Agenda item

This report provides an update on the action taken following the Cabinet meeting  held  in January 2020.  In addition, Cabinet is requested to make a final decision on  moorings.

The Chair and Councillor Paul Crossley thanked all speakers who read out their statements on this matter.

Councillor Paul Crossley introduced the report by saying that several presentations from the public showed how complex this issue was.  Before continuing with an introduction with the report, Councillor Crossley offered to meet with boating community to discuss this matter.

Following local elections in May 2019, the new administration had agreed to review moorings at Mead Lane.  The Council had commissioned Atkins Global engineering consultancy to undertake a detailed visual survey of the riverbank, road, utilities and 2005 bio-engineered solutions (rock armour) on Wednesday 3 September 2019.  The detailed outcome of the survey, and the main findings were included in the report.  Councillor Crossley said that he was pleased with an outcome of the survey.  Moorings at Mead Lane were close to a narrow road and also to residents of Mead Lane.  Also, all of the issues highlighted in the report presented to the Cabinet in January 2020 have been done. 

Councillor Crossley stressed that 14-Day moorings will be available from 1st March 2021 and would remain until suitable alternatives were found.  Councillor Crossley also offered to meet with the boating community to inspect stretches of the river mentioned by boaters. 

Councillor Paul Crossley concluded by moving the officers’ recommendations with additions/changes as follows:

Bullet point 2 of the main recommendations to read – ‘•  Agree to a long-term aspiration to relocate moorings from Mead Lane – with a target date of 31st December 2022’

Added recommendation 2.8 to read – ‘Request that officers devise a charging regime for moorings at Mead Lane, to be implemented from 1st March 2021, in accordance with delegations outlined in recommendation 2.6. Requests for future capital allocation for moorings to be considered as part of the council annual budget setting process.’

Councillor Dine Romero seconded the motion, and together with Councillor Crossley proposed to meet with the boating community to discuss issues related to this matter.

Councillor Tim Ball supported the motion from Councillor Crossley and added that this Council, and the previous administrations, have failed the boating community in terms of adequate moorings.  Mead Lane was not an adequate solution and the Council would need to identify other areas in the Local Plan for moorings.  Councillor Ball also called on the government to be more committed in recognising the needs of the boating community.

Councillor Sarah Warren welcomed the motion and said that she had met with the boaters in Bathampton and that she has begun to understand their needs for education and access to hospitals.  Councillor Warren said that she would also like to meet with the boating community to discuss the issues and needs that they may have.  Councillor Warren added that the Council should continue to work with the CRT and with the families on their access to health and education.

Councillor Richard Samuel welcomed the recommendations with a caution to the budget allocation process.  Councillor Samuel said that it needed to be understood that requests for future capital allocation for moorings must be considered as part of the Council’s annual budget setting and would have to go through the same process as any other allocated parts of the budget.

Councillor David Wood also supported the motion by saying that the Council should be recognised as an authority for welcoming communities with different lifestyles, and not pushing them away from the area. 

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed to:

·  Reduce the number of moorings in the short/medium term, by implementing paragraphs 2.2. & 2.3, thereby increasing the amount of open space along Mead Lane

·  Agree to a long-term aspiration to relocate moorings from Mead Lane – with a target date of 31^st December 2022

·  Ensure that suitable alternative moorings are identified and in place prior to reducing further any moorings at Mead Lane

·  To increase enforcement & engagement capacity

Specifically:

2.1 To work with Waterspace Partners to identify alternative sites for 14-day moorings along the watercourse and to request that it gives due consideration to the Opinion Research Survey assessment and findings, and

2.2  To remove the 48-hour moorings at Mead Lane from 1/11/20, on a permanent basis, this part of the riverbank to be reallocated as open space for other leisure purposes and

2.3  Agree to no 14-day moorings at Mead Lane, on a seasonal basis, during the time period 1 November until the end of February each year and

2.4   When the Waterspace Partnership programme of work and Opinion Research Survey assessment is complete (see 2.1 above), review the moorings on Mead Lane, with the aim that the total number of 14 day moorings available along the watercourse are not reduced, and

2.5   Create a joint River Warden post with the Canal and Rivers Trust (CRT)

2.6  Delegate future decisions on Mead Lane/moorings to the Cabinet Member for Community Services, in consultation with the Director of Environment and,

2.7 Request that the Cabinet Members for Transport and Director of Environment, in consultation with Avon and Somerset Police, review the parking restrictions along Mead Lane/Saltford

2.8  Request that officers devise a charging regime for moorings at Mead Lane, to be implemented from 1st March 2021, in accordance with delegations outlined in recommendation 2.6.  Requests for future capital allocation for moorings to be considered as part of the council annual budget setting process.