Issue - meetings

Future Coastal Management Arrangements

Executive Summary

In 2016 NNDC entered into a Partnership agreement (under Section 113 of the Local Government Act 1972) with Suffolk Coastal District Council, Waveney District Council (now East Suffolk Council) and Great Yarmouth Borough Council to share resources and prioritise activities relating to coastal matters. This created “Coastal Partnership East”.

In the intervening years each Council has faced significant demands relating to coastal change, climate change and competing pressures of project delivery and bidding for funding. As a result, it is a prudent time for each partner Council to consider its future coastal management resourcing requirements and approach to ensure local priorities are met.

This paper discusses these pressures and provides proposals for the dissolution of the partnership and North Norfolk District Council’s future approach.

Options considered

1)    Request a continuation of the current partnership arrangement (N.B. This is not an option with which NNDC has any direct control)

2)    Agree to disband the partnership and put in place service level agreements between each Council, hosted by East Suffolk Council, to deliver engineering and consultancy services to partners (and other Councils as requested) – N.B. This was not an option as East Suffolk Council did not feel that this could be adequately resourced

3)    Agree to disband the partnership, appoint a Coastal Management Team at NNDC, and retain/explore alternative service level agreements with other Local Authorities as appropriate.

Consultation(s)

PH for Coast

Coastal Partnership East Partner Local Authorities

Recommendations

That Cabinet:

1. Note the contents of this paper
2. Approve the dissolution of the Coastal Partnership known as Coastal Partnership East with effect from 20^th January 2025 (taking into account the appropriate notice period to end the Section 113 agreement).
3. Continue to support partnership working and retain/explore service level agreements with other Local Authorities as appropriate.

Reasons for recommendations

To ensure that the Council has effective coastal management arrangements in place.

Background papers

N/A

Wards affected

Districtwide

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Harry Blathwayt

Contact Officer

Martyn Fulcher, Director for Place & Climate Change, martyn.fulcher@north-norfolk.gov.uk