Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for 2016/17.

RESOLVED to re-elect Councillor Alwyn Gruffydd as chairman of this Committee for the year 2016/17.

To elect a Vice-chairman for 2016/17.

RESOLVED to re-elect Councillor Selwyn Griffiths as vice-chairman of this Committee for the year 2016/17.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Councillor Mandy Williams-Davies (Cabinet Member for Economy), David Eastwood (Harbour Interests Representative) and David McLean (Landowner Interests Representative). 

To receive any declaration of personal interest.

No declarations of personal interest were received from any members present.

To consider any items which are urgent matters in the opinion of the Chairman.

The Chairman will propose that the minutes of the meeting of this committee, held on 9 March 2016, be signed as a true record.

The Chairman signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this Committee, held on 9 March 2016, as a true record.

To submit a report by the Maritime and Country Parks Officer.

The Maritime and Country Parks Officer guided the members through the report, drawing attention to the following main points:

·         That there had been a small reduction in the number of boats on the annual moorings with 129 compared with 142 boats in 2015. It was noted that boats tended to be larger. 21 boats had left in 2016 with 17 new boats moored in the Harbour in 2016.

·         It was noted that 37 power boats had been registered in the Harbour in 2016 compared to 30 that were registered in 2015. It was confirmed that 31 power boats had been registered at Morfa Bychan compared to the 14 registered in 2015.

·         No observations had been received relating to the Marine Safety Code since the previous meeting.

·         That the Senior Harbours Officer was reviewing the safety code and it was hoped that the Senior Coastguard Inspector would be visiting the Council early in 2017 to inspect and give feedback on the code.

·         The Harbour By-laws would be considered in the Spring with the intention of presenting and putting them in force to aid in dealing with the speeding problem. Reference was made to the Neifion campaign launched in the summer in order to make it easier for people to contact the authorities if they believed that someone was disturbing marine life and breaching the Marine Safety Code.

·         Trinity House had conducted an inspection on 26 July 2016. The report confirmed an improvement in the condition and location of the navigation aids compared with previous reports.

·         Substantial investment had been made in Cwch y Dwyfor and it was confirmed that it would be located in Porthmadog to assist with the maintenance of navigation aids in the Harbour.

·         There was no mariners' notice in force in Porthmadog harbour.

·         That the employment period of the Porthmadog Harbour Assistant (seasonal) ended on 30 September 2016. In order to ensure support for and a continuation of the service across the County, it was noted that the employment period of the Barmouth and Aberdyfi Harbour Assistants has been extended until the end of December 2016. It was explained that the Barmouth Harbour Assistant would be relocated to Porthmadog for the initial period in order to secure additional assistance in Porthmadog over the winter months.

·         That the Harbour Master's secondment period would be periodically reviewed.

·         An enquiry had been received from a merchant shipping company as to the possibility of importing heavy cargo on board merchant ships to Porthmadog for the purpose of supplying a nearby power station. It was noted that the company's attention had been drawn to the complexities and it was confirmed that should it be decided to import, the company would be responsible for any costs associated with the proposal.

·         The budgetary situation up to the end of September 2016, and it was noted that it was not anticipated that the income target would be met for the financial year.

·         That the CCTV system invested into in order to protect Harbour property and users  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To note that the next meeting of the Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committee will be held on 8 March 2017.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 8 March, 2017.