Archived decisions

Contact: Ron Meekings, tel 01962 847096 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report recommends the appropriate rates for River Hamble Harbour Dues for 2008, taking into account an increase of RPI + 1% and incorporating other changes agreed by the Harbour Board on 20 July 2007.

2. Recommendation

2.1 It is recommended that the Harbour Board sets Harbour Dues for 2008 at the following rates (all rates include VAT at 17.5%):

3. Background

3.1 Harbour Dues are levied by the River Hamble Harbour Authority in order to defray the costs of managing the harbour in accordance with the Port Marine Safety Code and the relevant environmental legislation. All monies raised are used for the benefit of the harbour and the proposed increases are in line with the Retail Prices Index (RPI) plus an additional 1% (to take account of the fact that inflation within the marine industry tends to outstrip RPI.) In May 2007, RPI was 4.3% and the new rates have been calculated on that basis.

3.2 At their meeting on 20 July 2007, the Harbour Board agreed to implement a five-year phased process to achieve a single basic rate of Harbour Dues, with a differential between Crown Estate moorings and commercial moorings to reflect the additional collection costs associated with the former. The proposed rates for 2008 reflect the initial adjustments required to achieve this aim over a five year period. At the end of five years, all Crown Estate moorings will attract a single rate of Harbour Dues (the higher rate), and all commercial moorings will attract a single, lower rate. The differential at the end of the five year period will be 10%.

3.3 The proposed levels of Harbour Dues for 2008 and subsequent years will be calculated to ensure that the income to the Harbour Authority is sufficient to cover transfers to reserves for the replacement of strategic assets, in addition to annual running costs.

4. Impact Assessments

4.1 The services and facilities provided by the River Hamble Harbour Authority have been subject to Equalities Impact Assessments and this report does not change the basis on which these assessments were carried out.

5. Conclusion

5.1 Harbour Dues for the River Hamble are adjusted annually in line with inflation (RPI) plus 1%. This report proposes the rates of Harbour Dues for 2008, whilst also taking into account other changes to the Harbour Dues regime previously agreed by the Harbour Board.