AT A MEETING of the RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR BOARD held at The Warsash Sailing Club, Warsash on 11 July 2008.

PRESENT:

220 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor K Evans.

221 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Code.

Dr S Tomson, Mr T Lovell and Mr D Evans declared personal and prejudicial interests in Item 12, Harbour Dues (Minute 230 below) by reason of their being mooring or berth holders on the river.

222 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 30 May 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

Minute 210 - Stakeholder Engagement

It was reported that invitations had been issued to all interested parties, with a view to the first meeting between stakeholders and the Board being held in the Autumn

Minute 211 - Gravel Extraction

The Chairman reported that the County Council at its meeting on 10 July had adopted the draft Hampshire Minerals Plan, which incorporated possible sand and gravel extraction at Hamble airfield close to the river. Dr Tomson expressed disappointment that the views expressed by the Board at their last meeting had not been expressed early enough and with sufficient vigour to feed into the County Council's decision-making process and to make the impact which the Board felt they deserved. Members considered that any potential gravel extraction in this area would have a substantial and long-term environmental impact on the river and on the well-being of river users and businesses. Members considered that their remit covered the management, improvement and maintenance of the River Hamble Harbour as well as safety of navigation, and felt that further representations should be made to take forward the Board's concerns.

RESOLVED:

That the Chairman of the Board and Dr S Tomson, together with the Director of Recreation and Heritage, should seek a further meeting with the Director of Environment to reassert the Board's concerns about the potential impact of sand/gravel extraction at Hamble Airfield on the River Hamble.

223 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported that the annual boat trip on the river had been held on 4 July. He further reported that the Harbour Authority, together with the Countryside Service, had manned a stall at the Warsash Festival which had given local people the opportunity to feedback their views on the river's management, environment and on countryside matters generally. Over 200 people had made contact and the occasion was considered a success.

224 DEPUTATIONS

No deputations had been notified on this occasion.

225 RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE - MINUTES - 20 JUNE 2008

The Board considered the Minutes of the meeting of the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee held on 20 June (Item 6 in the Minute Book) and noted the recommendations made that were relevant to items on this Agenda. The Board were advised that the consultations on pontoon safety ladders and on works consent policies (see Minutes 177 and 178 respectively) were now available on-line via the Harbour Authority website.

226 HARBOUR MASTER'S REPORT

The Board considered the Report of the Director of Recreation & Heritage (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on various activities, incidents and events; they also had before them a supplementary report on items of interest which had occurred during July (Item 7x in the Minute Book). With regard to instances of theft and crime generally, the Harbour Master reported on close liaison with the Police and the Marine Police. Reference was again made to the importance of sailors using life jackets, which were essential as a means of securing escape or rescue from the water. In response to questions, the Harbour Master confirmed that staff would be fully and properly trained in the operation of the newly acquired Jason's cradles which were being used to hoist people from the water into the patrol boat. In connection with the proposal for pontoon safety ladders to help people escape from the water, the Harbour Master confirmed the outcome of consultation would come back for consideration by the Management Committee and Board in October and November respectively. The progress made with the eastern bank clear-up at Riverside Boat Yard was welcomed by the Board.

A question was raised about development at Pink Mead Cottage where construction work had started on a dwelling for which planning permission had been granted by Winchester City Council. However, works had also started on the slipway and banks, and the owners had been directed to discontinue these works until harbour works consent had been obtained. A suitable item would be placed before the Board for decision in September.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the Harbour Master's Report and Supplementary Report (Items 7 & 7x in the Minute Book) be noted.

227 ANNUAL REPORT OF ACHIEVEMENT AGAINST THE BUSINESS PLAN

The Board considered the Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 8 in the Minute Book) summarising achievement against the Authority's Business Plan 2007/2008. With regard to governance, it was reported that the proposed changes were being submitted to the County Council's Governance Committee and Cabinet for approval, so that the necessary changes could be made to the County Council's Constitution.

RESOLVED:

That the report on achievement against the Business Plan 2007/2008 be approved as set out in the Appendix to Item 8.

228 ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation & Heritage (Item 9 in the Minute Book) summarising activities and events relating to the river's environment. Members welcomed the progress being made with recycling, and asked for the recycling policies and facilities to be drawn to the attention of yacht clubs, associations of river user groups and event/race organisers. The Board endorsed the proposed maintenance dredging protocol, with a view to its being agreed with the operators and adopted in August 2008.

RESOLVED:

That the report on environmental issues as set out in Item 9 be noted.

229 RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR FINAL ACCOUNTS 2007/2008

The Board considered the report of the County Treasurer and Director of Recreation & Heritage (Item 10 in Minute Book) on the final accounts 2007/2008. There was a recommendation from the Management Committee that the final accounts should be adopted. The surplus achieved and the healthy state of reserves were welcomed. In response to questions, it was confirmed that the costs for legal support had been unusually high this year because of the need to respond to the legal issues posed by complex Freedom of Information requests and also the review of governance. It was expected that these costs would not recur.

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the River Hamble final accounts 2007/2008, as set out in Item 10 and its appendices.

230 RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR DUES 2009

AT THIS POINT, MR T LOVELL, DR S TOMSON AND DAVID EVANS DECLARED PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS IN THE ITEM ON HARBOUR DUES, AS BERTH HOLDERS OR MOORING HOLDERS, AND THEY LEFT THE MEETING DURING CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM.


The Board considered the report of the Director of Recreation & Heritage (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the level of harbour dues proposed for 2009. The suggestion was made, that, in view of the level of reserves, there was no need to increase the rate of harbour dues to the extent recommended. For the current year the rate had been the Retail Prices Index +1%; the recommendation for next year put forward by the Management Committee was that the increase should be at the RPI of 4.3%; and the Board Members present considered that there was no case to increase harbour dues to that extent. They therefore proposed that the rate of increase in harbour dues for 2009 should be RPI -1%, in other words an increase of only +3.3%. In making that proposition they were aware that the financial cost to the harbour authority of each 1% amounted to £5,000.


RESOLVED:

i) That the increase in the basic rate of harbour dues for 2009 for vessels kept afloat and dry-sailed vessels over six metres in length overall should be set -1% below the RPI rate of 4.3% for May 2008 - namely 3.3%.

ii) That the rate of harbour dues for dry-sailed vessels up to six metres in length overall should remain unchanged.

iii) That a schedule of revised harbour dues on the basis of a 3.3% increase should be forwarded to Board members and then published.

231 MARINE DIRECTOR'S CURRENT ISSUES

The Board considered the Report of the Director of Recreation & Heritage (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on current issues, notably the challenge on charges and harbour dues made by the Warsash Sailing Club and the County Council's response. It was expected that the County Council's final response would be formulated for approval by Management Committee and Board during the course of October/November 2008, and would then be published and referred to the Department for Transport.

RESOLVED:

That the Report on Marine Director's current issues (Item 12) be noted.

232 ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Recreation & Heritage (Item 13 in the Minute Book) setting out a list of likely items for consideration of the Board during September and November 2008. The following additions were made:-

· Navigational changes (September)

· Feedback on the minerals plan (September)

· Options for use of reserves (November)

· Section 31 objection by Warsash Sailing Club - County Council's draft response (November)

RESOLVED:

The Report was therefore noted and endorsed subject to the above additions.

8HM150708