MINUTES
COASTAL PATHFINDER PROGRAMME
REFERENCE GROUP
6 April 2011
2pm - Room 1, NNDC Offices
Present
Reference Group Members
Malcolm Kerby
Dan Corbett
Rob Wise
Sue Willis
Tony Nash
Marti Tipper
Peter Battrick
Brian Farrow
Ian Coupe
NNDC Officers
Rob Goodliffe
Item
1
Apologies
Action
None.
2
Agree minutes of the last meeting and matters arising.
Minutes of the last meeting were agreed. There were no matters arising.
3
Update on progress
Updates on all the projects were provided as per the table below, comments raised by
the Reference group are indicated in italics.
a)
Wolferton Private Contribution Project
Final draft report is back from RPA. It was thought good of NNDC to allow KL&WN to
piggy-back on NNDC’s Pathfinder in order for this report to be done.
This area of coast is a section where external contributions would be more
forthcoming than others possibly. Where it fits with the EA’s external contributions
plans and Norman Lamb’s project would need to be discussed further.
The write up to Defra needs to be well worded regarding external contributions as it
may not be the right way forward in all circumstances and could be unequitable.
•
•
•
b)
Cromer (Marrams) Footpath
•
99% complete. Contractors Mackinnon have worked really well. Burns family are very
happy with the project. They will be paying for the electric gate closure on their
property.
•
Legal work being tied up by Ian Coupe. The dedication of the new footpath is
straightforward; however the closure of the old one is more involved as notices have
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to be served and the Open Spaces Society is extremely thorough with its process.
•
c)
Trimingham Village Hall (the Pilgrim Shelter)
•
•
•
d)
The evaluation feedback to Defra will need to include the legal issues regarding
opening/shutting of footpaths, especially in view of Natural England’s proposed
national Coastal Access Path.
The funding of £60K has been signed for by the Parish Council and transferred.
Some of the Group were previously concerned with the money being given to the
Parish Council upfront and were pleased with the staged approach. It was explained
that the first payment £60K is for land purchase, drawings and planning application.
Further funding will not be released until after this. There will be a time limit of 8
years. If nothing has progressed at 4 years there will be a review with the option for
NNDC to cancel any further payments.
Ian Coupe (working on behalf of the Parish Council) will be meeting with the land
owner and Bruton Knowles on Thursday (7th April) to finalise the land purchase.
Easements need to be negotiated with BSAC divers who have a long lease with the
current land owner. Easement needed to access village hall. If not granted another
local landowner may allow an alternative access.
Business Advice & Support
•
Fully subscribed. 26 businesses completed. Most businesses have completed
Business Health Checks from Business Link. This has resulted in a worker being kept
on to continue working for businesses in the area.
•
Vouchers are now being taken up, and payments processed regularly.
•
NWES has been providing professional advice and 3 businesses have completed
Business Plans.
•
The Service Level Agreement has been extended for 6 months for the successful
completion of the project.
•
The Group discussed the suitability of the Case Studies for the project Toolkit as not
necessarily being the best option. Business advice/solution regarding adaptation
should be the main focus, not sea defences. Members provided many comments on
the toolkit to be passed to NWES.
•
The Loans Scheme was deferred from full council as there is a need to overcome the
financial and legal issues before a decision is made. There is a wish for this to
progress as a positive news item.
•
Business Loans Scheme needs Council support and the loans, grants, networking
and skills development will need to be pulled together in one report before going
forward.
•
The Group discussed the perception of some estate agents, surveyors and banks
regarding coastal erosion issues and the views that may be generated to the public
and the financial implications that can be created. Either a workshop within Pathfinder
or after the Programme was considered beneficial for the Council to strengthen
understanding of the issues and working between all organisations. The opportunity
to report this need should be made in the feedback and evaluation report to Defra.
•
It was also discussed that EA needs to clarify the situation regarding personal finance
used to create/maintain defence works and the impression being created (against the
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Coast Protection Act - 49 and SMPs) that defences can be put in place as long as
there is the money available.
e)
f)
g)
h)
East Norfolk Tourism Marketing Project
•
East North Norfolk Coast Marketing Action Plan and Tourism Development Plan has
been completed and actions have been incorporated into the activities of the
Business Support Project.
•
The Marketing Toolkit has been submitted and a photo library for use of businesses
is being compiled.
Manor Caravan Site
•
Norfolk County Council is working with the owners regarding site relocation.
•
The original agreement was up to 31 March 2011 so this needs to be extended.
•
The consideration of the new location needs to be dovetailed with the decision on the
EN12 house locations. The village school will need to be involved with the
consultations and this should be done by liaising with the Governing body and
headmaster.
Coastal Heritage Project
•
There has been good feedback on this project and the work done by Richard
Hoggett. He held an Open Day in Happisburgh in March and the community has
come on board with the project and will continue beyond the end of the project. The
approach has encouraged and improved an element of ‘Coastal Literacy’ i.e. those
involved have a better all round understanding of coastal issues.
•
‘The book of Happisburgh’ by Mary Trett & Richard Hoggett will be published in
November 2011.
Cliff-top Enhancement and Beach Debris Removal
•
New car park is awaiting planning permissions back.
•
Tenders being sent out soon for work on car park, access ramp to beach and
lavatory provision.
•
Designs are done, specification should be agreed by the end of this week, and
tenders sent the following week. The lavatories have come in at about £50K. The
block work entrance and car park surface are being designed to allow roll back over
time.
•
The Group discussed the possible relocation of the present RNLI sales outlet and the
Coastguard building. The Coastguard is having a national review at present which
will probably result in not needing a coastal cliff lookout facility. A lock-up may still be
required and this could be considered in tandem with the RNLI at Cart Gap.
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Alternatively, there is talk of Mundesley and Happisburgh Coastguards merging and
using a redundant garage. The RNLI moved their Happisburgh launching site for the
lifeboat to Cart Gap many years ago, where the facilities are much better for the.
They are unlikely to be able to finance a move of their sales outlet at Beach Road to
the soon to be created car park however.
i)
•
The risks of increased erosion at the current RNLI and Coastguard buildings due to
the beach debris removal were discussed. Although there may be an increase in
erosion rates initially due to the dynamic coast, this would be expected to settle to
normal rates.
•
The Debris Removal Project would expect to take 12 weeks from mid June to end of
September.
•
Implications to residents regarding disruption and noise whilst debris removal being
carried out during the summer. It was agreed to mitigate complaints by informing
beforehand with a leaflet drop and contact details for queries and concerns. Wish to
continue good rapport with village. Need to emphasise that although an
inconvenience the work is ultimately to improve the future of Happisburgh. Although
the summer months may not be seen as ideal due to visitors, it is a good time to
complete the beach works due to the improved weather.
•
The debris on the south side of the new ramp isn’t going to be removed and the ‘bay
beach’ at Happisburgh will not be closed to the public whilst work is ongoing, only the
beach from the promontory to the metal steps near to the Manor caravan site and the
new slope itself, that will be used by plant.
•
The contractors may be allowed to work bank holidays and weekends if needed.
These decisions will be made when needed.
Beach Road - Buy to Demolish and Buy to Lease-Back
Buy to Demolish
•
13 offers have been made. 10 accepted and 3 (2 owners) declined.
•
There is concern that the non conforming activities on the cliff top may migrate to
land alongside. NNDC is looking into acquiring land around the present site to
negate this.
•
The properties can’t be demolished until after the EN12’s have been used at the new
site. Work with landowners is ongoing, to secure a suitable relocation site.
Demolition likely to begin in the late summer and run through into September.
•
A NPS contract has been set up for asbestos surveys of all properties prior to
demolition. The CDM will cover the Health & Safety legislation required for
demolition. All relevant departments of NNDC will be meeting to discuss these
issues.
•
Clarenco (owners of St Mary’s) are looking to put in a permissive path along the
woodland from the main road junction to the start of their own newly permitted path
around their field on the seaward side of St Mary’s.
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Buy to Lease-Back
•
Report circulated earlier this year highlighting the financial projections, approaches
and legal risk to the Council if went ahead.
•
Outcome wished for needs to be attractive to the seller/renter and to the Council. To
facilitate the prevention of blight as well as to assist owners to move forward.
•
Although in the report the financial position is potentially cost neutral in some
circumstances, if the Government Treasury discount standards are used, no
approach is cost neutral (there was a wish that this would be the case).
•
Informal discussions have taken place with two possibly interested owners in Beach
Road. A report and synopsis to be written with Bruton Knowles. It is yet to been
seen if scheme will be attractive to the property owners.
• Other concepts can also be looked at and reported back to Defra. Such as:
o
Maintenance Grants (transferable to new owners if original moves out)
o
Marketing Assistance (to sell)
o
Supplementary Payments (for legal costs)
The group were keen that a version of CCAG’s ‘underwriting’ concept is considered and
reported to Defra. An idea was:
o
Deferred Purchase to Demolish Scheme
The Deferred Purchase to Demolish Scheme would be imaginative and inventive as
encouraged by Defra’s Pathfinder brief. Would need to be equitable with other houses
bought down Beach Road so not a more valuable option than the existing ‘Buy to
Demolish Project’. Conditions could be attached for owners to maintain the property. A
scheme would need to negate problems which could occur with properties that are semidetached, where one owner wishes to remain and one may wish to move on. This option
along with the others should be detailed for serious consideration and presented to the
Project Board.
4
•
Officers felt that the ‘Buy to Lease’ project is the most complicated project in the
Pathfinder Programme so far and is going to be the greatest hurdle for future Central
Government policy.
•
The Reference Group asked to be kept informed of any further considerations on this
Project.
Financial Update
The financial spend is on target with a contingency of £130K. £50K is to be moved to
the Happisburgh beach debris project. The Board is considering allocating the
contingency fund. The Cliff top enhancement project may go up due to the removal
costs of British Telecom phone wire removal. The state of play at present is:
Happisburgh Demolitions
Happisburgh Lease Back
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On target
£170k at present
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Happisburgh Heritage Project
Spent & completed
Happisburgh Manor Caravan
Site
Business Advice
Beginning to be spent.
Business Loans/grants
Tourism Marketing Project
All allocated and committed.
All allocated and committed.
£30K remaining
Main project completed – need to secure
payments for next 3 years
Cromer Marrams Footpath
Completed, slight overspend, may do some
landscaping.
Trimingham Village Hall
Money allocated
Project Management Costs
On target.
£200K has been moved from Capital to Revenue by swapping some money within the
Council. This enables Pathfinder to have flexibility as Revenue can be spent on
Revenue OR Capital, whereas Capital can ONLY be spent on Capital
5
Open discussion
Discussions were completed alongside the project updates.
6
Project evaluations and wrap up
The Pathfinder programme has not finished by 31st March 2011; the physical site
work is expected to be ongoing to the end of September 2011. The Group reiterated
that the Programme had been a daunting prospect and that it is vital that the team is
maintained and not distracted until the end of the project.
The Reference Group would like to be in place to the end of the Programme and to
assist with the evaluation to Defra.
7
8
Any other business
The Group asked if Philip Burton had sent the letter to Defra regarding lack of
representation at the Norfolk Pathfinder Conference. The Group would like a copy of
it.
It was asked if David Siely of Oversands, could be given the £6,000 demolition
payment retrospectively, as he had previously followed the requests of NNDC in
removing his property when it had become vulnerable. It was confirmed that NNDC
had received a letter and that Peter Frew had responded saying that further
consideration would be given. It was emphasised that Pathfinder is not retrospective
and Saltlands didn’t exist when Pathfinder came along. A full reply will be sent in due
course.
Next Meeting
th
The date of the next meeting will be at 2pm on Wednesday 8 June 2011.
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Coast
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