Report to Cabinet Wards: Riverside 19 December 2016 Kingston upon Hull City Council – River Hull + Scheme European Regional Development Funding Report of the City Planning Manager and City Major Projects and Infrastructure Manager This report item is not exempt. This is a Key Decision The matter is in the Forward Plan – Forward Plan reference 0068/16 1. Purpose of the Report and Summary 1.1 To provide an update on the River Hull + scheme – this is identified in the City Plan as the River Hull Inlet project. 1.2 For a decision to be made on accepting the £3.5million European Regional Development Funding for delivering the River Hull + project and entering into a Service Level Agreement with the Environment Agency as Delivery Partner on the scheme in order for implementation to commence. 1.3 The River Hull + project includes moving the Arctic Corsair from its existing berth to a dry dock at Dock Office Row/High Street, North End Shipyard. The movement of the ship is required to improve conveyancing issues on the river as the long term berthing of the ship has caused an accumulation of silt around the vessel, and to enable the construction of new flood defences. 1.4 Recent survey work and technical analysis has been undertaken on the Arctic Corsair. This shows that there is a requirement to urgently restore and dry dock her in order to ensure her long term survival. The Council is therefore currently seeking funding which, if successful, will include major refurbishment works to the Arctic Corsair before being moved to a permanent berth at the North End Shipyard. 1.5 To seek the allocation of funding for project management resource to deliver the scheme aligned with the priorities within other city centre flood defence and heritage projects. It is the intention that these resources will also manage the Heritage Action Zone project, if the bid to Historic England is successful. 1.6 To identify the financial costs associated with undertaking works to the Author: Status: Date: 09/12/2016 Page 1 of 12 Arctic Corsair which cannot be funded by ERDF or Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA) money. A proportion of these funds would need to be underwritten from the Destination Hull capital programme if other funding bids are unsuccessful. 2. Recommendations 2.1 That the Council accept £3.5million European Regional Development Fund monies to deliver the River Hull + project. 2.2 That the City Major Projects & Infrastructure Manager in consultation with the Town Clerk and City Planning Manager be authorised to negotiate and complete a Service Level Agreement with the Environment Agency to deliver the River Hull + project. 2.3 That subject to satisfactory completion of the Service Level Agreement, the City MP&IM be authorised to incur grant-eligible expenditure according to the terms of the completed PA5 and PA6 ERDF funding agreements to enable delivery of the project. 2.4 That £65k for two years from March 2017 is committed from the Destination Hull capital programme to fund the appointment of a project manager to be based with the Major Projects and Infrastructure team to manage both the River Hull+ and Heritage Action Zone projects. 2.5 That £1m funding for preservation and essential repair of the Artic corsair alongside works to rebirth her in the dry dock from the Destination Hull capital programme be provisionally allocated as match funding to a national funding bid for the restoration of the Arctic Corsair in the event that funding bids are unsuccessful. 2.6 That the City Major Projects & Infrastructure Manager in consultation with the Town Clerk and City Property and Assets Manager and the portfolio holders for Neighbourhoods and Communities Including ICT and Emergency Planning and Portfolio Holder for Energy City be authorised to negotiate and agree detailed terms and conditions of the land deal and subsequently enter into such legal agreements as are necessary to acquire the current Whitakers Docks as the preferred site for the relocation of the Arctic Corsair and its subsequent management as a visitor attraction. 3. Reasons for Recommendations 3.1 £3.5 million European Regional Development Funding has been approved for the project which will contribute towards reducing the risk of flooding to 63,627 properties and help start regeneration in the River Hull corridor. The relevant framework of delegations and resources are needed to be put in place to deliver this programme. 3.2 The scheme requires the relocation of the Arctic Corsair. Following detailed investigations and survey work the best option for this relocation Author: Status: Date: 09/12/2016 Page 2 of 12 is the current Whitakers Docks. Relevant decisions need to be in place to progress the lease of this site. The whole scheme is currently predicated on a successful external funding bid, if this bid is unsuccessful the relevant delegations and decisions are required in order that we can ensure the ERDF and flood mitigation works can be completed. 4. Impact on other Executive Committees (including Area Committees) 4.1 The River Hull + scheme is included in the City Plan and the concept of the scheme has been discussed over the last two years at the Energy and Infrastructure Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Local ward members have been consulted during scheme development. 5. Background 5.1 Along with the Albert Dock Flood Alleviation Scheme, which is now complete, the River Hull + was a project originally included in the City Plan to reduce the risk of flooding. 5.2 The existing flood defences throughout the city are in poor condition with a 58% annual chance of failure based on current condition. 63,627 properties are at risk should the defences breach or overtop. The existing defences consist of a variety of walls, buildings, embankments and sheet piling and the Council has no power to require them to be built or maintained in excess of a height specified in the Kingston upon Hull Act 1984.There are no local statutory requirements as to their quality or consistency . 5.3 The Environment Agency has secured £37million Flood Defence Grant in Author: Status: Date: 09/12/2016 Page 3 of 12 Aid (FDGiA) to improve the flood defences and provide a consistent standard of protection from flooding along the river corridor. The FDGiA is eligible for spending only on flood defence works. For any enhancements required or a change in the line of defences, additional funding would be required. 5.4 The funding policy for flood schemes is Partnership Funding. This relies on 15% contributions from either private or other public sector sources to secure the FDGiA. The successful ERDF bid along with a bid for Local Growth Funding would provide this 15% contribution, reducing pressure on Hull City Council to plug the funding gap. 5.5 The River Hull+ scheme also provides additional enhancements including changing the line of the defences at Dock Office Row/High Street to provide an improved riverside environment and facilitate regeneration in a much needed area. The scheme was initially promoted for Local Growth Funding (LGF) in 2014. It was unsuccessful and at a Cllrs meeting with the Portfolio holders for Visitor Destination, Neighbourhoods and Communities and Energy City in 2015 it was agreed that the scheme could be incorporated into the Repurposing the Old Town LGF bid. When the ERDF requests for bids were launched, it was apparent that the River Hull + was a better match for this source of funding. 5.6 The Arctic Corsair is the sole survivor of Hull's distant-water sidewinder fishing trawler fleet. It is on the National Historic Ships Register (No. 628), and an application is pending to have her added to the Historic Fleet. Built in 1960, the Arctic Corsair broke the world record for the landing of cod and haddock from the White Sea in 1973, and was active during the Cod War. She is currently moored on the River Hull in a tidal berth and is kept as a visitor attraction, operated and maintained by volunteers in partnership with the Council. The Arctic Corsair is highly regarded as the symbol of the city's connection with the fishing trade and its connected way of life. 5.7 The Arctic Corsair is particularly vulnerable. A conservation management and maintenance statement prepared in 2013 found that, 'at the current level of management and maintenance it is highly probable that in the next five to ten years the vessel will deteriorate beyond reasonable economic repair.' A 2016 study confirms that further rain-water ingress will continue to degrade the vessel, fittings and fixtures, if not treated or repaired. The current tidal influx at the present berth creates a constant state of environmental change, which increases maintenance costs. The Arctic Corsair needs to be placed in a static dry-berth in order to ensure her long-term survival and to allow for regular maintenance to be carried out. A funding bid is being prepared to preserve and reinterpret her, the work encompassed within the ERDF scheme allowing a permanent solution to be found to dry dock her while taking advantage of further match funding to reduce costs. Author: Status: Date: 09/12/2016 Page 4 of 12 5.8 To the northeast of the Hull’s Maritime Museum, at the former mouth of the Queen's Dock (now the Queen's Gardens), is the North End Shipyard, which was in use from the late 18th century to the 1980s. The Central Dry Dock was the original lock-pit for access into the Queen's Dock, with 2 later docks to either side. The HMS Bounty was built here.