Agenda item

To consider the following Motion (proposed by Councillor K M H Lagan and seconded by Councillor J C Stilts) referred to this Committee by the Council at its meeting on 12 September 2024.

Motion:

“That the council makes budget provision in the 2024/2025 budget setting process and undertakes dredging works / mud cutting / bucket dredging from the area from the visitors berth at Maldon Quay and along to the end of the area used by the Barge Trust. This is so as to secure safe access to the quay by Maldon’s historic Barge fleet, support visiting barges and other types of vessels to the town, and secure safe moorings of the barge fleet at Maldon. That the council further provides a sufficient sum each year that accrues that is ring fenced for mud removal every 5 years to ensure that the access to the Quay is safely maintained at all times and funding is provided. Work to be carried out in liaison with all quay users and stakeholders.”

The Committee considered the following Motion proposed by Councillor K M H Lagan and seconded by Councillor J C Stults referred to the Committee by the Council. Further consideration was given to the report of the Director of Service Delivery, circulated prior to the meeting. which provided information regarding the Motion and set out a number of recommendations for Members consideration.

Motion:

“That the council makes budget provision in the 2024/2025 budget setting process and undertakes dredging works / mud cutting / bucket dredging from the area from the visitors berth at Maldon Quay and along to the end of the area used by the Barge Trust. This is so as to secure safe access to the quay by Maldon’s historic Barge fleet, support visiting barges and other types of vessels to the town, and secure safe moorings of the barge fleet at Maldon. That the council further provides a sufficient sum each year that accrues that is ring fenced for mud removal every 5 years to ensure that the access to the Quay is safely maintained at all times and funding is provided. Work to be carried out in liaison with all quay users and stakeholders”

Councillor K M H Lagan presented his Motion to the Committee and explained how some barges were being damaged and others were having to cancel trips because they were unable to get out of their berth due to the mud build up. He felt there was also opportunity to raise income from use of the visitor berth, however if nothing was done there was a risk that the barges may move from Maldon. Councillor Lagan referred to the Officers’ report (circulated prior to the meeting) and the Officer recommendations within it. He then proposed that recommendation (i) be amended to remove reference to ‘in principle’ and subject to this amendment the recommendations be agreed.

The Chairperson referred to the Assistant Director - Customer Services and Operations who outlined some of the early work undertaken by the Council to understand the cost estimate, which included the cost of the work, licenses and project resources. She indicated the approximate costs for the mud removal plus the cost of licences and project resources. It was noted that a full tender process would be required together with further work to determine matters such as scope, risks, timescale etc. and the necessary engagement with stakeholders and other parties. Officers were suggesting that a Member Working Group be formed to consider all the issues and report back to this Committee.

The Chairperson referred to Maldon District Council being a coastal authority and how the rivers and estuaries were vital with Barges being the Council’s trademark. He expressed concern in light of the budget gap that the Council was facing next year and there being a lot of information that was unknown at this point.

During the lengthy debate that followed, a number of Members spoke in relation to this Motion and supported the views expressed by Councillor Lagan. In response to reference made to the Council requiring a Marine Management Organisation Licence and the length of time this may take Officers advised that some initial enquiries into ways to reduce the possible approval timeline had been undertaken by Officers.

The River Bailiff thanked Members for their interest in this subject and commented that in his opinion a properly costed project was required with potentially some initial investment until such a project could be undertaken. He suggested that the project should consider a capital dredge, including removal of the barges and visitor pontoon, the area being taken back to its chalk base and an annual maintenance programme. He reported that the National Trust had advised they would take any mud removed from the quay area.

In response to a question regarding whether such spend would be a capital or revenue spend on reserves, the Chief Finance Officer explained that reserves were mainly revenue in nature and a one-off amount for a project could come from capital or revenue reserves. However, if the Council needed to make provision within the budget on an annual basis and this would also have to be factored into the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

Councillor Lagan repeated his earlier proposition that recommendation (i) be amended to remove reference to ‘in principle’ and subject to this amendment the recommendations be agreed. This was duly seconded.

The Chairperson then moved recommendations (i) as amended and (ii) as set out in the report and this was duly agreed. He then sought nominations for Members to sit on the Member Working Group and it was agreed that those Members would be Councillors J Driver, A S Fluker, A T Fittock, K M H Lagan, N D Spenceley and M E Thompson.

RESOLVED

(i)             That the Committee confirms support for the Motion “to secure safe access to the quay by Maldon’s historic Barge fleet, support visiting barges and other types of vessels to the town, and secure safe moorings of the barge fleet at Maldon”;

(ii)            That a time limited Member Task and Finish Working Group is convened;

(i)             That the Committee appoints the following Members of the Member Task and Finish Working Group, reporting back to the Committee by 23 January 2025

·                J Driver

·                A S Fluker

·                A T Fittock

·                K M H Lagan

·                N D Spenceley

·                M E Thompson