Archived decisions

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

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out proposed charges for discretionary services provided by the River Hamble Harbour Authority, with effect from 1 January 2008.

2. Recommendation

2.1 It is recommended that the Harbour Board sets the following rates for discretionary services provided by the Harbour Authority for 2008 (applicable from 1 January 2008):

For services marked with an asterisk (*), mid-stream mooring holders (commercial and Crown Estate) to be charged at 20% of the standard labour rate in 2008 (increasing annually by equal steps to 100% of the standard labour rate in 2012).

3. Background

3.1 To date, many of the services provided by the Harbour Authority for the benefit of mid-stream mooring holders have been covered by the Supervision Charge (and, in 2007, the enhanced rate of Harbour Dues). At their meeting on 20 July 2007, the Harbour Board agreed to progressively reduce these charges, at a rate of about 20% per annum for the next five years. It is therefore proposed that the Harbour Authority should henceforth charge for all discretionary services provided, wherever a vessel is moored or berthed. The proposed rates for 2008 are set out in the table above.

3.2 Because the re-alignment of Harbour Dues is to be phased-in over a five year period, it is proposed that, for 2008, those vessels moored on mid-stream moorings (commercial and Crown Estate) should only be charged at 20% of the full labour charge for those discretionary services marked with an asterisk (*) in the table above. This percentage should increase annually in equal steps until the charge equates to 100% of the full labour charge in 2012.

3.3 It is proposed that charges for services such as towing and the use scrubbing piles should be increased in line with inflation, as shown in the table above. These rates should apply to all vessels, with no discounts for mid-stream mooring holders (except as indicated above for the scrubbing piles).

4. Impact Assessments

4.1 These services are equally available to all mooring and berth holders on the River Hamble, and to visiting yachtsmen.

5. Conclusion

5.1 The introduction of charges for discretionary services provided by the River Hamble Harbour Authority is a logical outcome of the progressive abolition of the former Supervision Charge. The proposed charges set out in this report are based on the amounts charged by commercial boatyards and operators on the River, because it is important that the Harbour Authority does not undercut them.