Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services summarising incidents and events in the Harbour and covering issues currently under consideration by the Marine Director.

The Board considered the report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services regarding incidents and events in the Harbour. 

Regarding the ongoing issue of the drainage into the River from the M27 motorway bridge, it was noted that the reply received from Highway England to questions posed by the Director had been deemed as insufficient. A follow up letter has been sent back to Highways England and to local MPs. No reply yet has been received. The Vice-Chairman directed that a note be written to Hampshire County Council’s Environment and Transport lead to add weight to the arguments put to Highways England.

The Vice-Chairman noted the report regarding specific extensions to existing Harbour Works’ Consents in exceptional extensions and suggested that the framework detailed in sub paragraph 7 if the report was pragmatic and enabled Board to retain the degree of control required over developments. A question was raised if any specific project had incited this need to create this framework.

It was confirmed that a “reasonable” request for a time extension to a harbour wall in Swanwick had been put to the Harbour Office. The Marine Director replied that it was important that developers working on projects adjacent to site of proposed exceptional extensions be consulted regarding such extensions as it may affect their own development plans. 

A further question was raised asking if proposed amendment would cover potential abuses of the system wherein developers would officially start development but not truly begin work on site for an extended period. Director replied that it all Harbour Works Consents stipulated that work be completed within a 3-year timeframe.

RESOLVED:

The recommendation that the River Hamble Harbour Board supports the contents of this report and agrees to support the approval of arrangements for extending time limits on Harbour Works’ Consent in exceptional circumstances was agreed.