Gosport Borough Council
Councillors:
28
Wards:
14
Committees:
10
Meetings (2025):
50
Meetings (2024):
47
Meeting
Community & Environment Board - Gosport
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Wednesday, 18th June 2025
6:00 PM
Wednesday, 18th June 2025
6:00 PM
End:
Wednesday, 18th June 2025
10:00 PM
Wednesday, 18th June 2025
10:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
18 Jun 2025
18 Jun 2025
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Councillor Mrs Zoe Huggins
Present, as expected
Agenda
1
Apologies for non-attendance
Minutes
There were no apologies for non attendance. The Chairman welcomed Councillor Kelly to the Board.
2
Declarations of interest
Minutes
Councillor Huggins declared an interest in item 6 as a Hampshire County Councillor and cabinet member, but felt able to remain in the meeting.
3
Minutes of the meeting of the board held on 8 January 2025
Attachments:
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 08/01/2025 Community & Environment Board 10 Jun 2025
Minutes
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2025 were signed as a true and correct record.
4
Deputations- Standing Order 3.4
(NOTE: The Board is required to receive a deputation(s) on a matter which is before the meeting of the Board provided that notice of the intended deputation and its object shall have been received by the Borough Solicitor by 16 June 2025. The total time for deputations in favour and against a proposal shall not exceed 10 minutes)
Minutes
There were none
5
Public Questions- Standing order 3.5
(NOTE: The Board is required to allow a total of 15 minutes for questions from Members of the public on matters within the terms of reference of the Board provided that notice of such Question(s) shall have been submitted to the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on 16 June 2025)
Minutes
There were none
6
Stokes Bay Coastal Feasibility Study
This report updates members on and seeks acceptance of the final recommendations of the Stokes Bay Coastal Feasibility Study and requests approval for the Chief Executive to seek external funding to implement the ‘Do Minimum’ maintenance option.
Attachments:
- Document CE Board Stokes Bay_V2_For Issue 10 Jun 2025
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report by Coastal Partners updating members on, and seeking acceptance of the final recommendations of the Stokes bay Coastal Feasibility Study and requesting approval for the Chief Executive to seek funding to implement the “Do Minimum” maintenance option.
During the introduction of the report, Members were advised that following the appointment of a consultant, a forward plan with short and long term options had been produced. The study helped to identify GBC needs and reflected the critical nature of the seawall in respect of the road, public spaces and the leisure car parks. A lack of homes in the immediate vicinity prevents central government grant in aid applying to the scheme.
The recommendation of modest improvements and repairs complements the recent seawall replacement works at Alverbank East car park.
The study identifies the decisions that need to be taken now and those that may be taken in the future regarding the future coastal management of Stokes Bay.
In answer to a members question regarding disruption to businesses, the board was advised that the central government funding criteria considers this via the benefit to cost ratio which may cover disruption and loss of income, but the funding is more heavily weighted to the number of homes protected.
Officers were unable to advise if devolution would provide opportunities for funding, but explained that DEFRA had launched a consultation on changes to scheme grant aid funding and prioritisation that Coastal Partners would have the opportunity to feed into.
RESOLVED: That the board:
i) Accepted the recommendations of the Stokes Bay Feasibility Study
ii) Delegated authority to the Chief Executive to seek external funding to implement the “Do Minimum” option.
During the introduction of the report, Members were advised that following the appointment of a consultant, a forward plan with short and long term options had been produced. The study helped to identify GBC needs and reflected the critical nature of the seawall in respect of the road, public spaces and the leisure car parks. A lack of homes in the immediate vicinity prevents central government grant in aid applying to the scheme.
The recommendation of modest improvements and repairs complements the recent seawall replacement works at Alverbank East car park.
The study identifies the decisions that need to be taken now and those that may be taken in the future regarding the future coastal management of Stokes Bay.
In answer to a members question regarding disruption to businesses, the board was advised that the central government funding criteria considers this via the benefit to cost ratio which may cover disruption and loss of income, but the funding is more heavily weighted to the number of homes protected.
Officers were unable to advise if devolution would provide opportunities for funding, but explained that DEFRA had launched a consultation on changes to scheme grant aid funding and prioritisation that Coastal Partners would have the opportunity to feed into.
RESOLVED: That the board:
i) Accepted the recommendations of the Stokes Bay Feasibility Study
ii) Delegated authority to the Chief Executive to seek external funding to implement the “Do Minimum” option.
7
Any other items
Minutes
The Chairman called on Coastal Partners to provide an update on the Alverstoke Flood Defence Scheme.
Members were advised that officers were currently writing a business case update report to the Environment Agency to unlock funding. This follows the press release from DEFRA making a potential £3.5 million funding contribution available for previously stalled schemes. It was hoped to have an answer by September/October 2025.
It is believed that, based on other recent schemes, the costs could reach £7.8 million, the increase being caused by over inflationary increases in construction costs and materials. Procurement and planning would need to be restarted, and all statutory approvals obtained, with a possible timetable of preparation works in 2026 and flood works in 2027-28. The scheme would reduce the flood risk to 130 properties.
Officers advised that resources are being put into the Alverstoke scheme and there is spending against the project but the current scheme is paused, and in the interim residents would be advised to take their own precautions to reduce their flood risk and to sign up to the Environment Agency Flood Warning system.
A member advised that the Hampshire County Council Section 19 report from the April 2024 flooding incident is now in draft form and should hopefully be available before summer recess.
In answer to a Member’s question Coastal Partners advised that of the schemes put forward in the 2015 strategy the Forton, Alverstoke and Stokes bay schemes have been a higher priority than the Seafield scheme. It is a particularly challenging site with the properties backing onto the sensitive harbor environment and a public right of way, therefore a range of funding options will need to be identified.
Officers agreed to supply the number of homes affected by the scheme.
Subsequent to the meeting, Officers confirmed that there would be 80 homes at present day tidal flood risk.
Members were advised that officers were currently writing a business case update report to the Environment Agency to unlock funding. This follows the press release from DEFRA making a potential £3.5 million funding contribution available for previously stalled schemes. It was hoped to have an answer by September/October 2025.
It is believed that, based on other recent schemes, the costs could reach £7.8 million, the increase being caused by over inflationary increases in construction costs and materials. Procurement and planning would need to be restarted, and all statutory approvals obtained, with a possible timetable of preparation works in 2026 and flood works in 2027-28. The scheme would reduce the flood risk to 130 properties.
Officers advised that resources are being put into the Alverstoke scheme and there is spending against the project but the current scheme is paused, and in the interim residents would be advised to take their own precautions to reduce their flood risk and to sign up to the Environment Agency Flood Warning system.
A member advised that the Hampshire County Council Section 19 report from the April 2024 flooding incident is now in draft form and should hopefully be available before summer recess.
In answer to a Member’s question Coastal Partners advised that of the schemes put forward in the 2015 strategy the Forton, Alverstoke and Stokes bay schemes have been a higher priority than the Seafield scheme. It is a particularly challenging site with the properties backing onto the sensitive harbor environment and a public right of way, therefore a range of funding options will need to be identified.
Officers agreed to supply the number of homes affected by the scheme.
Subsequent to the meeting, Officers confirmed that there would be 80 homes at present day tidal flood risk.
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