To
agree the minutes of the previous meeting as a true and accurate
record of the previous meeting.
Minutes:
The minutes of the previous meeting were
agreed as a true and accurate record of proceedings.
3/17
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
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All Members present are
required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as
possible thereafter
(i)Any disclosable pecuniary interests and /
or
(ii)Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in
respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this
meeting
NOTES:
·Members are reminded that they must not participate
in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary
interest
·As well as an interest of the Member, this includes
any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the
Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the
Member is living as a spouse or civil partner)
·Members with a significant personal interest may
participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that
interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial.
Minutes:
There were no declarations of interest
made.
4/17
QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
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To
receive any questions or petitions.
Notes:
1. The
deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00 noon four working
days before the meeting [20 July 2017].
2. The
deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting
[19 July 2017].
3. The
deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no
petitions have been received.
Minutes:
There were no questions or petitions
received.
5/17
ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
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Purpose of the item: To elect
a new Vice-Chairman of the Basingstoke Canal JMC.
Minutes:
Declarations of
interest:
None
Key points raised
during the discussion:
The
Chairman proposed Cllr Andrew Gibson to be elected as Vice-Chairman
of the Committee. This was agreed unanimously by the
Committee.
Purpose of the report:To outline Surrey
County Council’s and Hampshire County Council’s work on
identifying a long term sustainable solution for the management of
the Basingstoke Canal.
Minutes:
Declarations of interest:
None
Witnesses:
Lisa Creaye-Griffin,
Countryside Group Manager, Surrey County Council
Jo Heath, Head of Countryside,
Hampshire County Council
Key
points raised during the discussion:
Officers outlined the
report to the Members of the Committee. It was stressed that Option
B presented the most viable option for the future governance
arrangements of the Basingstoke Canal. It was noted that this
included an investment in the canal to improve viability and to
improve the offer of a transfer of assets to the Canal and Rivers
Trust (CRT). It was also noted that the CRT would be invited to the
next meeting of the Basingstoke Canal Joint Management Committee
(JMC) to discuss their work and the proposed offer with
Members.
It was noted by
officers that the service was continually, as part of the options
appraisals, considering efficiencies to be made to reduce
operational costs to the funding authorities.
Officers noted that
the County Councils were considering Capital investment in the
canal to reduce the current arrears of maintenance and improve
future viability of the canal. The overall aim of improving the
offer would be a smooth transfer of assets to the CRT.
Officers stressed
that there would be more information available to Members regarding
proposals with the CRT after November 2017.
Members expressed
support for the work being undertaken with the CRT and highlighted
that there was hope that there would be
positive engagement between the CRT and the funding authorities.
Members also noted the role that District and Borough authorities
could have in improvements to the canal and in promoting the canal
as a public resource. It was suggested that there could be improved
partnership work with District and Borough authorities to promote
the canal, highlighting digital promotion as a potential area to
explore more fully.
Members stressed that
there was a requirement to put in a strong case to District and
Borough authorities when there was a requirement to further develop
the canal and that District and Borough authorities would need to
have a greater input in the development for the canal.
It was questioned
whether the Basingstoke Canal Authority (BCA) was looking for
additional income streams to fund projects. Officers confirmed that
they had applied for the M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (M3LEP)
funding for the Campsite development project and that there were
other opportunities that were being looked into of a similar nature
by the BCA.
Members suggested
that the JMC should meet more frequently to analyse business cases
relating to income generation for the Canal. The Chairman suggested
that there could be scope to set up a small business case task and
finish group to analyse any potential business cases.
It was questioned by
Members whether partner authorities should be required to provide
their full contributions. Officers noted that the BCA had
maintained its service without the full contributions of all
partner authorities, and that the service must be realistic as a
result of the financial pressures on the partner authorities.
However, it was suggested ...
view the full minutes text for item 6/17
Purpose of the report: To
brief Members on the financial outturn of the Basingstoke Canal
Authority. Members are asked to review
and agree the outturn position for the year 2016/17.
Minutes:
Declarations of interest:
None
Witnesses:
Jane Lovett, Honourary
Treasurer, Hampshire County Council
Key
points raised during the discussion:
Officers outlined the report, highlighting an
additional income of £15,000 from boat revenue and that there
was additional revenue from car parking charges and an improved
sales revenue.
Officers noted that there was a reserve of
approximately £486,309. It was noted that this was considered
a healthy reserve and that it could help with one-off investments
into the canal in future.
Members questioned the potential for the development
of more riparian car parks as an income stream for the BCA.
Officers noted that funding for the development of the Scotland
Bridge Road car park was already in place and that this was planned
as a future income stream for the BCA. It was also suggested by
officers that the Canal Centre could also implement car parking
charges after any future site development. Members questioned
whether it was possible to implement car parking charges on all
rural car parks. Officers noted that work would be done by the BCA
and the Surrey and Hampshire County Council to determine the
plausibility of this and report back to the JMC.
Members noted that the increase in revenue was
positive and that the financial outlook for the BCA 16/17 also
looked positive.
Actions/ further information to be provided:
That officers provide a report on potential car
parking charges being implemented across all rural, riparian car
parks and report back to the JMC in its meeting early
2018.
Purpose of the
report:To update the Committee on the
progress of the asset and risk improvement “capital
programme” 2013-17 funded by Surrey and Hampshire County
Councils.
Peter Close, Volunteer Skipper
of the John Pinkerton II, Basingstoke Canal
Society
Key
points raised during the discussion:
Officers noted that there had been a significant
amount of Capital works undertaken over the last three years. It
was stressed that the service had been looking primarily to resolve
high priority safety issues.
It was noted that there was leftover Capital funding
in the Surrey County Council budget from the previous year, and
that there was an agreement to input an additional £150,000
per year for the next three years. It was noted that Hampshire
County Council had spent its Capital budget as a result of the
Dogmersfield Landslip, but confirmed that a high priority bid for a
new project cycle had been submitted to the Executive of Hampshire
County Council.
Officers noted that the highest priority issues for
the service were dredging and bank protection. It was explained
that there was a significant build-up of silt in some areas.
However, it was noted that dredging operations were a costly
endeavour for the service.
It was stressed by officers that the BCA and the
owning authorities were committed to resolving the backlog of
maintenance. It was highlighted that this would also resolve some
issues highlighted in the Future of the Basingstoke Canal report of
July 2017.
Members questioned the scope and purpose of the
“Sense Check” with the CRT. Officers noted that it was
a way of determining whether the service was working in concert
with how the CRT sees the future of the canal and ease the
potential transition of the Future of the Canal
proposals.
Members questioned the continued concerns regarding
Swan “Cutting”, and suggested that the resolution of
this problem be considered a higher priority by the BCA. The
Chairman invited a guest speaker of the John Pinkerton
II trip boat owned by the Basingstoke Canal Society (BCS) to
detail issues regarding the “Cutting” that were
experienced by canal users. Officers noted that, while this was
considered an important issue it was not primarily a safety issue,
and that any resolution would be very complex.. Members accepted
this, but noted that they would like to see some resolution to the
Swan “Cutting” issue and that the service should submit
to the JMC proposed timescales of work to be undertaken.
Officers stressed that the key challenge for the BCA
and owning authorities was officer time and workload to deliver
complex engineering projects.. It was stressed that the work on the
Dogmersfield landslip had taken a significant amount of officer
resource to resolve. Officers explained that with the completion of
this work, more priority could be placed on other
projects.
Members noted the significant amount of work
undertaken with the Dogmersfield landslip and thanked the BCA for
their work in resolving this issue.
Actions/ further information to be provided:
That the BCA provide a detailed timescale of Capital
projects to be undertaken over the next five years.
Purpose of
the report:To seek approval for creation
of a new mooring line on the Basingstoke Canal to increase revenue
income for the Basingstoke Canal Authority.
Officers highlighted the business proposal and noted
the potential income generation opportunities the proposal
presented. Officers explained that this site was chosen as an
initial project due to its positioning and its status as a previous
canal wharf.
Officers noted that there was some concern raised by
Natural England regarding the Site of Significant Scientific
Interest (SSSI) status and that the Runways End had also raised
some observations regarding the proposals. It was noted that the
service had taken these issues into consideration in the proposal
and had addressed any issues raised.
It was noted by officers, after questions raised by
Members, that one live aboard boater might be considered to police
use of the mooring. It was noted that this was considered normal
procedure on other waterways and did not contravene any previous
rules enforced by the BCA.
Actions/ further information to be provided:
None
Resolutions:
It was resolved that:
The
Committee approves and authorises officers to implement the
proposed moorings and associated alterations to the adjoining car
park at Farnborough Road (Wharf) Bridge.
Purpose of the report: To
update Members on the work of the Basingstoke Canal authority
undertaken since the last meeting of the Joint Management Committee
and report its key results indicators.
Minutes:
Declarations of interest:
None
Witnesses:
James Taylor, Strategic Manager
Basingstoke Canal
Fiona Shipp, Canal Manager
Key points
raised during the discussion:
Officers outlined the work undertaken by the BCA
since the last meeting of the JMC. It was highlighted that the
service had performed well in an Emergency Plan test exercise and
that the BCA had received a team award from Hampshire County
Council for an unusually high number of compliments received during
2016. It was also noted that routine maintenance
had been undertaken by the service and that the next scheduled tree
survey was to take place in late 2017.
Officers noted that it had been a good season for
unpowered boat use and that the numbers per trip had
increased.
Water levels were highlighted as an issue. Officers
explained that the unusually dry spring was a cause for the low
levels of water. It was stressed that there was a requirement for a
prolonged period of wet weather to resolve this, but that the BCA
had implemented measures to lessen the impact that this had upon
the canal.
Officers highlighted the Key Results Indicators
(KRIs) in the report, noting that a key reason for the red targets
in the Red, Amber, Green (RAG) scale, were due to the high targets
that were set by the service.
It was noted that the Site of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSI) status was an area of required improvement.
However, it was stressed by officers that the target did not
indicate poor performance by the BCA but that the SSSI status had
not improved. The need for improvement on this was recognised by
the BCA. It was noted that Natural England were the regulatory
authority for SSSI condition, and could in theory prosecute if they
considered activities were harming the SSSI Members noted the need
to work in partnership with Natural England, and stressed that
their representative on the JMC should be present to help voice any
concerns that they have before issues become acute.
It was stressed that there were no major safety
issues on the Canal and that Capital works were resolving any minor
safety concerns.
The Committee noted that the BCA should look again
at how the KRIs are measured and ensure that they are reported in a
meaningful and simple manner for the next report.
Members questioned whether there was any bank damage
caused by animals and whether this put significant strain on the
service. Officers noted that this was a problem, but that the
service had taken measures to alleviate it, highlighting the use of
dog steps in some areas.
Officers noted that telemetry project was still
ongoing, and that some progress had been made.
The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, noted
it’s thanks to the BCA and highlighted the good progress that
was being made over the year.
Actions/further information to be provided:
That the
Chairman make representations to the Member representing Natural
England to stress the importance of partnership work and request
that they ...
view the full minutes text for item 10/17
Purpose of the report: To
report to the Joint Management Committee the work undertaken by the
Basingstoke Canal Society since the last meeting of the Joint
Management Committee.
Minutes:
Declarations of interest:
None
Witnesses:
Philip Riley, Chairman of the
Basingstoke Canal Society
Martin Leech, Vice-Chairman of the Basingstoke Canal
Society
Key points raised during the discussion:
The Canal Society outlined work undertaken over the
period since the last meeting of the Committee. The Woking Town
Wharf development was highlighted particularly as a positive
development, noting that this was the first time that M3 LEP
funding had been awarded to the Society.
It was noted that the Society’s trip boats
were operational in Woking and that this was a positive
development. It was also stressed that the Society was looking to
operate a larger trip boat in the future. Members noted the
positive work untaken by the Society in Woking and thanked the
Society for their contribution.
Purpose of the report: To
outline the procedure for the appointment of Special Interest Group
(SIG) representation to the Basingstoke Joint Management Committee
as co-opted Members and invite the committee to agree the
appointment of co-opted Members for the period to May 2021.
Richard Plummer, Committee
Assistant, Surrey County Council
Key points raised during the discussion:
Officers
outlined the procedure for the election of Special Interest Groups
to the JMC. It was explained to the Committee that it had received
a number of Expressions of Interest from interested groups to join
the JMC for a period of four years according to the terms set out
in the Memorandum of Agreement of the JMC (2014), which were
considered by the Committee.
Officers
noted that Inland Waterways Association (IWA) was submitting a late
bid to provide an Expression of Interest. The Chairman put to the
Committee whether to allow for a late representation to be heard.
The Committee agreed unanimously to hear the representation from
the IWA. This is attached to the minutes as Annex A.
The
Committee voted on applications for new representation of Special
Interest Groups on the JMC.
Actions/further information to be
provided:
None
Resolutions:
It was
resolved that:
1.The following four groups be appointed as Special
Interest Groups for a period of four years according to the terms
set out in the Memorandum of Agreement of the JMC (2014):
a.Basingstoke Canal Canoe Club
b.National Trust, River Wey and Godalming Navigations
c.The Hart District Association of Parish and Town
Councils
Richard Plummer, Committee
Assistant, Surrey County Council
Key points raised during the discussion:
The
Committee noted the forward works programme and action tracker.
Members questioned the absence of the Risk Register in the agenda.
Officers noted that, as the Risk Register had not changed since the
last meeting of the Committee, they were not included in the
report, and referred Members to the previous agenda of the
Committee. It was noted that an updated version would be included
at the next meeting of the JMC.
14/17
DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
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The next meeting of the Basingstoke Joint
Management Committee will be held on 22 November 2017 at the
Mytchett Canal Centre.
Minutes:
The Committee noted that its next meeting
would be on 22 November 2017 at the Mytchett Canal Centre.