First Established - October 1986
Revised - August 2003
To promote sustainable shoreline management, and to facilitate the duties and responsibilities of local authorities and other organisations managing the coastal zone of central southern England by:
- Securing a consensus view on regional strategic and sustainability objectives and their means of delivery;
- Effecting consultation, co-operation and co-ordination between member organisations on issues of common concern
- Promoting, co-ordinating and undertaking research to increase understanding and improve management of the regional shoreline environment;
- Actively representing the interests of member organisations in the development of national and supranational policies and initiatives relating to shoreline management;
- Increasing awareness of the need to deliver national and international statutory obligations;
- Providing a forum for communication of experience and best practice
- Acting as a formal consultee on central government policy and guidance.
2. MEMBERSHIP
2.1 Membership of the Standing Conference shall comprise of the maritime districts of Hampshire, Dorset, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight, together with the respective County Councils.
2.2 Only those with Full membership shall be entitled to elect one voting member representative each although other members of that authority may attend, but not vote.
2.3 Relevant officers of each authority shall be entitled to attend but not vote.
2.4 Full membership of SCOPAC shall be restricted to those authorities with: (a) Statutory responsibilities for the coastal zone, and (b) a democratically elected base.
2.5 Those organisations with responsibilities for coastal, estuary or port management that embraces elements of shoreline protection qualify to apply for Associate membership.
2.6 Full members shall pay an annual membership fee (£304.50 in 2003/04), a contribution to the Officers' Working Group's fee (£112.00 2003/04) and a contribution to research (£2,560 in 2003/04) with the exception of the Isle of Wight when it will be £7,680.
2.7 Associate members of SCOPAC shall have either statutory or other specific, formal responsibilities for the coastal zone, though not necessarily an elected membership base.
2.8 Associate members shall pay an annual membership fee (£285 in 2000/01) and a lesser contribution to the Officers' Working Group's fee (£66.75 in 2003/04).
2.9 Full Conference shall be advised of all applications for membership of SCOPAC and shall have the right to exercise its discretion in permitting exceptions to the above criteria.
2.10 Mailing list status at a cost of £61 shall be offered to interested organisations for whom membership of either kind is not appropriate.
3. CHAIRMAN
A Chairman shall be elected annually.
4. FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS
4.1 Standing Conference of Members shall meet not less than once a year.
4.2 Meetings shall be held at The Guildhall, Portsmouth.
5. OFFICER POSTS
5.1 The Secretary to the Conference shall, for the time being, be the Director of Corporate Services of the Isle of Wight Council.
5.2 The Treasurer to the Conference shall, for the time being, be the Director of Finance and Information of the Isle of Wight Council.
5.3 Conference shall pay an annual fee (£2,726.50 in 2000/01) to the Isle of Wight Council, as recompense for the services of the Chairman of the Officers' Working Group.
6. OFFICER ADVISERS
6.1 An Officers' Working Group shall be established comprising of technical officers from each authority to advise the Standing Conference.
6 .2 An Officers' Working Group shall meet approximately four times a year or at such frequency as may be necessary to deal adequately with the business of the Standing Conference.
6.3 The Officers' Working Group shall have the authority to set up such groups to consider specific issues as may be determined by the Officers' Working Group.
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