Agenda item

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its five appendices in the agenda supplement and to make the following resolutions:

(1)  That the findings of the consultants’ reports be noted and that the inclusion of recommendations in the Marshall Regen socio economic report and those in the Wolfstrome wayfinding report detailed in para 5.1 of the agenda report be supported and subsumed into the Selsey Vision Action Plan.

(2)  That no further Chichester District Council resources be committed to progressing the Selsey Haven proposals.

RESOLVED

(1)              That the findings of the consultants’ reports be noted and the inclusion of the recommendations in the Marshall Regen socio-economic report and those in the Wolfstrome “Way-finding” report detailed in para 5.1 of the agenda report be supported and be subsumed into the Selsey Vision Action Plan.

(2)              That no further Chichester District Council resources be committed to progressing the Selsey Haven Project proposals outlined in the consultants’ reports due to the significant uncertainties around both economic viability and securing the necessary capital investment outlined in the Marshall Regen report.

(3)              That should the Selsey Haven Steering Group and Selsey Town Council wish to pursue an alternative project to assess options to support the fishing industry and related marine activity, then consideration be given by the Cabinet to committing resources to preliminary work, including investigating funding sources, subject to costs being matched by Selsey Town Council.

The Cabinet considered the agenda report and its six appendices in the agenda supplement.

This item was introduced by Mr Connor.

Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Stevens were in attendance for this matter.

Mr Connor said that this was the third report to come to the Cabinet regarding the feasibility of a small harbour or haven at East Beach Selsey (Selsey Haven (SH)) to provide fisheries protection, economic opportunities and a visitor focus on the Manhood Peninsula. The second report had sought approval for £25,000 match-funding from Selsey Town Council and the Fishermen’s Association for a further technical study and a wider socio-economic study. This report set out the findings of those studies with a view to the Cabinet approving their integration into the Selsey Vision Action Plan (SVAP) and resolving to commit no more CDC resources to progressing the SH scheme. Whilst the scheme was found to be feasible technically, there were still some outstanding issues which the studies had not fully understood or resolved, notably the impact on the Pagham Harbour Special Protection Area. In addition, an increase in the size of the SH to make it more economically viable would probably be unacceptable to residents and would still leave doubts about economic viability. He summarised the recommendations contained in the studies for improving the economic environment within Selsey for the fishing and tourist industries and these could be incorporated into the SVAP.  He emphasised the concerns expressed by the Selsey Fishermen’s Association about the long-term viability of the local fishing industry and the risks posed to it and other marine and fishery related activities in the absence of a SH. He hoped that the Selsey Haven Steering Group (a very representative and experienced body) would continue to seek a solution. Accordingly he proposed the following amendments to the recommendations in section 2 of the report:

(1)              That the Cabinet notes the findings of the consultants’ reports and supports the inclusion of recommendations in the Marshall Regen socio-economic report and those in the Wolfstrome Way-finding report detailed in para 5.1 of the agenda report and that these are subsumed into the Selsey Vision Action Plan.

(2)              That no further Chichester District Council resources are committed to progressing the Selsey Haven Project proposals outlined in the consultants’ reports due to the significant uncertainties around both economic viability and securing the necessary capital investment outlined in the Marshall Regen report.

(3)              That should the Selsey Haven Steering Group and Selsey Town Council wish to pursue an alternative project to assess options to support the fishing industry and related marine activity, then the Cabinet would be willing to consider committing resources to preliminary work, including investigating funding sources, subject to costs being matched by Selsey Town Council

Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Stevens did not add to Mr Connor’s introduction.

Mrs Kilby supported Mr Connor’s proposed amendments as she felt it was important to pursue options to support the local fishing and tourist industries in Selsey.

In endorsing Mr Connor’s proposed amendments, Mr Dignum referred to the detailed findings in the consultants’ reports and explained the financial factors for the revised recommendation (2).

Decision

The Cabinet voted unanimously on a show of hands to make the resolution set out below which adopted the aforesaid amendments.  

RESOLVED

(1)              That the findings of the consultants’ reports be noted and the inclusion of the recommendations in the Marshall Regen socio-economic report and those in the Wolfstrome “Way-finding” report detailed in para 5.1 of the agenda report be supported and be subsumed into the Selsey Vision Action Plan.

(2)              That no further Chichester District Council resources be committed to progressing the Selsey Haven Project proposals outlined in the consultants’ reports due to the significant uncertainties around both economic viability and securing the necessary capital investment outlined in the Marshall Regen report.

(3)              That should the Selsey Haven Steering Group and Selsey Town Council wish to pursue an alternative project to assess options to support the fishing industry and related marine activity, then consideration be given by the Cabinet to committing resources to preliminary work, including investigating funding sources, subject to costs being matched by Selsey Town Council.