Archived decisions

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

1. Summary

1.1 This report proposes establishing regular `Meet the Harbour Board' evenings to give the Chairman and members of the Harbour Board an additional opportunity to ascertain the views of stakeholders, River users and other interested parties with respect to the management of the River Hamble. This report has not been considered by the Management Committee prior to submission to the Harbour Board because it complies with items 7.1 (iv) (Public Relations and Communications ) and (ix) (Consultation) of the previously approved Strategic Plan.

2. Recommendation

2.1 That the Harbour Board agrees to establish regular `Meet the Harbour Board' evenings (to take place two or three times per year), to which representatives of stakeholder groups, River users and other interested parties will be invited.

3. Proposal

3.1 A key aspect of the successful management of a harbour is that those responsible for making decisions should be readily accessible to those who use the harbour. In the case of the River Hamble, one means of achieving this is the Annual Forum, chaired by the Chairman of the Management Committee and attended by members of the Harbour Board and Management Committee. However, the Forum fails to attract a wide range of harbour users and many dislike the `adversarial' nature of the forum. Nonetheless, it serves a useful purpose and is generally valued by those who do attend, so it should continue for as long as that remains the case.

3.2 The purpose of this report is to propose an additional means by which the Chairman and members of the Harbour Board can make themselves more accessible to representatives of stakeholder groups, river users and other interested parties, and to ascertain their views.

3.3 It is proposed that the Harbour Board should hold `Meet the Harbour Board' evenings, two or three times a year. These meetings should be informal in their nature (ie without a formal agenda) and held locally to the River (eg. at sailing clubs or marinas). Each meeting would be attended by as many members of the Board as possible and between 6 and 8 representatives of stakeholder groups. The aim would be to achieve a broad mix of interests at each meeting, with a different selection of stakeholder groups invited on each occasion. Thus, for example, a single meeting might include invited representatives of a sailing club, a marina, fishermen, canoeists, birdwatchers and a parish council, with a very different mix at the next meeting. This would encourage a worthwhile exchange of views across a range of river users and help to keep the Harbour Board informed of specific concerns.

3.4 In order to ensure that everyone who wishes to attend gets a chance, stakeholder groups would need to register an interest with the Harbour Office. If, say, 20 groups register, each would get the opportunity to meet the Board about once a year, which should be sufficient. Each stakeholder group would be limited to a single representative at any meeting.

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 reports were carried out.

5. Conclusion

5.1 The Harbour Authority already makes strenuous efforts to consult with a wide

range of stakeholder groups, River users and other interested parties, but the proposed `Meet the Harbour Board' evenings will give a valuable additional means of communication between stakeholders and Board members.