Issue - meetings

To accept a report by the Maritime Officer and Pwllheli Harbour Manager

Appendix 1 – Comparison Gwynedd to Others 2021

Appendix 2 – Comparison Power Boats to Sailing Boats 2021

Appendix 3 – Comparison of Boat Statistics at Each Harbour 2021

Appendix 4 – Comparison of Boat Statistics 2021

Appendix 5 – Pwllheli Harbour Committee Statistics – October 2021

Appendix 6 – Total Power Boat Registrations 2021

Appendix 7 – Total Water Craft Registrations 2021

(1)   To note and accept the report.

(2)   To respond as follows to the Department of Transport Consultation Paper, "Strengthening enforcement of the dangerous use of recreational and personal watercraft":

i.                That this committee prefers option 3, namely creating legislation under section 112 of the Railways and Transportation Safety Act 2003 to extend the relevant provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, and relevant regulations, to include recreational and personal watercraft.

ii.              To emphasise the importance of ensuring training for users and a call to increase the age limit for driving recreational and personal watercraft.

(3)   To inform users of the Hafan slipway regarding the need to ensure that every recreational and personal watercraft is registered with Gwynedd Council prior to launch. This was in light of concerns raised about the current use.

Members of the Committee were reminded that the purpose of the Committee was to provide an opportunity to raise concerns and that it was important for all stakeholders to contribute.  Consequently, concern was expressed that many members of the Committee were absent.  

External Bodies

Members of the Committee were also reminded that in order to meet the rules, they must submit the minutes of their meetings, together with a copy of their constitution, and ensure that the list of representatives was accurate and up to date.

Harbour Safety Code

The Maritime Service Manager referred to the paper he had circulated regarding the Harbour Safety Code, noting that the paper provided assurance that stakeholders were complying with the Code, and referred to the opportunity which had arisen for Committee Members to feed into the response.  He confirmed that two inspections had been carried out by the Coastguard Agency and that the risk assessments were in place and in order.

Strategic Review of the Hafan and Harbour

It was confirmed that a Work Group had been set up to discuss the Hafan and Harbour with local businesses and to agree on a way forward, as Pwllheli was a very important unit.  It was confirmed that the aim was to have a Masterplan for the future, to include the structure of the Hafan and Pwllheli Harbour.

Review of 2019 work

The Assistant Head of the Economy and Community Department gave an update stating that the Programme had been delayed and other issues had taken priority, but the programme now needed to be revisited.  He confirmed that short-term measures had been identified, including:

·       The Internal Structure of the Hafan and Harbour, following the retirement of the Hafan Assistant Manager

·       Property, legal, and financial matters that are under the control of the Hafan and Harbour

·       Commissioning a Masterplan to identify the vision

·       Dredging Strategy and Dealing with the residue

·       Prepare the Hafan and Harbour Investment Strategy for the short-term, long-term and medium-term

It was confirmed that an update would be available at the next meeting. 

In response to a question regarding the timing of a change in management, it was confirmed that it was extremely important that the service continued and that there was no change to the service, and that they would be administrative changes to improve the service.  It was noted that the post of Hafan Manager had not been filled. The vision is that someone would be appointed to the post of Pwllheli Harbour Commercial and Business Manager and that the new officer would be in post by March 2022.  It was confirmed that the time had come to take a strategic look at the Hafan and Harbour and move on to offer a better service.

It was inquired as to whether there were plans for the Old Sailing Club and it was confirmed that the building was under Plas Heli Management, and the hope would be to collaborate with Plas Heli on any scheme.  The need for discussion as soon as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7