Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr McEvoy, Cllr Burton, Cllr Achwal, Cllr Williams, Cllr Holes, Ben Lippiett, Captain Steven Masters and Gordon Craigen.

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.

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.

Cllr Rod Cooper and Cllr Dunning declared they sit on The Southern IFCA Committee.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 20 September 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2024 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

There were no deputations for the meeting.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman expressed gratitude to Councillor Burgess and Gordon Craigen for their dedicated service to the Committee. A warm welcome was extended to Councillor Foot and Matthew Richardson, who will be formally joining the Committee in February 2025 as their replacements.

To receive a report to record formally RHHA patrol operations and inform the Duty Holder of significant events and trends having a bearing on the Marine Safety Management System.

The Committee received an update report from the Director of Universal

Services (item 6 in the minute book), recording formally RHHA patrol operations and inform the Duty Holder of significant events and trends having a bearing on the Marine Safety Management System.

A supplementary report was also provided, detailing more recent incidents recorded since the publication of the papers.

RESOLVED

The River Hamble Management Committee recommended that the River Hamble Harbour Board support the contents of this report.

To receive a report summarising activities relating to the River Hamble Harbour Authority’s (RHHA) environmental management of the Hamble Estuary between September and mid-November 2024.

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

The report was summarised, and Members learned that the approved maintenance on Hamble Point Marina and Mercury Yacht Harbour is due to start in January.

Members learned that since publication of the report, the River Hamble Harbour Authority has received an acknowledgement to their consultation response to the Southern Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority’s (SIFCA) on its proposed Shore Gathering Byelaw.

RESOLVED

The River Hamble Management Committee noted and supported the contents of this report.

To receive a report presenting recommendations resulting from a routine and general review of Asset Replacement Reserve (ARR) policy. 

The Committee received a report from the Director of Universal Services (item 8 in the minute book).

Members were informed that a 5.7% marine inflation rate is being used to calculate future financial plans. Councillors inquired about the significance of the year 2035 and were advised that it represents the endpoint of the current financial projections, chosen pragmatically based on the anticipated timeline for asset replacements.

RESOLVED

The River Hamble Management Committee recommended that the River

Hamble Harbour Board:

a) Agrees that the minimum holding level of the Reserve, currently forecast

to fall in 2035, is reviewed annually and formally each April, taking into

account a best assessment of likely inflationary pressures, to ensure that

the principal of an adequate reserve level is sustained. This statement

acknowledges that the current £100,000 figure is broadly correct, when

adjusted for inflation;

b) Notes the general impact of compound inflation on the Reserve in a

marine sector which may be higher than normative RPI figures;

c) Agrees that reasonable planning assumptions are adopted for scale and

concurrency of ‘force majeure’ disruptive challenges and that these

should sit at a minimum of £22,000 (2024 rates), that figure being catered

for within the existing minimum holding policy.

To receive a report summarising a review of fees and charges applicable to the River Hamble.  It does not cover Harbour Dues for privately owned leisure vessels, which have been reviewed separately and increased by 4%.

The Committee received a report from the Director of Universal Services (item 9 in the minute book), summarising a review of fees and charges applicable to the River Hamble. This review does not include Harbour Dues for privately owned leisure vessels, which have been reviewed separately and increased by 4%.

Members discussed the fees for Jet Ski launches in comparison to other locations and were informed that, despite the increase, our fees remain lower than those of other local areas. Members were also advised that while it is difficult to estimate the expected income from this increase, there has consistently been a high uptake of jet ski riders. The Committee continues to work with the jet ski community to ensure compliance with the River's rules.

RESOLVED

The River Hamble Harbour Management Committee recommends to the

River Hamble Harbour Board approval of the fees and charges set out below

and to advertise them on the River Hamble Harbour Authority’s website.

To receive a report presenting the 2024/25 outturn forecast as at the end of September 2024 and the proposed 2025/26 forward budget to the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee for scrutiny and comment.

The Committee received a report from the Director of Corporate Operations and the Director of Universal Services (item 10 in the minute book), presenting the 2024/25 outturn forecast as of the end of September 2024 and the proposed 2025/26 forward budget for scrutiny and comment.

Members were informed that the current forecast is slightly worse than expected but not concerning. The Revenue reserve needs to increase, necessitating another rise in Harbour Dues next year. A 1% increase equates to approximately £5,000, so a significant hike is not anticipated.

Members expressed concerns about the reserves decreasing year on year and were advised that, although this is not the first time the River Hamble Harbour Authority has faced this situation, they must manage oscillations. The Harbour Dues year does not align with the financial year, so changes may not be immediately reflected in the figures.

Members also discussed Crown Estate funding and learned that the current contract expires in April 2025, with a new two-year extension currently under negotiation.

RESOLVED

·         The projected outturn for the 2024/25 financial year was noted.

·         The proposed forward budget was supported by the River Hamble Harbour Management Committee and submitted to the River Hamble Harbour Board for approval.

·         The requirement to use the Revenue Reserve (RR) to ensure the full annual transfer to the Asset Replacement Reserve (ARR) can be made in both the current and forward year was noted.

·         The balances held within the reserves and the position on the reserve balances were noted.

To receive a report setting 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.  The Forward Plan is attached at Appendix 1. 

The Committee received a report from the Director of Universal Services (item 11 in the minute book), setting 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.

RESOLVED

The River Hamble Harbour Management Committee noted the report.