In May 2019, Ashfords LLP (Ashfords) were instructed to advise on the appropriate constitution for the proposed Southwold Harbour Management Committee (HMC) to enable governance improvements in line with the key principles in the consultation document from June 2014 and the Ports Good Governance Guidance (PGGG) issued by the Department for Transport.
In June 2019, Ashfords produced an explanatory note and their draft constitution for the HMC, comprising draft Terms of Reference and a draft Memorandum of Understanding, all as published with this circular and available as part of the consultation.
On the basis of these proposals, the Joint Committee is carrying out this consultation. The JC keeps an open mind, but has questions and reservations about the draft constitutional documents produced by Ashfords and will need to consider them carefully, together with the results of this public consultation exercise, when it meets again (probably in November 2019) to decide on the way forward, and may decide to recommend changes.
The results of this consultation will be considered by the Joint Committee before making final recommendations.