Purpose

Littlehampton Harbour is
managed by a Harbour Board on which the majority of members are
appointed by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and Arun District
Council (ADC). The Board is currently chaired by an appointee of
the Environment Agency.
 
Its functions and
responsibilities and the governance and financial arrangements
which affect the two local authorities are set out in the
Littlehampton Harbour Acts and Orders 1927 to 2015.
 
Essentially, any excess
financial liability beyond the Board’s own funds (from income
and harbour dues and its maintenance reserve) is passed 50/50 to
WSCC and ADC through a precept.
 
The Board does not secure
sufficient income to meet costs and its core maintenance reserve
will not be adequate for the planned infrastructure works for the
harbour walls and entrance.
 
It is expected that the above
responsibilities will lead to a funding commitment over the next
two years of approximately £2m (the WSCC share being 50% of
this).
 
The Cabinet Member for
Environment and Climate Change will be asked to approve an
additional budget allocation in order to allow the project to
proceed.
 

Decision

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate
Change –
 
(1)  approves the
County Council’s contribution, up to £1.1m, towards the
maintenance works required at Littlehampton Harbour; and
 
(2) delegates authority to the Director of
Finance and Support Services, in consultation with the Cabinet
Members for Environment and Climate Change and for Finance and
Property, to agree the details of the timing, mechanism and form of
the funding of the required contribution.