Agenda item

To enable the Cabinet to consider the recommendations made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee following that Committee’s scrutiny of the Council’s Seafronts Services.

Decision:

RESOLVED that the recommendations made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee be noted and that the response of the Leisure & Tourism Portfolio Holder thereto be endorsed.

Minutes:

Cabinet was aware that, at its meeting held on 20 September 2021 (Minute 23 referred), the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee (“the Committee”) had scrutinised the Council’s Seafronts Services and, in particular, coastal defence and cliff stabilisation projects.

 

After a detailed discussion the Committee had RECOMMENDED to Cabinet that:

 

a)      “where observation reveals cliff slippages, all communication with Beach Hut Licensees in respect of Cliff Stabilisation and safety, is consistently shared with the relevant District Ward Councillors; and

 

b)      the undertaking of a survey of cliff vulnerability across the 26 kilometres of coast line for which this Council is responsible and beach levels in the 23 bays created in 2013/14 in the Clacton-on-Sea and Holland-on-Sea areas be undertaken as an imperative piece of work in the next few months and thereby address the concerns raised by the Committee on 22 June 2020 (Minute 62 refers) and on 21 September 2020 (Minute 85 refers).”

 

The Cabinet had before it the response of the Leisure & Tourism Portfolio Holder thereto as follows:-

 

“I would like to thank the Committee for their comments. To reply specifically to the points made:

 

1.      I entirely agree with the idea of keeping ward councillors fully involved. I know that the officers involved in the beach huts service specifically already seek to keep ward councillors involved in decisions. I have asked that they redouble their efforts in this regard and hope that there are even fewer exceptions to this good practice in the future.

 

2.      Past studies on the Holland-on-Sea cliffs have been carried out at some expense by a large engineering company. It’s unrealistic to expect to be able to completely predict the location and extent of future cliff failures. That’s because the cliffs tend to have naturally formed with a limited factor of safety and failures caused by changing factors outside of the Council’s, or anyone’s, control. I don’t think that it is viable to commission further surveys of this kind. However, the Coastal Manager is working with a local engineer with regard to the conduct of a series of visual inspections and some analysis that will give us greater insight into the stability of the main cliffs in the District, at a cost that can be accommodated. I have asked that the findings are reported back to me when completed.

 

3.      The District Council has funded and begun a significant cliff stabilisation project at Holland-on-Sea this year. The work will be completed during the winter, in time for next year’s season. This project has significantly affected the Council’s reserves. It is my view that the Council cannot itself afford to address future cliff issues in isolation. I have requested further investigations and advice on the Council’s liability for cliff work and the extent to which external funding can be called upon to assist.”

 

Having considered the recommendations of the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee, together with the response of the Leisure & Tourism Portfolio Holder thereto:-

 

It was moved by Councillor Porter, seconded by Councillor McWilliams and:-

 

RESOLVED that the recommendations made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee be noted and that the response of the Leisure & Tourism Portfolio Holder thereto be endorsed.

Supporting documents: