Also Present

Cllr Dr. R.J. Ellis, Chairman of the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee, and Captain M. Capon, Designated Person (Port Marine Safety Code)

99 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Mr. A. Clatworthy (Harbour Master).

100 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter is discussed.

Dr. S. Tomson declared a personal interest as a Member of the Royal Southern Yacht Club and as a mooring holder, Mr. C. Moody declared a personal interest as Chairman of the Boatyard and Marina Operators Association, Mr D. Evans declared a personal interest as a mooring holder, Mr T. Lovell declared a personal interest as a Member of the Royal Southern Yacht Club and as a mooring holder and Councillor K. House declared a personal interest in Minute No. 104 as a Member of Hamble Le Rice Parish Council.

101 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 14 July, 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

102 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported on the review of Governance arrangements and indicated that a review would be undertaken from May 2007. The Chairman also updated the Board on the circumstances surrounding the complaint against Mr T. Lovell. The Chairman also read out the various pieces of correspondence received relating to a number of items on the agenda and indicated that he would make reference to them at the relevant points in the meeting.

103 DEPUTATIONS

The Board received a deputation from Mr. N. Griffith of Hamble Yacht Services Ltd and Mr. M. Fitzgerald in relation to Minute No. 104 below.

104 HARBOUR WORKS CONSENT APPLICATION - HAMBLE YACHT SERVICES

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book)) on the application by Hamble Yacht Services (HYS) to extend their jetty and other associated works. It was noted that the Management Committee at its meeting on 15 November 2006 had expressed concern about the precedent that might be set and had invited the Board to make a decision after taking into account any views expressed by Hamble le Rice Parish Council.

The Chairman referred to correspondence received in connection with this application and, in particular to the letter received from Hamble le Rice Parish Council dated 23 November 2006. After careful consideration of this letter requesting the Board to defer consideration of the HYS application, the Board resolved to defer this item to the January Board meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the application from HYS be deferred to the Board meeting of 26 January 2007 to allow sufficient time for discussion between interested parties and more public consultation.

105 RIVER HAMBLE BUDGET REPORT

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment and County Treasurer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the revised budget for 2006/07, the draft forward budget for 2007/08 and the proposed charges for 2008.

It was noted that the Management Committee, at its meeting on 15 November 2006, supported the recommendation, subject to the addition of the following:

(a) That the Management Committee be given the opportunity to consider a cost and benefit appraisal of any scheme estimated beyond £50,000.

(b) That it be agreed as a policy that the River Hamble Harbour Authority should aim to achieve a budget surplus which can then be added to reserves, as a means of achieving long term planned asset replacement.

(c) That the cost effectiveness of leasing boats as opposed to purchasing them be investigated.


Following discussion on the above points, the Board resolved to defer consideration of the points until a future meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and points (a), (b) and (c) above be considered at a future Board meeting.


HARBOUR WORKS CONSENT APPLICATION - JETTY AT PARSONS PLOT

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the application for installation of a jetty adjacent to "Parsons Plot" at Lands End, Bursledon. It was noted that the Management Committee, at its meeting on 15 November 2006 recommended the grant of a conditional consent subject to a condition being agreed with the applicants whereby they would fund the restoration of an equivalent area of inter-tidal mud land elsewhere on the River to replace the area which would be lost as a result of constructing the proposed jetty, this work to be completed before work commences on the new jetty.

RESOLVED:

That conditional Consent be granted for the Harbour Works, allowing the occupant of "Parsons Plot" to proceed with the proposal to install a jetty referred to in the plans - Drawing No. 8845, entitled New Pontoon Position and dated July 2006, with the following condition:


(d) That the proposed application be granted Harbour Works Consent subject to suitable arrangements for a similar area of inter-tidal mud to be allotted and restored in compensation, to be funded by the applicant and completed prior to the installation of the new jetty..

106 HARBOUR WORKS CONSENT APPLICATION - ALTERATIONS TO PONTOONING AT HAMBLE POINT MARINA DRY STACK FACILITY

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the application to modify a pontoon as part of a proposed dry stack launching facility at Hamble Point.

It was noted that the Management Committee at its meeting on 15 November 2006, endorsed the recommendations for consent.

RESOLVED:

That Conditional Consent for the Harbour Works be granted, to allow Marina Developments Ltd to proceed with the proposal to remove and modify the pontooning system at Hamble Point Marina referred to in the plans -198 04 - Dry Stack Storage, Scheme Proposals,. Pontoon Details, July 2006/Scale 1: 200 @ A3: Drawing SOL-1973-SC02-001 dated 17 August 2006 entitled Hamble Point, with the following conditions:

(a) all vessels launched through the dry stack facility to display a Harbour Dues sticker;

(b) no double berthing to take place in the Marina in connection with dry stack launchings; and

(c) no increase in the number of moored vessels within the Marina.

107 HARBOUR WORKS CONSENT APPLICATION - PILING AND PONTOONING OF HP PILES

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the application by the Crown Estate to replace piles and install a continuous 180 metre pontoon.

It was noted that the Management Committee at its meeting on 15 November 2006 endorsed the recommendation for consent. At the Board meeting the Chairman read out a letter received from Opus International Consultants correcting information contained in the committee report. It was noted that the scheme promoted for the Crown Estates to the Streamlined Consents Group on the 26 October 2006 was for a continuous 180 metre pontoon running between piles HP9 to HP15 with no gap. Accordingly, paragraphs 1.1 and 3.1 were corrected to reflect the submission as discussed.

In considering the application the Board were advised that the installation of a pontoon would not increase the number of vessels moored at this location.


RESOLVED:

That Harbour Works Consent be granted, allowing the Crown Estate to proceed with the proposed plans to draw the `HP' piles, drive replacements and install a pontooning system as referred to on Drawing No. 6117/P/100 Revision B dated October 2006, entitled General Arrangement and that opies of all required consents be supplied to the Harbour Authority before commencement of the works.

108 HARBOUR WORKS CONSENT APPLICATION - BANK STABILISATION AND FLOOD DEFENCE - EASTLANDS BOATYARD

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on proposed bank stabilisation and flood defence works at Eastlands Boatyard.

In considering the application, the Board made reference to paragraph 5.1 of the Committee report and were concerned that full consultation had not been undertaken and in particular the views of the Management Committee had not been sought on this occasion. In the circumstances, therefore, the Board deferred consideration of this item to seek the views of the Management Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the Harbour works consent application for bank stabilisation and flood defence works at Eastlands Boatyard be deferred to a future meeting subject to further consultation and to seek the views of the Management Committee.

109 HARBOUR MASTER'S REPORT

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 12 in the Minute Book) summarising activities and events on the river since the last meeting.

Particular reference was made to difficulties experienced with youths and children jumping from bridges and swimming in the main channel and Cowes Firework night. In connection with the works to the Harbour Master's jetty at Warsash, it was anticipated that they would be complete by the end of December 2006 with the formal opening planned for 17 January 2007.

Discussion at the meeting centred on the mooring of tenders on the Harbour Master's jetty at Warsash and the public jetty at Hamble. The Marine Director explained the problems of overcrowding and the resultant damage to the jetties and put forward a number of options to control the problem of future overcrowding. It was suggested that interim arrangements from 1 January 2007 be put into place until the formal opening of the jetty at Warsash on 17 January 2007.

The Board debated in detail the suggested interim arrangement to control the problem of overcrowding and the correspondence received about this matter. After careful consideration the Board decided it would not be appropriate given the short time scale and low usage to put into place interim arrangements and that further consultation be undertaken on issues pertaining to the use of Harbour Authority jetties by tenders.


RESOLVED:

(a) That no interim arrangements be put into place to control the problems of overcrowding and the resultant damage to the Harbour Masters Jetty at Warsash and the public jetty at Hamble.


(b) That the opening ceremony planned for 17 January 2007 be postponed.


(c) That further to (a) above a consultation process on the issues pertaining to the use of Harbour Authority jetties by tenders be initiated and a report be submitted to the Board on 26 January 2007.

110 ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 13 in the Minute Book) on a range of environmental issues including drainage of the M27 motorway bridge, streamlining coastal consent procedures; and the issue of copper and water quality on the River Hamble. The Assistant Harbour Master (Environment) gave an outline of the initiatives which had been pursued in an attempt to make progress with the environmental problems identified. In considering the environmental update report, reference is made to the letter received from Curdridge Parish Council and from Mark Hoban, MP.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

111 MARINE DIRECTOR'S CURRENT ISSUES

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 14 in the Minute Book) on various current issues, notably the Port's Policy Review; The Marine Bill Consultation; Management of Harbour Office functions within the Environment Department; Finance and Visitors; and the impact of the Freedom of Information Act.

It was noted that the Management Committee had endorsed the Marine Director's report at its meeting on 15 November 2006.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

112 REPORT OF ANNUAL FORUM WORKING GROUP

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 15 in the Minute Book) on the findings from the River Hamble Annual Forum held in April 2006.

It was noted that the Management Committee at its meeting on 15 November 2006 had endorsed proposals (a) to (m). The proposals of the Working Group were set out in the report and the Board went through the proposals and accepted each one apart from proposal (i) which recommended bi-annual Fora meetings in April and November respectively. In considering this proposal the Board were mindful of administrative and other associated costs. They were of the opinion that one annual Forum meeting gave ample opportunity for interested parties to express their views and concerns, in the knowledge that they were able to talk to and correspond with the Harbour Master at any time.

RESOLVED:

That the Working Group proposals (a) to (m) be approved with the exception of (i) with one annual Forum meeting being held in April.

113 RIVER HAMBLE - LEASING OF CROWN ESTATE MOORINGS

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 16 in the Minute Book) in response to a question raised about the possibility of the County Council taking a long lease on mid stream piles and mooring sites from the Crown Estate. It was noted that the Management Committee at its meeting on 15 November 2006 generally supported the proposition that it was not in the County Council's interests to take out a long term lease.

RESOLVED:

That a long term lease on any mooring sites, piles or pile sites on the River Hamble be not undertaken for the foreseeable future.

114 BOAT CAPACITY WORKING GROUP

The Board considered the report of the Working Group Chairman, Don Alexander (Item 17 in the Minute Book) outlining the findings of the Working Group and the rationale behind the recommendations.

In considering the report, the Board expressed concern that the Working Group had not fully considered the issues surrounding the maximum capacity of the River and agreed that this matter be considered at a future meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the advice of the Working Group that the expense of a full boat survey would not be justified and that the Harbour Office continue to improve its collection of accurate data be approved.


(b) That the issue relating to the current maximum capacity of the River be submitted to a future meeting of the Board.

115 REPORT OF THE GLOSSARY WORKING GROUP

The Board considered the report of the Glossary Working Group's Chairman, Don Alexander (Item 18 in the Minute Book). The Board went through the definition of terms in great detail and in view of the number of changes put forward, it was suggested that the report be referred back to the Management Committee for further consideration.

RESOLVED:

That the glossary of terms (appendix 1) which will form part of the Strategic Principles to Guide the Development on the River Hamble document be referred back to the Management Committee for further consideration.

116 DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

The Board noted the report of the Chief Executive (Item 19 in the Minute Book) detailing dates for the meetings of the Board during 2007.