Archived decisions

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

1. Summary

1.1 This report makes Members of the River Hamble Harbour Board aware of a number of current issues.

2. Reason

2.1 This report does not directly support any of the priorities of the Corporate Strategy but has been prepared as part of the continuing good management of the River Hamble.

3. Current Issues

Objection to Harbour Dues

3.1 The Harbour Office has received a letter from the Department for Transport (DfT), enclosing a letter from Mr Michael Sterne, Honorary Secretary of Warsash Sailing Club, in which he objects (under Section 31 of the Harbours Act 1964) to the Harbour Dues charged by the River Hamble Harbour Authority. The text of the objection is as follows:

"HARBOURS ACT 1964 SECTION 31

Notice is hereby given that Warsash Sailing Club has lodged an objection with the Secretary of State for Transport to changes in harbour dues introduced by Hampshire County Council on the River Hamble.

The grounds of objection are that:

1. Dues for sailing dinghies ought to be excluded since they are unreasonable in that sailing dinghies receive few services from the harbour authority and there is no valid distinction between sailing dinghies and boats which are rowed or paddled and which are exempted from harbour dues;

2. The charge on vessels on midstream moorings should be imposed at a lower rate since the discount given to vessels berthed in marinas as against vessels berthed on mid-stream moorings is unreasonable in that the harbour authority has undertaken no analysis of costs to justify such a discount or indeed any discount;

3. The charges to vessels more generally should be imposed at a lower rate because many of the activities of the harbour authority financed from harbour dues are ultra vires and the costs of the harbour authority are excessive and should be reduced substantially."

3.2 The DfT has invited comments from the Harbour Office, together with any background information, as soon as possible, and a response is being prepared.

Consultation

3.3 The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has initiated a new consultation on the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessments) Regulations 2007. It is a 27 page document, with 47 pages of Annexes. The Harbour Authority's response is under consideration. The closing date for responses is 16 March 2007.

4. Impact Assessments

4.1 This report is a position statement only and has not be subjected to an Equalities Impact Assessment.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

1183/DE