1) This is the fourth Annual General Meeting of the River Crouch Coastal Community Team (RCCCT) since Rochford District Council took over the secretariat and the Accountable Body role in July 2019.
2) The Steering Group has met on 2 occasions since November 2022 and which has reintroduced convening face-to-face following the Covid-19 pandemic. Copies of the minutes of those meetings are set out in Appendix 1 to this report.
Key Achievements of the River Crouch Coastal Community Team this Year
Governance Arrangements
3) The work of the RCCCT is led by a Steering Group. In accordance with the group’s Terms of Reference (as set out in Appendix 2), annual elections take place at the AGM and therefore the following appointments were agreed by voting in November 2021:
- Chairperson – Cllr Mrs. June Lumley, Elected Councillor from RDC
- Vice Chairperson (Business, Maritime Community or Independent) – Doug MacEwen, Representative of the Boating Community
Following the May 2023 local elections at Rochford District Council this left a vacancy on the Chair position. The 2023 RCCCT AGM meeting will formally deal with this appointment.
For reference purposes, other members of the Steering Group are noted below, with some changes of personnel:
- Accountable Body - Elected Councillors RDC - Cllr Michael Hoy & Cllr Mrs Jo McPherson
- Accountable Body - Economic Development Officer RDC - Paula Chapman
- Public Sector - Elected Councillor from MDC - Cllr Doug O Bown
- Public Sector - Specialist (Tourism) - Communications, Marketing & Engagement from MDC - Alexis Corless
- Public Sector - Economic Development Officer - Chelmsford City Council - Helen Quinnell
- Public Sector - Elected Cllr - Hullbridge Parish Council - Cllr David Flack
- Public Sector - Elected Cllr - Canewdon Parish Council - Cllr Mike Halford
- Public Sector - Elected Cllr - Ashingdon Parish Council - Cllr Glen Dryhurst
- Public Sector - Elected Cllr - Rettendon Parish Council - Cllr Joe Parsad
- Public Sector - Elected Cllr - Burnham-on-Crouch Town Council - Cllr Stephen Stratton
- Public Sector - Elected Cllr - South Woodham Ferrers Town Council - Cllr Alan Shearring
- Public Sector – Essex Coast RAMS Delivery Officer - Chelmsford City Council (Bird Aware) - Leanne Brisland
- Maritime Sector - Crouch Harbour Authority - Ken Wickham
- Maritime Sector - Representative from the Boating Community– No nomination received
- Independent - RCCCT Vice Chairperson 2019 & 2020 - Keith Powell
- Independent - Representative of Essex Coastal Land Owners – Andrew St Joseph
- The Business Community - RSPB - Rachel Fancy
- The Business Community - 3 Chambers (Hockley, Rayleigh, Rochford) - Dave Record
- The Business Community - Baltic Distribution Limited - Robert Brown - General Manager
- The Business Community - Battlesbridge Business - Roy Hart
- The Business Community - vacancy
4) The Steering Group has continued to support the Path to Prosperity project, which had received its funding from Essex County Council.
The only outstanding works to be completed as part of this joint initiative was for Chelmsford City Council to install the remainder new information board on the river front at South Woodham Ferrers where some issues with flooding on the path at that particular location had prevented access.
The Essex Coast RAMS Delivery Officer - Chelmsford City Council (Bird Aware) is now responsible for collecting data from the Path to Prosperity footfall counters, as located along both the River Crouch, South Woodham Ferrers and Hullbridge.
The Go Jauntly digital app remains in active use and the electronic walking maps available are also accessible via QR code on information boards and downloadable.
Whilst the Path to Prosperity project has technically ended, a recent underspend had been identified and provided further opportunity to be explored. Maldon District Council’s Tourism Group had submitted a successful bid to host a walking festival right across the District. This festival was now going to take place on an annual basis.
Coastal Path project
5) The Steering Group has previously contributed to the Coastal Path project. Darren Braine, Senior Adviser and lead for the England Coast Path stretch around the Crouch Estuary from Natural England, which includes Burnham to Wallasea, provided this update to the Steering Group in October 2023:
I can report that the Planning Inspectorate undertook their site visits to the areas where objections were raised by the land owners/occupiers to the England Coast Path in December 2021. Since that date, both the objecting parties and Natural England have been waiting to hear the outcome of the Planning Inspectors reports which they make to Defra. Both Natural England and the Objectors find out the conclusion when the Secretary of State publishes their thoughts on the matter on the Defra website:
King Charles III England Coast Path: Wallasea Island to Burnham-on-Crouch - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
As you may see, one section of the newly named King Charles III England Coast Path was approved in April 2021. This section received no objection, so there was no need for the Secretary of State to await the conclusion of any Planning Inspectorate visit, which allowed them to give their approval at an earlier date. This approval does not mean that the stretch is open and available for public use, but that Essex County Council can proceed to establish the trail (signage, new access lengths, clearing scrub, new gates instead of stiles etc). To date, Essex County Council have not been in a position to make an application to Natural England to fund these works, so there has been no progress on establishing this section.
Only once a section is established can parliament sign the commencement order that legally starts the right of access and the trail becomes open for that section.
Therefore over the whole stretch between Wallasea Island and Burnham on Crouch, we have little progress towards opening of the route and none of this absence of progress is within the control of Natural England. If its any consolation, the stretch around Wallasea Island itself is open and this continues as an open section towards Southend and then on to Tilbury, where it crosses the Thames and continues open on the Kent side. Also the stretch from Burnham on Crouch, around the Dengie to Maldon and on to Salcott is also open. This means about half of the King Charles III England Coast Path is open for what is planned across the ceremonial county of Essex.
6) Natural England are willing to answer queries, or where there are specific agenda items relating to the England Coast Path or any of their other work areas (such as the Site of Special Scientific Interest – SSSI), so the RCCCT will continue to liaise with them. Other projects
7) The work of the Steering Group’s Working Groups this year is summarised below:
Footpaths
8) The RCCCT Steering Group agreed at its meeting in October 2023 that this task and finish group be reformed. The Footpaths Working Group will gather information and work on feasibility, led by Cllr Glen Dryhurst.
An identified task is to investigate forming a new footpath in the Battlesbridge location.
RCCCT Vision Refresh
9) This group was originally formulated in June 2022 to take forward the recommendations of the ‘Moving Forward’ Workshop. The RCCCT Steering Group agreed at its meeting in October 2023 that membership of the project group would be revised and to be led by Doug MacEwen.
Part of its remit will be to identify projects, up to value of £2k, where a bid to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund might be successful.
Water Safety at Hullbridge
10) Whilst this group had not convened since November 2022, water safety on the River Crouch continued to be promoted.
Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)
11) The group held its inaugural meeting in October 2022 and the possibility of an initial 3-year PSPO on the River Crouch to address misuse of water craft ‘rouge users’ on the River Crouch with powers to issue fixed penalty notices to deter anti social behaviour, was being explored.
The RCCCT Steering Group noted at its meeting in October 2023 that the local Chief Inspector of Essex Police was not supporting this Order because the problems were mainly seasonal and there had not been any issues recently.
Finances
12) Monies held by Rochford District Council on behalf of the River Crouch Coastal Community Team as at 1 November 2023 stand at £1,498. There have been no drawdowns during this reporting period.
Opportunities for the year ahead
13) The River Crouch Coastal Community Team will continue to progress the projects referenced within this report. In particular, the Steering Group will look to strengthen its advocacy role in the protection and promotion of the River Crouch and its environs
4) The Steering Group has continued to support the Path to Prosperity project, which had received its funding from Essex County Council.
The only outstanding works to be completed as part of this joint initiative was for Chelmsford City Council to install the remainder new information board on the river front at South Woodham Ferrers where some issues with flooding on the path at that particular location had prevented access.
The Essex Coast RAMS Delivery Officer - Chelmsford City Council (Bird Aware) is now responsible for collecting data from the Path to Prosperity footfall counters, as located along both the River Crouch, South Woodham Ferrers and Hullbridge.
The Go Jauntly digital app remains in active use and the electronic walking maps available are also accessible via QR code on information boards and downloadable.
Whilst the Path to Prosperity project has technically ended, a recent underspend had been identified and provided further opportunity to be explored. Maldon District Council’s Tourism Group had submitted a successful bid to host a walking festival right across the District. This festival was now going to take place on an annual basis.
Coastal Path project
5) The Steering Group has previously contributed to the Coastal Path project. Darren Braine, Senior Adviser and lead for the England Coast Path stretch around the Crouch Estuary from Natural England, which includes Burnham to Wallasea, provided this update to the Steering Group in October 2023:
I can report that the Planning Inspectorate undertook their site visits to the areas where objections were raised by the land owners/occupiers to the England Coast Path in December 2021. Since that date, both the objecting parties and Natural England have been waiting to hear the outcome of the Planning Inspectors reports which they make to Defra. Both Natural England and the Objectors find out the conclusion when the Secretary of State publishes their thoughts on the matter on the Defra website:
King Charles III England Coast Path: Wallasea Island to Burnham-on-Crouch - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
As you may see, one section of the newly named King Charles III England Coast Path was approved in April 2021. This section received no objection, so there was no need for the Secretary of State to await the conclusion of any Planning Inspectorate visit, which allowed them to give their approval at an earlier date. This approval does not mean that the stretch is open and available for public use, but that Essex County Council can proceed to establish the trail (signage, new access lengths, clearing scrub, new gates instead of stiles etc). To date, Essex County Council have not been in a position to make an application to Natural England to fund these works, so there has been no progress on establishing this section.
Only once a section is established can parliament sign the commencement order that legally starts the right of access and the trail becomes open for that section.
Therefore over the whole stretch between Wallasea Island and Burnham on Crouch, we have little progress towards opening of the route and none of this absence of progress is within the control of Natural England. If its any consolation, the stretch around Wallasea Island itself is open and this continues as an open section towards Southend and then on to Tilbury, where it crosses the Thames and continues open on the Kent side. Also the stretch from Burnham on Crouch, around the Dengie to Maldon and on to Salcott is also open. This means about half of the King Charles III England Coast Path is open for what is planned across the ceremonial county of Essex.
6) Natural England are willing to answer queries, or where there are specific agenda items relating to the England Coast Path or any of their other work areas (such as the Site of Special Scientific Interest – SSSI), so the RCCCT will continue to liaise with them. Other projects
7) The work of the Steering Group’s Working Groups this year is summarised below:
Footpaths
8) The RCCCT Steering Group agreed at its meeting in October 2023 that this task and finish group be reformed. The Footpaths Working Group will gather information and work on feasibility, led by Cllr Glen Dryhurst.
An identified task is to investigate forming a new footpath in the Battlesbridge location.
RCCCT Vision Refresh
9) This group was originally formulated in June 2022 to take forward the recommendations of the ‘Moving Forward’ Workshop. The RCCCT Steering Group agreed at its meeting in October 2023 that membership of the project group would be revised and to be led by Doug MacEwen.
Part of its remit will be to identify projects, up to value of £2k, where a bid to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund might be successful.
Water Safety at Hullbridge
10) Whilst this group had not convened since November 2022, water safety on the River Crouch continued to be promoted.
Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)
11) The group held its inaugural meeting in October 2022 and the possibility of an initial 3-year PSPO on the River Crouch to address misuse of water craft ‘rouge users’ on the River Crouch with powers to issue fixed penalty notices to deter anti social behaviour, was being explored.
The RCCCT Steering Group noted at its meeting in October 2023 that the local Chief Inspector of Essex Police was not supporting this Order because the problems were mainly seasonal and there had not been any issues recently.
Finances
12) Monies held by Rochford District Council on behalf of the River Crouch Coastal Community Team as at 1 November 2023 stand at £1,498. There have been no drawdowns during this reporting period.
Opportunities for the year ahead
13) The River Crouch Coastal Community Team will continue to progress the projects referenced within this report. In particular, the Steering Group will look to strengthen its advocacy role in the protection and promotion of the River Crouch and its environs