Background
1. The River Crouch Coastal Community Team (RCCCT) was set up in June 2015 as a result of as successful funding bid by Maldon District Council (MDC) in partnership with Rochford District Council (RDC) to Government’s Coastal Community Team Fund. With MDC as the body accountable to Government for the use of the monies, the RCCCT delivered a number of projects pursuant to that funding bid to improve the local economy of the River Crouch area and was supported by MDC providing a secretariat function.
2. In June 2019 MDC resigned its role as accountable body and secretariat and on 16th July 2019, RDC agreed to take on both roles in order that the RCCCT could continue. The residue of the funding monies is held by RDC for the purposes of the RCCCT.
3. On 11th September 2019, a meeting of the management group agreed that the Terms of Reference previously agreed by RCCCT (September 2015) should be refreshed.
4. On 11th March 2024, a meeting of the Steering Group agreed that the RCCCT be renamed to ‘Crouch Valley Coastal Community’ (CVCC).
Aims and objectives
5. The focus of the CVCC centres around three key aims for rural and coastal communities along the River Crouch:
- Improvement of business diversity and economic growth, including infrastructure, employment and skills;
- Creation of sustainable communities and place shaping, including heritage and green tourism; and
- Protection and conservation of the coastal and river environment – including addressing the effects of coastal climate change.
6. The objectives of the CVCC are as follows:
- To be a consultative stakeholder body for local and national issues relating to the CVCC's key aims;
- To identify and apply for funding sources intended to achieve tangible, evidence-based outcomes which support those aims; and
- To facilitate projects which will deliver those outcomes.
Composition of CVCC
7. The CVCC will comprise representatives of the public sector, private sector and community and voluntary sectors ensuring that membership represents a broad range of interest across the geographical area.
8. The CVCC shall have an open membership and any interested party may attend with the consent of the Chairperson, including but not limited to those listed in Appendix 1.
9. The CVCC will be led by a Steering Group, the membership of which is agreed by the CVCC and reviewed annually. The Steering Group is accountable to and reports back to the wider CVCC. The Steering Group will lead the CVCC's activities to achieve the aims and objectives of the CVCC.
10. The Local Authority which holds the Accountable Body should reserve the right to have an elected councillor from their Authority as Chair.
11. Projects identified by the Steering Group will be undertaken by specially convened Task and Finish Groups, which will report to the Steering Group and operate under terms of reference agreed by the Steering Group.
12. The Steering Group shall have a fixed membership, as set out below.
Membership of the Steering Group
13. The Steering Group shall comprise of one (1) representative of each of the organisations listed in the table below (unless otherwise indicated). Such representatives may send a substitute if they are unable to attend. Substitutes shall have the same voting rights as the individuals for whom they are substituting:
Chairperson - Elected councillor from RDC (named individual to be appointed by the CVCC) - Has voting rights (plus casting vote)
Vice Chairperson - The business or maritime community or independent (named individual to be appointed by the CVCC) - Has voting rights (plus casting vote when acting as chair)
Accountable body - Elected councillor RDC - Has voting rights
Accountable body - Economic Development Officer RDC - Does not have voting rights
Public sector - Elected councillor from MDC - Has voting rights
Public sector - Economic development officer MDC - Does not have voting rights
Public sector - Economic development officer Chelmsford City Council - Does not have voting rights
Public sector - Essex Coast RAMS Delivery Officer, Chelmsford City Council - Does not have voting rights
Public sector - Elected councillor Hullbridge Parish Council - Has voting rights
Public sector - Elected councillor Canewdon Parish Council - Has voting rights
Public sector - Elected councillor Ashingdon Parish Council - Has voting rights
Public sector - Elected councillor Rettendon Parish Council (to represent Battlesbridge) - has voting rights
Public sector - Elected councillor Burnham Town Council - Has voting rights
Public sector - Elected councillor South Woodham Ferrers Town Council - Has voting rights
Maritime Sector - Crouch Harbour Authority - Has voting rights
Maritime Sector - Representative from the boating community/Crouch Area Yachting Federation - Has voting rights
The Business Community -One representative from each of the following - Has one vote per organisation
- RSPB
- 3 Chambers Hockley Rayleigh Rochford
- Burnham on Crouch Business Board
- Baltic Distribution Ltd
- a Battlesbridge business
- Essex Coast Organisation
Independent - Mr Keith Powell - Does not have voting rights
14. The Chairperson may invite other representatives from the wider RCCCT where the agenda items are relevant to those representatives. Such representatives shall not be entitled to vote.
15. Members of the wider CVCC may attend as observers with the permission of the Chairperson.
Meeting frequency
16. The CVCC shall meet annually unless the Chairperson calls a special meeting (on no less than fourteen (14) days prior written notice).
17. The Steering Group shall meet quarterly unless the Chairperson calls a special meeting (on no less than fourteen (14) days prior written notice).
18. Meetings will be diarised on a rolling annual basis.
19. The CVCC shall aim to meet with its counterpart for the river Blackwater at least annually.
Decision making
20. Decisions of the CVCC and the Steering Group will be made by a majority of those present by a show of hands. The Chairperson (or the Vice Chairperson in their absence) has a casting vote.
21. Meetings of the CVCC will be quorate if one-third of voting members (17) is present i.e. 6 voting members
22. Meetings of the Steering Group will be quorate if one-third of members is present.
Conflicts of interest
23. CVCC and Steering Group members have a duty to be aware for the potential for there to be a conflict of interest (actual or perceived) in the work which they undertake in their private or professional lives and the work undertaken by the CVCC and the Steering Group.
24. Any member who is involved in or has an interest in any project, issue or matter discussed at any meeting shall disclose their interest (wherever possible at the commencement of the meeting) and will not participate in any discussion or action relating to the project, issue or matter.
25. All members and in particular elected councillors should have regard to any disclosure requirements of their respective organisations.
Secretariat
26. The administrative arrangements for CVCC will be undertaken by RDC. Agendas and papers for meetings will be circulated seven (7) days before each meeting (where practicable). Minutes will be taken and decisions recorded.
27. Any member wishing to table items for an agenda must notify the secretariat () no later than seven (7) days before each meeting unless the Chairperson in their absolute discretion agrees otherwise.
Variations to Terms of Reference
28. These Terms of Reference may be reviewed and amended by the CVCC annually.
Appendix 1
- 3 Chambers Hockley Rayleigh Rochford
- Ashingdon Parish Council
- Baltic Wharf
- Bradwell Legacy Partnership
- Burnham on Crouch Town Council
- Canewdon Parish Council
- Chelmsford City Council
- Crouch Area Yachting Federation
- Crouch Harbour Authority
- Environment Agency
- Essex County Council
- Essex Marina
- Hullbridge Parish Council
- MDC
- Natural England
- North Fambridge Parish Council
- Paglesham Parish Council
- RDC
- RSPB
- Rawreth Parish Council
- Rettendon Parish Council
- Rochford and Rayleigh Association of Voluntary Services
- Rural Community Council for Essex
- South Woodham Ferrers Town Council