River Hamble Harbour Board

The River Hamble Harbour Board (RHHB) is a Hampshire County Council Cabinet Committee which meets quarterly. It is established under the Local Government Act 1972, to which political proportionality applies. It has seven members. It is made up of County Councillors and three independent experts on recreational sailing, marine business and the environment. The chairman is Councillor Mike Ford and is appointed by Hampshire County Council. The Marine Director and Harbour Master is responsible for running the Harbour and is a non-voting member.

The Board’s main function is to be the Statutory Harbour Authority for the River Hamble. It is responsible for:

  • maintaining safety
  • the preservation and enhancement of the environment
  • ensuring commercial and recreational balance
  • assuring the Harbour Authority’s financial future Responding to future demand.

The Board is advised by the River Hamble Management Committee. The Board's duties are to:

  • maintain an ‘Open Port Policy’ for freedom of navigation and public use
  • regulate and enforce the safety of navigation within the port and ensure that the statutory and legal framework underpinning this duty is regularly revised and maintained
  • conserve the harbour so that it is fit for use as a port. This duty includes the maintenance of navigation channels through surveying, dredging, and marking with navigational aids
  • ensure that the harbour maintains integrated and robust safety management and oil spill response plans and capabilities
  • work in partnership with the other relevant authorities to manage the National and European Marine Conservation Sites
  • develop a sustainable development plan for the harbour and work in partnership with the other relevant organisations towards its delivery.

The Board meets quarterly and is advised by the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee.

Board Members and declarations of interest

Minutes of Board Meetings and records of decisions and actions

Vision and Strategic Plan

The RHHB considers and approves its Strategic Vision and Plan every three years. The vision sets out what we would like to do while the strategic plan sets our objectives, i.e. what we will do. Operational business objectives are set out and reported annually in our public meetings. Each year, the Authority produces an annual report.