Decision Maker: Cabinet, Council

Outcome: Recommmend Forward to Council

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: October 2, 2024

Purpose: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) and New Forest District Council (NFDC) are working together with the Environment Agency to produce a new strategy to protect coastal communities from tidal flooding and erosion risk. It will guide how the frontage from Hengistbury Head to Hurst Spit, encompassing Christchurch Harbour, will be sustainably managed for the next 100 years.

Content: RESOLVED that: - (a)    Cabinet approve and adopt the Christchurch Bay & Harbour Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy for the BCP Council area; (b)   In approving and adopting the strategy, that BCP Council commits to developing a funding strategy; and (c)    Cabinet notes that there is no statutory duty upon BCP Council as the Coast Protection Authority to undertake coast protection works, nor does the adoption of the strategy bind BCP Council to commit to the provision of any funding for the delivery of the identified options. Voting: Unanimous Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy Reason Approval and adoption of this FCERM strategy by BCP Council, New Forest District Council and the Environment Agency, ensures that technically feasible, environmentally acceptable and economically viable options are developed to reduce the risks from coastal flooding and erosion to people, their properties and the environment over the next 100 years for the coastline from Hengistbury Head to Hurst Spit. Without such an approach, it is likely that current management approaches would continue in the short term and future coastal defence works would be managed on an ad-hoc or reactive basis which would lead to poor cost efficiency and a general increase in the coastal flood and erosion risk over time. This contributes to the following BCP Council corporate ambition: ·       Climate change is tackled through sustainable policies and practice.