Agenda item

Considered – Report of the Assistant Director – Integrated Passenger Transport, Licensing, Public Rights of Way (PROW) and Harbours to provide an overview of Harbour Services.

Some of the key points highlighted in the report are as summarised below:

·       Following fact finding site visits to Scarborough and Whitby Harbours in September 2023, committee members gained an understanding of the significant challenges facing all of the harbours that now fall under the responsibility of North Yorkshire Council following Local Government Reorganisation.

·       The Council has recently committed around £800k investment to develop design and investigation works for shovel ready projects at both Scarborough and Whitby Harbours. It is hoped that this investment will enable fully costed, shovel-ready schemes to be ready to access any further funding opportunities, which usually have a very short window for applications.

·       The North Sea has experienced significant shellfish mortality over recent years, which has had an extensive impact upon the fisheries sector. In terms of the direct impact on the harbour authority itself, the harbour levies landing dues on shellfish landings, which is calculated as a percentage of the gross sales from the landings has shown a reduction in the quantity, and therefore value (£), of the shellfish landings, significantly impacting upon the harbours budget.

·       There is an appetite to investigate the clear commercial opportunities resulting from rapid expansion of the offshore wind industry, particularly in Whitby as it is the closest accessible harbour to the Dogger Bank windfarm site, and for Scarborough to service both the Dogger Bank and Hornsea development areas. Part of this expansion into this commercial sector may include the provision of a large boat lift and associated storage at Scarborough harbour (subject to business case and funding) to provide “out of the water” servicing, maintenance and inspection facilities to commercial vessels. 

·       The exciting development plans for the Scarborough West Pier and the Maritime Training Hub at Endeavour Wharf, Whitby, are progressing and are expected to be formally submitted as planning applications in the near future.

·       Overall, officers are very positive about the future of the harbours, with work to develop a comprehensive new Harbours Strategy underway.

·       Thanks to the Harbours Team for their dedication and commitment to work in all weathers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to ensure the smooth and safe operation of the Council’s harbours and this team will be instrumental in taking the harbours forwards into the future.

Following this, questions and comments raised by the committee included:

·       The proposal of a boat lift and associated storage at Scarborough harbour (subject to business case and funding) was felt to be much needed, to provide the ability to conduct “out of the water” servicing, maintenance and inspection facilities to commercial vessels.

·       More detailed information was sought on the types of commercial opportunities it was felt may be available to service both the Dogger Bank and Hornsea development areas.

·       Given the reference of “risk of collapse” of the harbour infrastructure within the report, what kind of timescale is that based on?

·       The options for the future operating model of the MV Sandsend dredger and whether Scarborough and Whitby have priority in its operations over external dredging contracts?

·       The effect of the recent stormy weather on the harbour infrastructure and whether potential solutions can be futureproofed to reflect the changing climate?

As part of the debate and questions to the officers, it was recommended to Councillor Bastiman, as the Executive Member for Open to Business, that the committee supports the initial proposals to install a boat lift and associated storage at Scarborough Harbour and if external funding opportunities cannot be secured to progress this project, then subject to a viable business case, the Council should give consideration to funding the required works.

Resolved –

i)        To note the information within this report.

ii)       To thank the Harbours Team for all their efforts to ensure their smooth and safe operation

iii)      To recommend to the Executive Member for Open to Business, that the Transition (LGR) Overview and Scrutiny committee supports the initial proposals to install a boat lift and associated storage at Scarborough Harbour and that if external funding opportunities cannot be secured to progress this project, then subject to a viable business case, the Council should give consideration to funding the required works.