Save our Selsey

Funding Procedures & Selsey Coastal Trust

 With the change in the way coast defences are funded, we are in new territory. We should get some government funding towards our defences, but not the full amount. Within the coming months we will discover what percentage of funding we are likely to get.

 The decision-making body for coastal defence funding in England is the Regional Flood & Coastal Committee (RFCC). Ours is the Southern RFCC, which covers the area from Kent to Hampshire.

 The RFCCs approve the Environment Agency’s expenditure on Flood and Coastal Erosion activities and works. The Southern RFCC is made up of 14 representatives from Local Authorities, along with 8 Independent members appointed by Defra, and a Chairman. West Sussex County Council has one seat (rising to two soon). One of the Independent representatives happens to be from Selsey.

 The committee has to ensure there are coherent plans for dealing with flood & coastal erosion risk; it promotes cost-effective investment in defences & risk management; it provides a link between the various agencies which deal with flood & coastal erosion. It has a budget (from government) of £53.2m. Out of this £31.4m is to be spent on capital projects (e.g. new coastal defences ) and £21.8m on revenue expenditure (e.g. day-to-day maintenance of defences).

 Although these figures are big, they are nowhere near enough to pay for the hundreds of coast, and inland, flood & erosion defences that communities across the entire Region would like. For a scheme to have any chance of funding, its benefits (e.g.value of property saved) must be at least 7 times the cost of the works. Even then, it’s only likely to get partial funding.

 With a partially-funded scheme, the RFCC can’t release the government element of the funding unless the remainder of the cash has been found elsewhere. So, communities will increasingly have to find hard cash to put into their coastal defences, or they won’t be given any government funding. How can a small town like Selsey raise cash (in our case, £40k pa may be needed)?

 It’s for this reason SOS donated £250 towards the Selsey Coastal Trust. The Trust is currently trying to raise £5000 in order to incorporate and start the major fundraising it needs. Once up & running, it will carry out some money-making, but sensitive, regeneration schemes in Selsey. It will put the surplus money it makes into our coast defences.

 The Trust is also looking for suitably experienced pro-active people to join its Board (as volunteer Trustees). If you have business, finance, property development, marketing or fundraising expertise and are interested, contact the Trust at info@selseycoastaltrust.org.uk. More information is on its website, www.selseycoastaltrust.org.uk. We wish the Trust well and will keep a close eye on its development over the coming months.