(i)

the purpose of the Port of Plymouth study was to provide an evidence base for a port master plan, the Local Development Framework Core Strategy Review, the Local Economic Strategy Review and the Local Transport Plan 3;

(ii)

any port that handled over 1 million tonnes of goods was requested to produce a ports master plan; Plymouth had four ports which exceeded the aforementioned tonnage;

(iii)

all four ports in Plymouth did not have any port land;

(iv)

the work of the study consisted of baseline analysis, existing activities on the port, the ports assets, capacity and operating environment, the constraints and opportunities linked to the ports and a stakeholder workshop;

(v)

of the 60,000 vessel movements in 2009 in Plymouth ports, 75% were defence related;

(vi)

the key strengths identified in the study highlighted that Plymouth’s ports were well established and diverse, had relatively deep water and a natural harbour, were a major marine and waterside leisure location, had minimal coastal erosion and employed 12% of Plymouth’s population;

(vii)

the key weaknesses identified in the study highlighted that Plymouth’s ports  served largely local and regional commercial markets, had a limited mix of cargos, had a poor water depth at low tide and there was a lack of a single ‘champion for port interests;

(viii)

key opportunities identified in the study included an expansion of oil related cargos, a growing demand for marine / leisure based activity, a growth in demand for cruises, a strong policy support for sustainable freight transport (including short-sea shipping) and the potential release of vital port infrastructure at Devonport;

(ix)

key threats identified in the study included the competition for limited cargos and cruises, the need for infrastructure investment at Devonport, the HSE blast zone, lack of public funding for ports development, the loss of key waterside sites to non-port uses, limited expansion capacity at Cattewater & Sutton Harbour and port expansion constrained by local and regional transport networks;

(x)

the following scenarios were discussed by stakeholders however scenarios 1, 3 and 5 were discounted:

• Scenario 1 -   Safeguard existing position / business as usual
• Scenario 2 -   Targeted diversification

·        Scenario 3 - Managed contraction of commercial port facilities & enhancement of leisure role

• Scenario 4     Major step change/re-use of Devonport land and waterfront
• Scenario 5 -   Radical restructure

(xi)

possible next steps stemming from the study would include the Masterplan preparation, Coastal Action Plan, raising the profile of the Port by identifying a ‘Champion’, Cruise Market Feasibility/Action Plan and Safeguarding Cattewater Branch Line Track Bed;

(xii)

fishing employment was currently low for the city however was still seen as important;

(xiii)

the MOD would only allow the ports to be dredged to increase port depth where absolutely necessary however it was highlighted that this would allow larger cruise ships into Plymouth;

(xiv)

the study would enable a greater focus on the marine industry and ports in regards to the economic agenda and would enable officers to highlight specific supply and demand issues.