Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out a revised charging regime for costs associated with commercial vessels, passengers landing on public jetties, harbour works consent and dredging within the Harbour. The aim is to update and bring the level of charges into line with other harbours in the Solent area.

2. Recommendations

2.1 That the River Hamble Management Committee recommends that the River Hamble Harbour Board grants consent for the following charges to be imposed with effect from 1 April 2009:

a. that the charge for a commercial vessel visiting Hamble harbour is increased from 8.02p to 12p plus VAT per Gross Registered Tonne (GRT), and that the Harbour Master should have the authority to negotiate annual compound charges for regular visitors.

b. that a charge be introduced for commercial vessels visiting Hamble harbour and licensed to carry more than 12 passengers, embarking and disembarking passengers on public jetties at 50p plus VAT per passenger, and that the Harbour Master should have the authority to negotiate annual compound charges based on typical annual activity.

c. That a basic charge of £390 plus VAT be introduced for applications for Harbour Works Consent with an additional sum based on the size of the proposed works, as follows:

d. That charges for capital dredging be increased by 20% + VAT.

e. That a charge be introduced for each site application for maintenance dredging of £150 + VAT.

3. Introduction:

3.1 The Harbour Authority have the right to levy charges under the Southampton Harbour Act 1949, The River Hamble Revision Order 1969 and the Harbours Act 1964 for the following:

a. Commercial Vessels that visit the Harbour but do not have a permanent mooring.

b. Passengers embarking and disembarking from public jetties.

3.2 The Harbour Authority is required to recover the cost of administering applications for:

a. Harbour Works Consent.

b. Dredging applications for both maintenance and capital dredging.

4. Charges for Visiting Commercial Vessels

4.1 Commercial vessels which visit the harbour, but do not have a permanent mooring, are liable for Harbour Dues. Dues are set according to the Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of the vessel. The current rate charged by Hamble Harbour is 8.02p per GRT plus VAT. The current range of charges throughout the Solent are 12p to 18p plus VAT for each GRT. It is therefore recommended that the charge for a commercial vessel visiting Hamble Harbour is increased from 8.02p to 12p plus VAT per GRT.

5. Passenger Charges

5.1 Currently, passengers embarking and disembarking from public jetties within Hamble Harbour are not charged. The charges for landing and embarking passengers throughout the Solent range from 30p to £1.00. It is therefore proposed that Hamble Harbour introduce a charge for passenger vessels licensed to carry more than 12 passengers embarking and disembarking passengers from public jetties at 50p plus VAT per passenger.

5.2 It is estimated that the introduction of a passenger charge will recover approximately £800 to £1,000 annually (based on an estimated 1,600 - 2,000 passengers using the public jetties).

5.3 Note that it is proposed that vessels carrying passengers entirely within the harbour, (eg the River Bus and the Hamble - Warsash ferry), should be exempt passenger charges.

6. Charges for Harbour Works Consent

6.1 Applications for Harbour Works Consent impose an administrative work load on the Harbour Authority that can be costly in both time and resources. The basic procedure to process a Harbour Works Consent application, regardless of the size of the project, is the same for most applications. However, applications involving larger and more detailed plans do involve extra cost. The administration procedure involving all applications for Harbour Works Consent is currently:

a. The applicant may take the project to a Streamline Consent Meeting and gain valuable information from the organisation that grant consent in the marine environment; Marine Fisheries Agency, Environment Agency, Natural England, Local Planning Authority as well as the Harbour Authority.

b. The application is received and processed by the Harbour Authority. The Harbour Authority will collate all information concerning charts or plans including the stated method and construction statement and the proximity to designated nature conservation sites. The Harbour Authority will scrutinise the application and then record and file all documents.

c. The Harbour Authority will initiate the consultation process by putting the details of the application on the Harbour Authority's website, sending details to those on the distribution list including the Management Committee, Harbour Board and stakeholders who have registered to receive details.

d. Officers prepare the plans and project details to enable members of the public to view applications and record any comments received from the public for possible later use in any risk assessments that may be required. The consent process may also involve interactive forms on the website and officers may be required to attending public meetings and further site visits.

e. Officers investigates the application with a view to possibly producing a risk assessment or updating a current risk assessment. Such investigations may include a site visit and consultations with other parties that may be affected by the application.

f. Officers investigates any environmental impacts concerning the proposed application under the Harbour Authority's responsibility's towards the Habitat Regulations and other environmental legislation. During this process it may be necessary to contact other environmental and conservation agencies both to advise them on the project and also gain advice and their recommendations.

g. The Harbour Authority may need to investigate and establish any environmental compensation or mitigation that may be required. The procedure may include another meeting with the applicant and a possible site visit to other locations to help establish options.

h. The Harbour Authority may have to assist the applicant in obtaining advice or agreement from other agencies and local planning teams. Consultation may have to take place regarding compensation or mitigation. Any agreed mitigation or compensation would be subject to the Harbour Authority's final agreement.

i. The Harbour Authority compiles a report and possibly a risk assessment to go to the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee. The report is presented to the Management Committee by the Harbour Master. The minutes of the meeting are recorded which will include any recommendations of the Committee which will later be passed to the Harbour Board.

k. The Harbour Authority updates the report and risk assessment, ready to go to the River Hamble Harbour Board with the Management Committees recommendations . The Harbour Master presents the report and records the findings and wishes of the Harbour Board.

l. The Harbour Master will notify the applicant in writing as to whether the application was successful or unsuccessful and also detail in writing any condition imposed on the application.

m. The Harbour Master may have to make site visits during the project build to ensure any conditions are being maintained and the method statement for the build is being implemented.

n. The Harbour Master will make a final site visit to investigate the completion of the project and confirm it is within the original plans and all conditions have been complied with.

o. The Harbour Authority may have further responsibilities to ensure the project remains within the plans of the original application and the conditions imposed are being maintained by the applicant, possibly long term.

6.2 Applications for Harbour Works Consent must go through a lengthy process which is costly to the Harbour Authority. Current fees do not cover the true cost of an application and the following revised charging regime is proposed.

6.3 Firstly, it is proposed that a single standard charge be made to cover the cost of the full process for every application as detailed above. It is further proposed that an additional charge be made, based on the size of the project. Thus, the combined charge will accurately reflect the amount of work required for each application, taking full account of the size and complexity of the proposed development.

6.4 For straightforward applications which fall within the delegated powers of the Harbour Master, a reduced charge of £150 plus VAT is proposed. Such applications would include maintenance works to existing structures which would not require the application to be put through the full process as detailed above.

6.5 A fee will not be levied for attending the Streamline Consent Group. One hour of consultation will also be given before the proposed charge of £40 an hour pre application consultation fee is imposed.

6.6 Thus, charges which reflect the true cost of applications for Harbour Works Consent should be levied as follows:

a. Standard fee - £390 + VAT for each application.

b. Size increment, added to the standard fee in accordance with the following table:

7. Dredging Fees

7.1 The current charges for capital dredging i.e. areas not previously dredged but excluding dredging to restore previously charted depths, are shown in the table below. They were last amended in 2004. Also shown are the proposed charges based on a 20% increase:

7.2 Currently the Harbour Authority does not levy a charge for consenting maintenance dredging even though maintenance dredging does impose an administrative load on the Harbour Authority. The cost to the Harbour Authority of administering maintenance dredging is not as great as that of capital dredging but involve communications and consultations with Natural England, The Marine and Fisheries Agency and the Environment Agency. On all occasions dredging takes place in areas bordering European SAC designated habitat which involves monitoring by the Harbour Authority. It is proposed that each maintenance dredging project, regardless of size, be charged at £150 + VAT, not to include the current £50 Notice to River Users fee. Charges for dredgers and barges using the harbour are covered by commercial harbour dues.

7.3 The introduction of a charge for maintenance dredging will recover an estimated amount of £450 to £600 annually.

7.4 The Maintenance Dredging Plan (MDP) base document is subject to its own arrangement for the recovery of fees. Any fees that may required to be collected are invoiced through the treasurer of the MDP Group. The treasurer of the MDP Group is assigned to a member of the MDP Group and is normally a commercial operator.

8. Notice to River Users

8.1 Work undertaken by piling barges, tugs, dredging platforms and barges will attract a further charge of £50 for each Notice to River Users (NtRU's). Charges for NtRU's will be invoiced as each notice is published and will be separate from the consent charges.

9. Impact Assessment

9.1 An Equalities Impact Assessment covering the Harbour Authority's responsibilities under the Port Marine Safety Code has been conducted and the content of this report does not alter this assessment.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION: