Coastal Communities Alliance

Background to the Coastal Communities Alliance

A National Coastal Conversation

In February 2006 written evidence was submitted to the then Select Committee for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions into the Select Committee Inquiry into Coastal Towns. In August 2006 a one to one meeting was held with Dr Phyllis Starkey MP the Chair of the Committee

The Select Committee produced its recommendations in March 2007.

In May 2007 the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) responded to the findings of its Select Committee Inquiry into the future of coastal towns. The Select Committee whilst taking the view that there was no case for a national coastal regeneration strategy had prepared a significant list of national, regional and sub-regional actions, which were needed to address coastal regeneration. CLG effectively re-buffed all the proposals. There is no doubt that through this inquiry the profile of the Lincolnshire Coast was raised. There are 11 references to the Coastal Partnership in the DCLG Select Committee Report of the Inquiry into the future of Coastal Towns.

Large groups of coastal stakeholders at network meetings in Brighton (Co hosted by the Coastal Partnership) and Scarborough made clear their significant displeasure with the DCLG response clear. Members of the Select Committee itself expressed their disappointment.  A parliamentary debate in early July was the focus for further expressions of disappointment by key coastal MPs with an input from Mark Simmonds MP

The Lincolnshire Partnership throughout the summer, contacted local authorities and lobbying organisations that were very disappointed with the response and concerned with coastal issues, and organised a meeting to discuss the need for a concerted coordinated response.

On 17 August representatives from a number of coastal local authorities along with players from the British Resorts and Destination Association, the Coastal Special Interest Group of Local Government Association and British Urban Regeneration Association met to consider what to do next. They committed themselves to work together to keep the debate about coastal regeneration alive. They agreed to ensure that the points raised by the Select Committee become an ongoing National coastal conversation about the future of coastal towns in England. Planned actions were to:

• Pull together a well grounded statistical case for the coast which demonstrates the common challenges facing coastal settlements
•   Develop an integrated approach to advocating the case for coastal regeneration bringing together the work of all key players

 Engage with Dr Phyllis Starkey and her CLG Select Committee again in October to maintain the momentum around their report

    Key issues, are on the Coastal Communities Alliance agenda, include:

• Tackling high levels of Worklessness in coastal settlements
• Tackling the low wages and poor employment opportunities in coastal settlements"
• Addressing the housing challenges faces coastal areas
• The development of a fair and transparent approach to coastal adaptation for areas threatened by climate change
• Consideration of the need for local authority funding formulas to reflect the issues common to coastal towns
•  More national resources to support the development of coastal tourism strategies
•  A thorough debate about the impact of planning policies, which affect development in coastal areas
•  Better joining up amongst Whitehall Departments of actions and policies which affect coastal areas
  
   A  meeting was held with Dr Phyllis Starkey MP and other coastal MPs with the Coastal Communities Group in November. Through the Lincolnshire Observatory a research paper had been produced highlighting the unique statistical deprivation of the English coast.  A good debate was held about the uniqueness of coastal matters and cost of service delivery.
  
  Subsequently the Government issued a “Second” response to the Committees recommendations:
   
• Commission further research into the challenges facing coastal communities, in particular the disproportionately high numbers of people claiming sickness and disability benefit
• The establishment of a cross Whitehall departmental working group
• The establishment of a coastal areas network supported by the Regional Development Agencies and the Government.
  
  Representatives met with the Government's Cross Departmental Working Group in April 2008 where they requested support from the Coastal Communities Alliance
  
  Following the recent meeting of the CCA with the Government's Cross-Departmental Working Group on Coastal Towns (XDWGCT), the DCLG have challenged CCA members to provide local evidence, as follows:
  
  "On the question of issues faced by the Government in delivering services and programmes to coastal communities, we would welcome your further views on what you describe as lack of delivery flexibility and evidence of this. This would certainly help us in facilitating constructive discussions with other departments on the issue(s) you raise".
  
  Click here for the DCLG Select Committee Government Response (PDF)

Click here for the Coastal Communities Terms of Reference (PDF)

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