Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR BOARD held at Warsash Sailing Club, Warsash on Friday 1 May, 2009

PRESENT:

271 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were reported from Dr. Susie Tomson and Councillor
R.J. Ellis.

In reporting Dr Tomson's apologies the Chairman advised that she had indicated to him that she would not put her name forward again for re-appointment to the River Hamble Harbour Board. The Chairman therefore proposed that the Marine Director should draft a letter, to be signed by the Chairman on the Board's behalf, to thank Dr Tomson for her past service. The Board agreed this suggestion.

272 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or 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 was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Code.

Mr D Evans and Mr. T. Lovell declared personal interests by reason of their being mooring or berth holders on the river. Mr. Evans also declared a personal interest as a member of Warsash Sailing Club and the Royal Air Force Yacht Club.

273 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 30 January, 2009 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

274 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

i. Minute 268 - Harbour Master's Report
(fuelling pontoon at Stone Pier Yard)

The Harbour Master and Marine Director advised that structural repairs were a landlord responsibility and not those of the tenant. They regretted the fact that the Harbour Board had no powers to compel the landlord to undertake recommended repairs.

The Chairman asked that updates be provided to the Board, as appropriate.


ii. Minute 270 - Items for Future Meetings

The Marine Director advised that following a request of further information from the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee the issue of replacement boats would now be considered at the next Board meeting. The Marine Director also indicated that he would endeavour to report on the Water Framework Directive at the next Board meeting.

275 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported receipt of a letter from local residents in Shore Road that had been sent to the Right Hon Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. The letter had expressed concern relating to the safety of children and young people using the River Hamble and specifically the jetties in Shore Road as an embarkation and disembarkation point. The Chairman asked the Harbour Master to comment.

The Harbour Master circulated the risk assessments that had been undertaken by UK Sailing Association (UKSA) in respect of the sailing excursions on the River Hamble that they organised for young people. He also circulated copies of the risk assessments from Solent and Wightline Cruises Limited who operated the "Jenny" boats on the river. The Harbour Master indicated that, in his view, both respective assessments were satisfactory and that if they were followed as intended, children on escorted trips were unlikely to be at risk in the manner suggested.

The Harbour Master advised that he had had discussions with the directors of UKSA regarding the possibility of their coaches remaining in a staging area until the vessels that the young people would board were about to moor. This was with the intention of seeking to minimise traffic congestion, shorten the period that the young people were on the jetty and hopefully minimising any inconvenience to local residents.

Board members asked to be kept appraised of any further developments and/or correspondence on this matter.

276 RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE - 3 APRIL, 2009

The Minutes of the Management Committee meeting held on 3 April, 2009 were noted.

In respect of Minute 212 (Management of Harbour Authority Patrol Boats) the Marine Director gave a brief update on the discussions that had taken place at the Committee meeting. Whilst noting the resolution and information requested by the Management Committee, Board Members present indicated that their initial view was that maintaining two boats of a similar age, standard and capability appeared to have greater appeal.

277 HARBOUR MASTER'S REPORT

The Board considered the report of the Director of Recreation & Heritage (Item 7 in the Minute Book) covering recent events on the river. The Harbour Master also circulated a brief update of items that were either supplemental to the report circulated prior to the meeting or gave further information.

Board Members were concerned to note that in respect of the incident reported on 24 April where the occupants of a sailing dinghy had got in to difficulties (paragraph 1.3), the ambulance it had been necessary to call took 45 minutes to arrive at the Harbour office.

Members noted the situation in relation to the Upper Hamble Country Park jetty (Paragraph 3.1), where it had been necessary to carry out temporary repairs.

Board Members also noted the new signage that was being introduced (Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2).

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

278 MARINE DIRECTOR'S CURRENT ISSUES

The Board considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage (Item 8 in the Minute Book) with an update on the key issues currently receiving attention by the Marine Director.

The Marine Director circulated a copy of an e-mail from Dr. Susie Tomson which both expressed her apologies for not being able to attend the meeting but also her comments in respect of the proposed response to the Department of Transport Consultation on Alcohol Limits for non professional mariners.

Board Members expressed some disquiet about the possibility of legislation being implemented that may be difficult to enforce and which could potentially put patrol staff at risk. Captain Capon indicated that Regulations affecting professional mariners had now been implemented and he also advised the Board that he expected there to be greater regulation for the leisure sailing industry in the future. Captain Capon thought that it was inevitable that there would be further tightening up of regulations for non professional sailors given that the accident rate involving non professional sailors had been on an upward trend over the past 20 years. Board Members indicated that the proposed response accurately reflected their main concerns and therefore endorsed the draft as outlined in Annex A to the report.

In respect of the Section 31 objection from Warsash Sailing Club (paragraph 4 of the report) the Marine Director advised that the Department for Transport had yet to respond to the most recent harbour authority correspondence.

The Marine Director expressed his satisfaction that the Harbour Authority had made significant progress in respect of matters outlined in the 2006 Municipal Ports Review, particularly in respect of corporate governance and finance issues (paragraph 5 of the report).

The Marine Director advised that the CCTV system was now fully operational and it was proving to be of considerable value as a management tool
(paragraph 6). Board Members noted the recent upgrades to the system that had been carried out.

RESOLVED that

(i) the proposed response to the Department for Transport's consultation on exemption from alcohol limits for non-professional mariners be approved and;

(ii) subject to the observations above, the report of the Harbour Master be received and noted.

279 ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

The Board considered the report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage
(Item 9 in the Minute Book) and endorsed the topics anticipated in the future.

Board Members asked for an update in relation to a potential replacement for Dr. Susie Tomson and the Marine Director advised that an advert had been placed to which two applications had been received. An interview panel would be likely to be set up in the near future.

280 RETIREMENT OF CURRENT CHAIRMAN

At the end of the meeting the Chairman indicated that although he hoped to be returned to the County Council after the June elections, he would not be putting his name forward for chairmanship of the River Hamble Harbour Board if he was elected again. The Chairman indicated that as he may not be present at the next meeting he wished to put on record his gratitude for the helpful advice, guidance and support he had received during his term of office as Chairman. Other Board Members present thanked the Chairman for his unstinting efforts on behalf of the Harbour Board and wished him well in the future.

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