Issue - meetings

Cllr Albon presented the report, he explained that not taking the proposed actions would mean that the promenade would eventually need to be closed to the public. It was proposed by Cllr Albon and seconded by Cllr Yates that Cabinet approves expenditure in relation to this scheme and up to the value of the Environment Agency grant of £406k.

Members AGREED.

 Mike Humber introduced the report making the following key points: 

• The Viking Bay to Dumpton Gap Sea Wall Repair Scheme was a capital  maintenance project.

• The scheme focussed on an 1100 metre length of sea wall between Viking Bay  and Dumpton Gap. 

• The sea wall was approximately 60 years old; many of the structural components  had become eroded by wave energy and tidal action. 

• Following a successful application for grant funding, via the environment agency  flood and coastal erosion risk fund, £406,000 had been allocated to the scheme.  • It was of high importance to maintain the existing infrastructure that the council  had around its coastline. 

Members asked questions and made the following comments: 

• Members were pleased that schemes like this were taking place. 

• Ramsgate East Pier had suffered significant damage recently, were there any  plans to look at this? 

• Would there be a published full scheme of works regarding how the work would be carried  out? 

• In Broadstairs by the clifftop there had been a severe sinkhole, has there been a  full survey across this entire area? 

• Was this considered funding that had been bid for competitively ? 

• Queries were raised regarding the projected lifespan of the work, was the  work considered future proofed? 

• Was there any plans to refurbish parts of Ramsgate Western Undercliff? 

Mike Humber responded with the following points: 

• The East Pier at Ramsgate was inspected by the maintenance team, this  damage would be looked into. 

• When the programme is confirmed, there would be engagement with local  businesses. The timing of the works would be sensitive. There would be  consultation with businesses to minimise the impact. 

• The sinkhole was considered a fairly unusual situation. This had most likely been  caused by groundwater moving and washing the fine material out behind and  gradually causing a hole to occur. Generally this was not the case around the  coastline. 

• The funding criteria was outcome measure based. 

• All the design work takes into account the effects of climate change. The council  would work to the latest standards. The economics were usually based on a 100  year life span. 

• There was a plan to maintain the Ramsgate Western Undercliff to keep this safe.  

Members noted the report.