Archived decisions

Basingstoke Canal - Update

1. Estate and Structures

1.1 Currently, both County Council joint owners are carrying out a combined full condition survey of the canal. This is expected to be completed by 2010 and will involve detailed survey work carried out by specialist contractors under the direction of both Chief Engineers from Hampshire and Surrey County Councils.

1.2 The cost of this survey work should be proportionately divided between the Counties and is estimated to be £80,000, with an equal split to cover the necessary geological survey work for the Hampshire and Surrey sections of the canal.

1.3 Surrey have taken the lead with their structures Manager leading on assigning and commissioning a principal contractor to undertake the following this financial year:

    · Asset Management Framework

    · Risk Assessment

    · Asset Inventory and Description of Current Condition

    · Asset Information Management Data System

    · Proposed Methodology

    · Recommendations

1.4 It has been agreed that much work can be undertaken by the Canal Authority staff under the Canal Directors supervision in consultation with a Steering Group that comprises the Counties Engineers, Canal Authority staff, Representatives from the Canal Society, Inland Waterways Association and British Waterways.

1.5 Future capital will be required from both County Councils to carry out essential maintenance to major structures in the coming years and as a consequence of the findings of the condition survey.

1.6 These will be in the region of:

    · Extensive bank protection works to prevent breaching of the canal and damage to surrounding property and or threat to residents living within low lying boundaries of the canal from flooding.

    · Tree clearance to prevent structural damage

    · An estimated capital cost analysis will now be drafted and during the execution of the condition survey, when clearer evaluation is possible.

1.7 In the mean time the Canal Director will continue to focus current resources on maintaining the canal in line with providing a safe accessible leisure, recreation and important conservation amenity feature.

1.8 Members are cautiously advised that due to the complexity of some of the issues involved, safety considerations and duty of care, that at times parts of the canal will inevitably be temporarily closed to public access, whilst reconstructive work is carried out. The two joint owning County Councils and the Canal Authority will consult and keep open dialogue with all user and interest groups during this process.

2. Risk Management

2.1 A new drafted Emergency Action Plan has been jointly reviewed by both joint owners of the canal, it will be implemented in 2008 by the Hampshire Emergency Planning Unit and updates previous procedures. The Plan will also be tested and training of key staff carried out.

3. Revenue Funding

3.1 The Canal Options and Appraisal Steering Group have continued to pursue a Service Level Agreement (SLA) Approach with all local riparian authorities. These SLA's will be for three years and should guarantee level grant funding from each of the contributing Borough and District Councils; Hart, Rushmoor, Guildford, Surrey Heath, Woking and Runnymede.

3.2 So far all riparian partners have agreed to support this agreed approach in principle, with Hart District Council making a public announcement that they will now set up an SLA with three years level funding at the full requested grant contribution of £67,500 instead of the previous reduced £20,000.

3.3 Further work will now take place in order to set up a three year roll on SLA with all local authorities and have this established for the 2009/10 financial year.

3.4 Further work will also take place on assessing the advantages, viability and any disadvantages of setting up a Trust to manage the canal in the future.

    Ian Brown

    Canal Director

    1st April 2008