Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)  note the challenges being faced in managing BCP’s sea cliffs and chines, including the impacts of climate change and limited resources allocated to this in the recent past;

(b)support the immediate allocation of £1.446m from reserves to support responses to current cliff management issues and mitigate the lost income from commercial services on the seafront; and

(c)  delegate to the Director of Commercial Operations in consultation with the Chief Operations Officer and Portfolio Holder the allocations of the funding.

The Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations presented the report on Sea Cliff and Chine Management and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

Members discussed the report highlighting the importance of the investment with some members expressing concern that the costs would be significant and more investment would be required to effectively support cliff management.

In addition, a member raised the importance of effective scrutiny and was reassured that scrutiny had been engaged.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)           noted the challenges being faced in managing BCP’s sea cliffs and chines, including the impacts of climate change and limited resources allocated to this in the recent past;

(b)           supported the immediate allocation of £1.446m from reserves to support responses to current cliff management issues and mitigate the lost income from commercial services on the seafront; and

(c)           delegated to the Director of Commercial Operations in consultation with the Chief Operations Officer and Portfolio Holder the allocations of the funding.

Voting: Unanimous

Along the BCP coastline there is approximately 15.5 miles of sea cliffs and chines. The responsibility for much of the management of the sea cliffs and chines falls to BCP Council (either as landowner or leaseholder). In order to address cliff slips and falls, past engineering efforts during the 20^th century have introduced various forms of cliff drainage and stabilisation works including pinning and netting, slope regrading and installation of over 700 sand drains along large sections of the BCP coast. Engineering that would cost many tens of £millions at today’s prices

Ongoing work to develop a new BCP cliff management strategy has identified that costs for cliff management along the BCP frontage over the next 20 years are currently estimated to be in excess of £41m. In order to address some of the issues being identified in the immediate term, one-off funding of £1.446m has been allocated by the finance team for cliff management over this financial year and next. It is planned to prioritise this funding on items identified through the Cliff Management Working Group.

The Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial presented a report on behalf of the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that along the BCP coastline there is approximately 15.5 miles of sea cliffs and chines, and that the responsibility for much of the management of the sea cliffs and chines falls to BCP Council (either as landowner or leaseholder).

Further to this Cabinet was informed that in order to address cliff slips and falls, past engineering efforts during the 20th century have introduced various forms of cliff drainage and stabilisation works including pinning and netting, slope regrading and installation of over 700 sand drains along large sections of the BCP coast, engineering that would cost many tens of £millions at today’s prices

Further to this Cabinet was advised that ongoing work to develop a new BCP cliff management strategy had identified that costs for cliff management along the BCP frontage over the next 20 years are currently estimated to be in excess of £41m, and that in order to address some of the issues being identified in the immediate term, one-off funding of £1.446m had been allocated by the finance team for cliff management over this financial year and next, and that it was planned to prioritise this funding on items identified through the Cliff Management Working Group.

Councillor Patrick Canavan addressed the Cabinet advising that he welcomed the report as a ward councillor covering ‘East Cliff’ and highlighted that the council at some point would need to provide some form intervention for the cliff erosion and that the cost to the authority for such works could not be underestimated.

Cabinet members spoke in support of the report and thanked officers for their work on this.

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)           note the challenges being faced in managing BCP’s sea cliffs and chines, including the impacts of climate change and limited resources allocated to this in the recent past;

(b)           support the immediate allocation of £1.446m from reserves to support responses to current cliff management issues and mitigate the lost income from commercial services on the seafront; and

(c)           delegate to the Director of Commercial Operations in consultation with the Chief Operations Officer and Portfolio Holder the allocations of the funding.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reason

To support achievement of the BCP vision for where people, nature, coast and towns come together in sustainable, safe and healthy communities, by contributing the delivery of the following objectives:

·         People and places are connected by sustainable and modern infrastructure.

·         Our communities have pride in our streets, neighbourhoods and public spaces.

·         Climate change is tackled through sustainable policies and practice

·         Our green spaces flourish and support the wellbeing of both people and nature.

The Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial presented a report on behalf of the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that along the BCP coastline there is approximately 15.5 miles of sea cliffs and chines, and that the responsibility for much of the management of the sea cliffs and chines falls to BCP Council (either as landowner or leaseholder).

Further to this Cabinet was informed that in order to address cliff slips and falls, past engineering efforts during the 20th century have introduced various forms of cliff drainage and stabilisation works including pinning and netting, slope regrading and installation of over 700 sand drains along large sections of the BCP coast, engineering that would cost many tens of £millions at today’s prices

Further to this Cabinet was advised that ongoing work to develop a new BCP cliff management strategy had identified that costs for cliff management along the BCP frontage over the next 20 years are currently estimated to be in excess of £41m, and that in order to address some of the issues being identified in the immediate term, one-off funding of £1.446m had been allocated by the finance team for cliff management over this financial year and next, and that it was planned to prioritise this funding on items identified through the Cliff Management Working Group.

Councillor Patrick Canavan addressed the Cabinet advising that he welcomed the report as a ward councillor covering ‘East Cliff’ and highlighted that the council at some point would need to provide some form intervention for the cliff erosion and that the cost to the authority for such works could not be underestimated.

Cabinet members spoke in support of the report and thanked officers for their work on this.

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)           note the challenges being faced in managing BCP’s sea cliffs and chines, including the impacts of climate change and limited resources allocated to this in the recent past;

(b)           support the immediate allocation of £1.446m from reserves to support responses to current cliff management issues and mitigate the lost income from commercial services on the seafront; and

(c)           delegate to the Director of Commercial Operations in consultation with the Chief Operations Officer and Portfolio Holder the allocations of the funding.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reason

To support achievement of the BCP vision for where people, nature, coast and towns come together in sustainable, safe and healthy communities, by contributing the delivery of the following objectives:

·         People and places are connected by sustainable and modern infrastructure.

·         Our communities have pride in our streets, neighbourhoods and public spaces.

·         Climate change is tackled through sustainable policies and practice

·         Our green spaces flourish and support the wellbeing of both people and nature.