Borough of Poole Member Engagement Forum 24 October 2012

BOROUGH OF POOLE – MEMBER ENGAGEMENT FORUM – 24 OCTOBER 2012

BOROUGH OF POOLE

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT FORUM

24 OCTOBER 2012

The Meeting commenced at 2:30pm and concluded at 4:15pm

Present:

Councillor Mrs Slade (Vice-Chairman – in the Chair)

Councillors Clements, Parker, Mrs Stribley, Wilson and Mrs Wilson (substituting for Councillor Howell).

Also in attendance:

Councillors Mrs Butt, Brooke, Burden, Mrs Evans, Mrs Le Poidevin, Sorton and Mrs Walton

Jim Stewart, Chief Executive, Poole Harbour Commissioners

Richard Lacey, Chairman, Poole Harbour Commissioners

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Dion, Howell and White.

2.DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of pecuniary disclosable interest.

Other Non Statutory Interests Members wished to be recorded

Councillors Clements, Parker and Mrs Stribley declared a non statutory interest in Agenda Item No.4, Developer Presentation, as either Members or Substitute Members of the Planning Committee.

Councillor Mrs Slade declared a non statutory interest in Agenda Item No.4, Developer Presentation, as a Member of the Poole Yacht Club.

Councillor Clements declared a non statutory interest in Agenda Item No.4, Developer Presentation, as he had met with representatives of Marina Developments Limited (MDL) regarding the viability of Cobbs Quay Marina.

3.MINUTES

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Member Engagement Forum, held on 12 September 2012, having been previously circulated, be taken as read, approved as a correct record and signed by the Vice-Chairman.

4.DEVELOPER PRESENTATION

Prior to inviting the Presentation Team into the Meeting, Nigel Jacobs, Planning Policy and Implementation Manager, provided Members with an Officer Briefing. Particular reference was made to the following:

Consultation process to date
Timetable for future consultation
Environmental Impact Assessments
Hamworthy Marina Proposals versus Poole Town Quay Marina Proposals
Which planning route would be adopted?

A Member stated that care needed to be taken in not ending up with a massive “boat park” on the Quay.

The Vice-Chairman welcomed Jim Stewart, Chief Executive, and Richard Lacey, Chairman of Poole Harbour Commissioners.

Members received a PowerPoint Presentation, details included:

What is a Port Masterplan?

Strongly encouraged by the Department for Transport
Sets out strategic ambitions for the next 25/30 years
Assisted Planning Bodies regarding Poole Harbour Commissioner’s ambitions
Informed Stakeholders
Explained intended changes in land use
Influenced by the National Planning Policy Framework
Linked to Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and Trust Port Guidance

Process for the Masterplan

September 2011, launched first draft consultation exercise
2012 – commencement of the Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA)
SEA Scoping Report, June 2012 and SEA Environmental Report, September 2012
29 September 2012 – commencement of 6 week consultation on version 2 of the draft Masterplan and Environment Report.
December 2012, publish final version
Spring 2013 – completion of Environmental Impact Statement followed by possibleapplication for development consent to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

Details were provided of the most extensive Port Masterplan Consultation in the UK. Over 60 meetings and presentations had taken place with a wide variety of organisations, including meetings with younger members of the Community. Consultation had also taken place via social media – Facebook and Twitter.

Findings to date on the Consultation Process:

Majority of responses centred on the location of the Marine Centre – consensus in favour of Poole Quay extension
Concern over visual impact, noise, parking and traffic
Impact on Hamworthy Park
Impact on siltation within the harbour area
Positive impact on the local economy
Loss of sailing/racing space
Other locations – Baiter, Whitecliff Park, Holes Bay?
Height of breakwaters
Concern over the position of theCruise berth
Ecology of Poole Harbour
Safety of Poole Harbour
More access to the water needed
Marina operators concerned about increased competition from Poole Harbour Commissioners
Support for increase cruise ship calls
Additional tourist attraction needed.
Recognition of the need for Poole Harbour Commissioners to diversify
Support for Poole Harbour Commissioners to remain as a Trust Port

Brief details were provided of the SEA process and the Environmental Report findings.

Five scheme options were detailed:

(i)Development of RoRo 1 and one new deep water quay

(ii)Development of RoRo 2 and two new deep water quays

(iii)Deepening of existing Quays and “Little Channel” dredging

(iv)Marine Centre West (Hamworthy)

(v)Marine Centre East (Poole Quay Boat Haven extension)

Details were provided of the constraints/issues facing Poole Harbour Commissioners:

Continuing uncertainty with the Ferry Sector
Channel Tunnel, loss of duty free, low cost airlines, increased fuel costs, the economy
Poole Ferry passengers - £805K in 1998, £674K in 2004, £375K in 2011
1998 – 105K lorries, 2013 expected figure of 20K
Sulpher Regulations (30% increase in cost)
Road links
No public funding

The following growth opportunities were outlined:

New Port layout
Wind Farm Base
Bulk cargo
Cruise Ships (max 185-200 metre in length)
Short Sea Containers
Leisure and Poole Harbour Marine Centre

Possible benefits to Port if Plan wentahead:

£25Million per annum to local economy, 200-300 new jobs
Educational facilities and world class interactive tourist attraction
Major events locations – Tall Ships, J Class, Louis Vuitton, Super Yachts
Viewing platforms
Improved fishermen’s facilities
Facilities for Poole youth, Sunseeker, RNLI
Lift out facilities, new marine business park
Car parking
Zero cost to Council Taxpayers

Members Comments/Questions

The Presentation Team responded to Members’ questions/requests for clarification, details included:

Design work of proposals still to be completed: Poole Town Quay option could, in theory, accommodate 900 berths, however, this would decrease if areas for Sunseeker, an education centre, etc, were included
It was confirmed that there was demand for berthing on Poole Quay
With Option 5, the Cruise Ship berthing facility would be constructed onto the Port Estate (Option 1)
PHC had liaised, interacted and consulted with the LEP.
PHC would ensure that the Proposals would be for all members of the Community
It was proposed that Option 5 would provide permanent berths
PHC were aware that more work was needed to be undertaken regarding car parking and traffic issues
Free car parking would be provided on the Port Estates, with water taxis linking to the Poole Town Quay
Proposals had the backing of local restaurants, hotels and shops in Poole
If the Wind Farm Proposal went ahead, PHC would be interested in providing facilities for maintenance
PHC would investigate the possibility of consulting with the Scout Organisation
Masterplan and Assessment Documents were on Poole Harbour Commissioner’s Website
Consultation responses could be made via the Poole Harbour Commissioner’s Website
Poole Harbour Commissioners have “open doors and open ears”

Other comments made by Members included:

MDL (Cobbs Quay) had lost between 200 and 300 customers, there would be a real possibility that it could close due to viability issues
Concerned that Option 5 (Poole Town Quay) was preferred by Poole Harbour Commissioners due to the fact that Hamworthy residents had “shouted the loudest”
Public facilities at the Ports of Cowes and Falmouth had become very expensive, it was important that Poole stayed and remained a benefit for everyone in Poole
PHC looked after Poole’s greatest asset, the Harbour
Important that any tourist attraction should not be too expensive for visitors

Members joined the Vice-Chairman in thanking Jim Stewart and Richard Lacey for their presentation.

5.URGENT BUSINESS

There was no urgent Business.

CHAIRMAN