Agenda and minutes

River Hamble Harbour Management Committee - Friday 14 June 2024 10.00 am

Venue: Warsash Sailing Club (Shore House Shore Road, Southampton, England, SO31 9FS)

Contact: Email: members.services@hants.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

112.

Apologies for absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Pam Bryant, Mark Cooper, Rupert Kyrle, Stephen Philpott, Ian Cooke, Councillor Steve Holes and Ben Lippiett.

113.

Declarations of interest

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members’ Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code.  Furthermore all Members with a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider, having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

 

 

Minutes:

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Personal interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

 

 

114.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 March pdf icon PDF 75 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting on the 22 March were agreed by the Committee.

115.

Deputations

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

Minutes:

There were no deputations for the meeting.

116.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

Minutes:

The Chairman thanked the previous Chairman Hugh Lumby and welcomed Councillor Graham Burgess as the new Vice-Chairman.

117.

Marine Director and Harbour Master's Report and Current Issues pdf icon PDF 539 KB

To record formally RHHA patrol operations and inform the Duty Holder of significant events and trends

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received an update report from the Director of Universal Services (item 6 in the minute book), which summarised the incidents and events which had taken place in the Harbour and addressed any issues under consideration by the Harbour Master. A supplementary report had also been made available with more recent incidents that had been recorded since the publication of the papers.

 

The report was summarised and it was confirmed that an anticipated Southern Water presentation had been moved to September. A recent incident of two trees falling and blocking the river near Botley was discussed.  The relevant landowner was in the course of arranging for their removal but works might take a number of weeks.

 

The Committee asked for clarification on the location of Harbour Authority CCTV.  CCTV capability is currently established at the HM Jetty at Warsash.  There are developing plans to extend coverage to other areas for safety reasons.

 

RESOLVED

The River Hamble Management Committee RECOMMENDED that the River Hamble Harbour Board support the report.

 

118.

Environmental Update pdf icon PDF 113 KB

To summarise activities relating to the River Hamble Harbour Authority’s (RHHA) environmental management – March to May 2024

Minutes:

The Committee received an update report from the Director of Universal Services (item 7 in the minute book).

 

The report was summarised and Members welcomed the support given by RHHA to the Solent Seascape Project and its native oyster restoration project. This was being regularly monitored by the project team and updates received by RHHA would return to Committee in due course.

 

RESOLVED

The Committee noted the report.

119.

River Hamble Final Accounts 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 150 KB

To present the final accounts of the Harbour Authority for the year ended 31 March 2024

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report from the Director of Corporate Operations and Director of Universal Services (item 8 in the minute book), which presented the final accounts of the Harbour Authority for the year ended 31 March 2024 and the forecast outturn for the year ended 31 March 2025.

 

Following a summary of the report, the changes to the budget were highlighted in paragraph 7 and it was noted that visitors’ income had not been sustained due to poor weather. The previous year’s visitor’s surplus, set aside in preparation for an anticipated draw on the Revenue Reserve, offset the final draw required.  Members were content with the report, which set the context for the subsequent review of Harbour Dues.

RESOLVED

a) The statutory accounts and management accounts for 2023/24 were noted by the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee and RECOMMENDED for submission to the River Hamble Harbour Board for approval.

b) The Committee noted the forecast outturn for the 2024/25 financial year.

 

120.

Review of Harbour Dues pdf icon PDF 102 KB

To analyse the financial position of the River Hamble Harbour Undertaking in order to make a recommendation on any change in Harbour Dues that may be necessary.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report from the Director of Universal Services (item 8 in the minute book), which highlighted the financial position of the River Hamble Harbour Undertaking in order to make a recommendation on any change in Harbour Dues that may be necessary.

The need for an increase in the level of Harbour Dues was considered in the context of the Final Accounts and April’s Asset Review Paper.  Final accounts showed that full benefit of last year’s 3% increase in Harbour Dues had yet to be realised.  A draw on the Revenue Reserve to make good the contribution to the Asset Replacement Reserve (ARR) had been anticipated.  Harbour Dues for 2024/2025 would need to set at a level which would sustain the Revenue Reserve and minimise future draw.  Income streams were secure and the strength of the Waiting List noted.  Preparations were also required for a predicted increase in the contribution from Revenue to the ARR.

 

 

RESOLVED

The River Hamble Management Committee RECOMMENDED that the River Hamble Harbour Board approve an increase in Harbour Dues of 4% for 2024/25.

121.

Forward Plan for Future Meetings pdf icon PDF 88 KB

To set out the key issues which it is anticipated will appear on the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee and Harbour Board agendas in the forthcoming months

Minutes:

The Committee received the forward plan (item 9 in the minute book) and  noted that a presentation from Bird Aware was anticipated for the December meeting.

Members also requested that an overview of the remit of the Committee be added as an item to a future meeting as a refresher.