Select Committee on Agriculture Sixth Report


APPENDIX 15

Memorandum submitted by Portsmouth City Council (F26)

INTRODUCTION

  With Portsmouth having a combined length of coastal and harbour shores of nearly 40 km within its boundary and being one of the most densely populated cities in western Europe, coastal issues have always been of great significance to the City and much local knowledge and expertise has evolved throughout its history, especially relating to flood and coastal defence.

  Since the issue of global warming and sea level rise gained prominence in the late 1980's, Portsmouth became one of the first Maritime Authorities in the Country to produce its own coastal strategy document in 1991 entitled "Portsmouth's Sea Defences—Towards 2050" setting out a programme of works for implementation that included future predictions for rising sea levels.

  In view of the high density of both residential and industrial properties on Portsea Island and its potential vulnerability to tidal flooding, strategic coastal defence is and always will be a fundamental issue.

  Portsmouth City Council became a Unitary Authority on 1 April 1997 and is responsible for both coastal defence and strategic coastal planning.

CONTENT

  1.  Portsmouth City Council fully supports the evidence submitted by the Local Government Association on behalf of the Regional Coastal Groups and Maritime District Councils/Unitary Authorities.

  2.  Portsmouth City Council welcomes the support it has received from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in terms of developing sustainable policies for the coastal zone.

  3.  Portsmouth City Council strongly believes, based upon its considerable experience of coastal issues, that the coastal defence function can be delivered most effectively by local authorities with their detailed knowledge of local coastal conditions; they are able to assess coastal demands within the context of management of the coastal zone as a whole, taking account of the wide range of inter-connected issues that they currently deal with (eg as coastal land owners, beach and esplanade management, public safety, amenities and recreation, environmental health, commercial port management, maritime archaeology, seaside town regeneration and oil spill response).

  4.  Portsmouth City Council strongly supports the need for close collaboration over the development of the full range of coastal plans and strategies (for estuaries, harbours, coastal zone management and coastal defence) in collaboration with other agencies and consultees; for example the Environment Agency and English Nature.

  5.  In 1985 a conference was organised on "Problems Associated with the Coastline", and this led to the establishment of SCOPAC (Standing Conference on Problems Associated with the Coastline) as the first "Regional" coastal group in the UK.

  Coastal Groups provide a forum for discussion of coastal issues on a strategic basis, and since SCOPAC was established, the whole of the coastline of England and Wales (and now part of the coastlines of Scotland and Northern Ireland) is covered by Coastal Groups, their boundaries largely based upon natural "sediment cells". The Coastal Groups provide a valuable link between local and central government and assists in ensuring that coastal issues can be looked at on a strategic basis.

  6.  SCOPAC is unique amongst these Coastal Groups by commissioning scientific research of regional interest (research to the value of £500,000 has been undertaken over the last 10 years) and by operating a two tier system comprising a "Full Conference" which involves both elected members and officers, as well as a "Technical Officers' Working Group".

  7.  Constituent members along the SCOPAC coastline, (Lyme Regis to Worthing, including the Isle of Wight) are working in partnership with other key agencies, thus seeking to avoid a piecemeal approach to coastal defence. The work of the Coastal Groups and coast protection authorities has been much assisted by coast protection grant aid from the ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food enabling the development of shoreline management plans and coastal defence strategies.

  Enormous progress has been made in terms of the understanding of coastal issues over the last five years with the support of the Ministry, and a major step forward has been achieved within the last two years.

  8.  Portsmouth City Council does not believe that its members' interests would be best served by a regional body which cannot benefit from the detailed knowledge that is available locally. The removal of responsibility to a regional agency would, therefore, result in a significant reduction in the quality of knowledge and information that could be input into a debate on priorities for coastal protection works in the future.

  9.  The development of Coastal Groups and preparation of shoreline management plans has assisted in fostering a partnership approach between coastal protection authorities and the Environment Agency. Such regular meetings have ensured that a holistic approach has been adopted and a "sectoral tendency" is avoided, thereby contributing towards integrated coastal zone management.

  10.  The removal of the coastal defence function from local authorities would greatly diminish their ability to influence the co-ordination of plans for local sustainability, and the loss of responsibility for coast protection would in turn reduce the local authority's contribution (both technical and financial) to a wide range of coastal initiatives.

  11.  Portsmouth City Council believes that the establishment of the Coastal Groups has been a remarkable success over the last decade and if local authorities are deprived of an active role in coastal defence, it is likely that the interests of engineers within the coastal groups and other networks would be diminished with a reduction in their effectiveness and responsiveness to the detriment of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the UK.

  12.  Portsmouth City Council believes that the Environment Agency should continue to administer those functions where it has a particular expertise (eg its current statutory role with regard to planning and land drainage matters, and river management) and that coastal defence matters should in turn be left to experts within local authorities and Coastal Groups.

  13.  Recent advice from the Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions suggests the need for more local accountability and for a greater local determination of priorities, and Portsmouth City Council strongly supports this. This trend is demonstrated by the creation of Regional Development Agencies and the partnering of local authorities to develop a strategic agenda for their areas.

  Portsmouth City Council is particularly concerned with the proposal to transfer responsibilities to another body which would remove significant influence from the elected members of the City Council.

  14.  Portsmouth City Council believes that there is a case for "status quo" as excellent collaboration already exists between all parties with the aim of achieving integrated coastal zone management.

  15.  Portsmouth City Council believes it is essential to involve the Coastal groups and their constituent authorities in any new structure proposed for the delivery of the coastal defence function and will be pleased to assist any review process.

15 April 1998


 
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