Consultation Policy

Both the Guide to Good Governance and the Port Marine Safety Code emphasise the importance of effective consultation by all ports with all stakeholders and beneficiaries. This includes all those who work in the port or use the tidal Thames in some way, as well as those that represent them.

It is therefore Board policy, that the PLA shall publish matters of relevance to, and encourage comment and contribution from, stakeholders and beneficiaries.

In particular, the PLA shall:

• Consult as early as is practicable with stakeholders and beneficiaries when changes to PLA legislation and policy are being considered;
• Include appropriate PLA staff in the consultation process;
• Maintain an effective consultation mechanism with appropriate stakeholders and beneficiaries on safety and other operational issues;
• Include appropriate practising port and river users in the ongoing work to identify navigational hazards, assess the risk of such hazards and recommend appropriate control and mitigation measures;
• Provide regular feedback on the Authority's performance, in particular its compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code, to all stakeholders and beneficiaries;
• Publish an annual review of PLA activity and achievements.

01.07.01