Scarborough town council to discuss 10-year harbour plan

Scarborough town councillors are set to discuss a 10-year harbour strategy and a public consultation on the draft blueprint.

​A 10-year plan to revitalise North Yorkshire’s harbours and ‘fulfil their potential’ will be discussed by members of Scarborough Town Council’s (STC) Harbours Committee at a meeting on Wednesday, February 4.

​​Scarborough Harbour, Whitby Harbour, and Filey Coble Landing are the focus of North Yorkshire Council’s harbours strategy and a public consultation on the scheme is being held until March 22.

​The strategy sets out how the harbours will develop from now until 2036 and will be an “ongoing and active document which will need to respond to economic, social and environmental changes as well as new policies”.

​Town councillors are also set to discuss the consultation, which asks for views on alternative strategic objectives, specific strategy suggestions, and opinions on the vision and mission of the strategy.

​The almost 30-page policy highlights that while the harbours are a valuable resource, they face a variety of issues.

​​Challenges faced by the harbours include ageing infrastructure, a decline of the fishing industry, climate change, and funding gaps, while opportunities include the offshore wind supply chain, tourism, maritime training, and improved harbour facilities.

​​“The strategy recognises that whilst there are a number of ambitious redevelopment proposals, these will be subject to securing external grant aid or additional council funding and will be subject to the usual financial governance process at the appropriate time,” it states.

​The harbour committee, which will meet at Scarborough Town Hall at 3pm, will also review the responses from NYC to its questions about the authority’s role as the statutory harbour authority for Scarborough Harbour.

​However, not all of the town council’s questions have been answered.

​STC asked “what formal guidance, briefing notes, training, or induction have [North Yorkshire] councillors been provided with, or undertaken, to support them in understanding and discharging their collective responsibilities as the Statutory Harbour Authority”.

​In its response, NYC said it was “exempt” from providing the requested information.

​The head of harbours at NYC replied: “The requested information comprises confidential legal briefings provided to the Scarborough Statutory Harbour Authority which are protected by legal privilege.

“These briefings were prepared by qualified legal advisors to support decision-making and risk management in relation to statutory duties, governance, and potential litigation.”

​Members of the public are invited to attend and ask questions at the committee meeting at Scarborough Town Hall.