Agenda and minutes

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 Leisure Interests Representative noted that Porthmadog Sailing Club had contacted the company that had installed pontoons in the Harbour in the context of installing pontoons on the Harbour wall. The scheme would include a facility to enable the disabled to use them. The Sailing Club had obtained a quotation for the work before the committee had started and they would contact the Maritime Service with further details.

During the ensuing discussion the following was noted:

·         Support to the principle.

·         The need receive planning permission and approval from CADW and others before proceeding with the work.

·         The need to consider the visual impact.

·         The proposal would mean losing moorings therefore there is a need to weigh up the financial impact in the context of the Harbour's income and management/ maintenance costs.

·         Effect of the tide.

·         The need to consider the other users of the Harbour.

·         The Sailing Club was encouraged to consult locally, including with the Town Council.

RESOLVED:

(i)     To note support to the principle;

(ii)    To hold a special meeting of the Consultative Committee should more details be received before the date of the next meeting.

The Chairman will propose that the minutes of the meeting of this committee, held on 14 October 2015, be signed as a true record.

The Chairman signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this Committee held on 14 October 2015 as a true record.

The Leisure Interests Representative noted that the light on the Madog Yacht Club pontoon was now fully functional. 

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:

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

·         It was anticipated that an auditor from the Coastguard Agency would visit the Council during the autumn to inspect the current code and provide advice regarding any improvements.

·         A hazardous shipwreck had been disposed of and steps had been taken to remove a boat located on Cei Balast by issuing a final warning to the owner.

·         That the boat on the slipway where an individual resided had been moved as a result of concerns.

·         That six notices to mariners were in force as some of the aids to navigation had moved off station and it had not been possible to re-site them in the correct location to date as a result of the inclement weather. It was hoped that the work of re-siting them would be completed in the coming fortnight.  

·         That Cwch y Dwyfor was being maintained by Partington Marine in Pwllheli at the moment with necessary work being undertaken.

·         Trinity House's Lighthouse Authority had conducted an inspection on 24 February 2016. The report had drawn attention to the service's failure to comply with the 'Panar' requirements and drew attention to the fact that permission was needed from Trinity House before the location of aids to navigation was moved. It was noted that it was not always practicably possible to receive prior permission.

·         That the work of mooring maintenance had been completed today and that the investment would be of great benefit to the Harbour.

·         That 97 applications for annual moorings had been received and that 92 of them were returning customers.

·         Investment had been made in a new quality CCTV system that would serve as a weapon to tackle crime and disorder.   

·         The budgetary situation up to the end of February 2016, and noted that the income received in terms of Harbour car park fees were of great assistance to secure a budget that was generally balanced at the end of the financial year.

·         That the fees of the 2016-17 financial year had increased by 1% and that the water craft registration payments in relation to postal payments and applications made in the Harbour Office had now been aligned. 

·         That the Harbour Master's secondment had been extended until the end of September 2016 with a development plan in place in terms of meeting the post's requirements.

·         The Consultation of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on Proposed Special Areas of Conservation and Proposed Special Protection Areas - it was noted that the organisations should submit a response to the consultation directly if they wished to do so. 

Members' views were sought in relation to the relocation of the Fairway buoy, it was noted that Trinity House supported the principle. The Leisure Interests Representative noted the buoy could be moved slightly but that there was a need to consider that the harbour mouth was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To note that the next meeting of the Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committee will be held on 12 October 2016 subject to confirmation by the Full Council.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 12 October 2016.