SAGB CONFERENCE May 2012

1. The Marine Planning System
Martyn Youell
Senior Marine Planner

2. MMO High level summary – 2 years on
― New chairman appointed – Sir Bill Callaghan
― CEO appointed – James Cross
― Government spending review with 20% reduction in overall budget by
operating year 4
― Manpower has risen from 196 in 2010 to 267 today, will increase to 330
― Planning increasing from 17 to 22
― Licensing increasing from 33 to 46 with more to come
― MMO has delivered on corporate plan for reporting period 2010/11 and is on
target to deliver this reporting period

3. First Marine Plan Areas Selected – where and why?

4. Components of Planning
1. Stakeholders

5. Stakeholder engagement
• Statements of Public Participation (SPP)
- informs people of how and when they can become involved,
engagement opportunities, and what we will do with responses
- published April 2011
- signed off by Government (Secretary of State, Defra)
• Nationwide stakeholder engagement, e.g.
- Government departments, Public service bodies
- Sector representative bodies, relevant fora
• Local stakeholder engagement
- Links with Marine Conservation Zone projects, R3 wind development
- Work with existing partnerships
- Individual interests and groups

6. 2. Data and Evidence
Marine Planning Portal
• Online tool for stakeholders to interact with the planning
process.
Through the portal the user can...
• View existing data from the
evidence base
• Comment on the data we are
using
• Suggest a new dataset to the
planning team
http://planningportal.marinemanagement.org.uk

7. 3. Policy
• National e.g. Marine Policy Statement
• Local Authority Development Plans
• Other e.g. strategies

8. Progress on marine plans
― October 2010: selected the first two marine areas for
the production of marine plans – East inshore and
offshore
― April 2011: Planning begun – Statement of Public
Participation
― February 2012: published the Evidence & Emerging
Issues Report
― Data and information associated with plan areas
― Information and issues collated from stakeholders
― Assessment of national plans and policies
― Assessment of local plans and policies
― April 2012: Draft Vision & Objectives Report
― Autumn 2012: submission of draft plan to Government

9. Key messages from ‘Draft Vision &
Objectives for East Marine Plans’
report
Fisheries context
― High social and economic value locally
― Export value of shellfisheries highlighted
― Displacement from grounds is of high
concern to the sector
― Call for stock monitoring in response to
the effects of climate change
Key Issues
• Competition for space
• Access to grounds
• Environmental effects of trawling and
displacement
• Coastal community benefits

10. Key messages from ‘Draft Vision & Objectives for East Marine
Plans’ report
Aquaculture Context
― East inshore has high proportion of
England’s aquaculture
― Locally important in economic value
― Growing industry – local food movements
― East area high potential for growth
Key Issues
• Potential for co-location
• Site availability
• Availability of investment
• Environmental quality

11. Plans will act and contribute in three distinct
ways
― Where there is good data and compelling Prescriptive
reasons the plans may be prescriptive planning
― Oil and gas fields of high potential
― Where data may not be robust or simply
because retaining flexibility is key we will add Signalling
value through signalling and guidance
&
― Work on cumulative effects
Guidance
― For the first time gathering economic,
environmental and social data in one place
where it can be analysed
― We plan on gathering recreational data that will Data & Analysis
help increase knowledge

12. Plan led regulation - bringing planning and
licensing together
― Plan led regulation streamlines the process of consenting when
applications are in accordance with the plan
― Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies use marine plans leading to more
efficient engagement
― Example is the coordinated approach to cumulative effects
― Plans lead to greater transparency of future scenarios with less issues
being left to ‘case by case’
― The granting of licences acts as an important feedback loop for the
marine plan, improving and developing the picture over time.

13. Reminder of changes in Marine Licensing
April 2011 changes Pre application
New streamlined licensing process
Screening
― FEPA and CPA replaced by Marine Licence
Scoping
― Marine Licence now for the full life of a project
not just during construction Investigation and
― New proportionate fees structure introduced preparation
― Formal appeals process through the Planning
Submit
Inspectorate
― Front loaded discussion – pre application Consult and review
― New IT means a better experience for
applicants, consultees and interested parties Decision
Appeal

14. Better regulation
― We are committed to clear and
proportionate regulation
― We will ensure consistency in the
scientific advice we are given through an
evidence QA system
― The Red Tape Challenge – water and
marine theme
― Our public register is above and beyond
the basic standard
― All major cases are summarised on our
website, together with all correspondence
related to that case

15. MMO Decision Making Hierarchy
1. The MMO should ensure that its decisions meet statutory requirements under UK
and EU legislation.
2. The MMO should ensure that its decisions are consistent with its obligations under
international law.
3. The MMO should make decisions that are in accordance with the Marine Policy
Statement and the relevant Marine Plan.
4. Where the relevant legislation allows, the MMO should, wherever possible, make
an integrated assessment of environmental, social and economic issues in order to
contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.

16. Licensing performance
Duration of time to issue consents
No. of Total
Applications consents average
Application Fee Band received granted Time frame Number (weeks)
0 - 5 weeks 59
5 - 10 weeks 39
Band 1a 59 10 - 13 weeks 7
13 - 20 weeks 2
20 - 30 weeks 0
Band 1b Tier 1 (Fast track) 81 140 107 30 - 40 weeks 0 4.7
0 - 5 weeks 5
Band 2a 105 5 - 10 weeks 36
10 - 13 weeks 15
Band 2b 16 13 - 20 weeks 8
20 - 30 weeks 2
Band 2c Tier 2 (Routine) 9 130 67 30 - 40 weeks 1 10.1
Tier 3
Band 3 (Bespoke/Complex) 66 66 25 Too early 11.1

17. How we will improve it
― Closer working with SNCB’s on standard ‘repeatable’ licences
― Greater implementation of a risk based approach
― Focus our effort where it is needed
― Greater transparency on where a licence is in the process and what
action is currently taking place
― We will always note however that sometimes it does take time to work
through issues to achieve a sustainable result.

18. Still working on it…
- Marine Conservation Zones and Marine Licensing
- Conversations ongoing on the establishment of the point at which ‘material
consideration’ must be given to ‘potential’ MCZs (affects both planning and
licensing)
- Devolved Administrations
- Cross border working (including on harbour orders) requires further work to
streamline
- Instances where the desire to streamline has been there without the clarity of
how this streamlining happens in law

19. Keep in touch
planning@marinemanagement.org.uk 0191 376 2790
marine.consents@marinemanagement.org.uk 0300 123 1032
martyn.youell@marinemanagement.org.uk 0191 376 2528