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Annual Report November 2023 – November 2024

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Last updated

1) This is the fifth 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) At a Steering Group meeting held on Monday, 11 March 2024, it was agreed to change the name of the Outside Body from the River Crouch Coastal Community Team to the Crouch Valley Coastal Community.

3) The Steering Group has met on 3 occasions since November 2023. 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

4) The work of the CVCC 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 2023:

  • Chairperson – Cllr Michael Hoy, Elected Councillor from RDC
  • Vice Chairperson (Business, Maritime Community or Independent) – Doug MacEwen, Representative of the Boating Community

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 Jo McPherson.
  • Accountable Body – Tourism Officer RDC – Gemma Hayns
  • Accountable Body – CVCC Secretariat RDC – Marcus Hotten, Director of Environment
  • Public Sector - Elected Councillor from MDC - Cllr Doug O Bown
  • Public Sector - Tourism & Marketing Officer from MDC - Aimee Finer
  • 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 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 - Essex Coast Organisation – Andrew St Joseph

King Charles III Coast Path

5) The Steering Group has continued to support the King Charles III Coastal Path project. On 6 March 2024, the Secretary of State announced their decision to approve a stretch of the coast path in Essex between Wallasea Island and Burnham-on-Crouch. The full details of this approval, including maps, processes and timings, can be viewed via this link: King Charles III England Coast Path: Wallasea Island to Burnham-on-Crouch - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

It now remains for Essex County Council to agree to establish the trail as approved. The CVCC are informed that a bid for funding is being submitted to Natural England imminently. The CVCC are actively monitoring progress and liaising regularly with Essex County Council and Natural England.

Natural England remain 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 CVCC will continue to liaise with them.

Wallasea Island Nature Reserve

6) The RSPB has secured funding via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which was administered by Rochford District Council, for new bird hides at the Wallasea Island Nature Reserve. The Chair, Cllr Michael Hoy, is pleased to announce that planning approval has also now been granted.

Other projects

7) The work of the Steering Group’s Working Groups this year is summarised below:

Rights of Way Group (formerly Footpaths)

8) Keith Powell took over leadership of the Rights of Way Group in February 2024. The Group has met on four occasions since the last AGM focussing on:

  • Proposals for a new linking footpath to join up the Wickford Park Gates to Battlesbridge.
  • Coast to Coast Path – preparatory work prior to a full feasibility study.
  • King Charles III Coast Path

RCCCT Vision Refresh

9) This group has met twice since the last AGM. Once to redraft a summary annual report in an easier to read colour format, which was subsequently approved then issued to the Steering Committee in January. The second time was to recommend changes to the existing brand, before merging with the Rights of Way (Footpaths) Group to gain synergies common to both groups on two more occasions. The aim is to raise the profile of the CVCCT and to build awareness within the business and visitor sector by:

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) This group was disbanded at the 2023 AGM due to no further business.

Pollution Group

12) This group was formed at the 2023 AGM, with Cllr David Flack as Lead:

  • Water sampling was carried out at South Woodham Ferrers Yacht Club on Thursday 8 August 2024, with satisfactory results. Creeksea Sailing Club were also reporting similar readings.
  • A site meeting took place on 20 June 2024 with representative from Essex Highways, Anglian Water and the Environment Agency to discuss various issues occurring on Footpath 9 (Hullbridge to Brandy Hole) including encroachments on the sea wall and pollution. Specifically, the Rayleigh Road pumping station was discussed, following a recent sewage spillage concern.
  • An improved water monitoring kit for tidal areas was being explored so that this would enable more accuracy with sampling at Hullbridge. The concern being that if untreated sewage was discharged into the river after rainfall and at low tide, the pollution load would be much greater and it is at this time that samples should be taken in order to determine the risk. The Lead Steering Group Member was currently re-establishing contact with Essex University in order to take suitable samples for testing. A meeting of the group would be convened once testing results available.

Finances

13) Monies held by Rochford District Council on behalf of the River Crouch Coastal Community Team as at 1 November 2024 stand at £1,418. There has been one drawdown of £80 for leaflet production costs during this reporting period.

Opportunities for the year ahead

14) The Crouch Valley Coastal Community 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.

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