Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair for 2019/20.

RESOLVED to re-elect Councillor Alwyn Gruffydd as Chair of this committee for the year 2019/20.

To elect a Vice-chair for 2019/20.

RESOLVED to re-elect Councillor Nia Jeffreys as Vice-chair of this Committee for the year 2019/20.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Councillor Gareth Thomas (Cabinet Member for Economic Development), Llyr B. Jones (Senior Economy and Community Manager) and Malcolm Humphreys (Porthmadog Harbourmaster) (who had recently lost his mother-in-law).

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.

Sea Stairs

The Porthmadog Town Council Representative noted that he wished to raise the matter regarding the Sea Stairs at the unanimous request of the Town Council meeting the previous evening, to report back to the Town Council on the matter at its next meeting.  The Chairman noted that there was no objection to having a discussion on the matter.

The Town Council Representative noted that there had been correspondence for some time between the Town Council, the Maritime and County Parks Unit, and Porthmadog Sailing Club regarding public access to the Sea Stairs.  He emphasised that these stairs were part of the history and heritage of the town of Porthmadog, and that the Town Council was strongly of the view that it was necessary to protect the age-old tradition of local people's right to enjoy the use of the Sea Stairs.  He referred to the work of creating access to pontoons down the Sea Stairs between 2002 and 2004, emphasising that a letter received by the Town Council from the Maritime and Country Parks Manager, dated 16 September 2019, noted that "when the original scheme to install a pontoon was developed by the sailing club, the Maritime and Country Parks Service ensured that the development would not restrict access to the water near the Slate Steps [Sea Stairs] site". The letter also noted that "this was sold to the Sailing Club, and it is possible that this is minuted in a meeting of the Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committee". 

He further noted that the metal gate with a sign noting "No access beyond this point" was contrary to the Maritime and Country Parks' Unit's instruction, at the time of the scheme to install the original pontoon, that public access would continue. In fact, it was now impossible to gain access to the original historic steps themselves, as the Access Bridge for the pontoon had now been built on top of them; and there was a need to rectify this. 

The Leisure Interests Representative noted that the Sailing Club had written to the Town Council on three occasions explaining the exact nature of the situation, and that the sign clearly noted that anyone using the harbour had the right to access to the water for loading / unloading craft, etc.

The Town Council Representative noted that the sign read "Safety Notice - private access - pontoon for harbour users' use only - no fishing or crabbing".  The words 'private access' and the iron gate did not invite access to the pontoon, even for boat users, and it caused people to feel as though they were trespassing on private property.  

In response, the Leisure Interests Representative explained that the sign read 'private entrance' as the ramp was the property of the Sailing Club, and that it too was responsible for its inspection, its maintenance and its insurance. Therefore, it was necessary to set a restriction of some kind on who could gain access, but he reiterated the fact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Chairman will propose that the minutes of the meeting of this committee, held on 6^th March, 2019, be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this Committee, held on 6 March 2019, as a true record.

Matters arising from the minutes

Item 2 - Urgent Items

In response to an enquiry, the Maritime and Country Parks Officer explained that there had been further discussions with the Wynnes Company, and that a very clear message had been conveyed to them to the effect that it would be impractical to vacate Porthmadog Harbour of craft in June / July 2020 in order for a ship to traverse the harbour in connection with the work on transformers at Trawsfynydd and Ffestiniog. It was suggested that the company should look at other locations, and they were in the process of assessing options at Morfa Bychan beach, which would mean bringing the ship in at high tide, landing and drying out. The lorry would leave the ship and make its way along the public road in the direction of Trawsfynydd. It was confirmed that the road was sufficiently wide to bear the load, and initial discussions had been held with the Council's Highways Department regarding the road quality/strength to bear the load.  An assessment of the requirements and costs for this would be the company's responsibility, but as nothing further had been heard from them since then, it was very unlikely that the ship would be coming to the area in June after all. However, committee members would be notified should there be any developments in the meantime.

To submit a report by the Senior Harbours Officer.

The Senior Harbour Officer's report was presented by the Maritime and Country Parks Manager, updating the committee on Harbour matters for the period from March 2019 to October 2019. The members were invited to give feedback on safety matters and harbour operational matters.

The following were circulated at the meeting:-

·         A summary of the Harbour budget and the current financial situation up to the end of September 2019.

·         A draft of the proposed fees and charges for Porthmadog Harbour in 2020/21 (including and excluding VAT).  It was noted that the draft would be submitted to the Cabinet Member in December.

It was noted that the Gwynedd registration figures for powerboats and personal watercraft, included in paragraphs 2.4 and 2.6, were different to those noted in the tables in the appendices to the report. It was explained that the two sets of information had not been prepared concurrently, but that the figures would be reconciled by the next meeting.

The Maritime and Country Parks Manager noted that a member had enquired as to how the Council would deal with the issue of the increase in the mud / sand gathering on side of the Harbour nearest to the light railway.  It was explained that although Gwynedd Council, as Harbour Authority, had the right to dredge the harbour, there was no requirement for it to do so.  The work of dredging any harbour was extremely complex and expensive. Some dredging work had been completed in the Harbour in 1994, with the mud removed to a nearby dumping site. However, as this was now contrary to European regulations, the sediment would have to be transported to a site around 15 miles north of Holyhead.  Although the arrangements, income levels and permits were in place to dredge the harbours of Pwllheli and Caernarfon, it was not anticipated that it would be possible to undertake works of this kind in Porthmadog, Barmouth or Aberdyfi. In response to a further query from the member, the Maritime and Country Parks Manager explained that the increase in mud / sand in the Harbour did not lead to an increased loss of moorings, as there was currently much capacity in the Harbour for moorings.  An enquiry was made as to whether it was the owners of the houses on the far side of the Harbour who held the rights to the moorings located there. In response, it was noted that the seat for a Landowners' Interests Representative on this committee was currently vacant, and that they had a right to elect a representative to attend the meetings.

The Senior Harbours Officer presented the Harbourmaster's report, summarising the navigational and operational matters that had arisen between March 2019 and October 2019, including maintenance matters.

The following were circulated at the meeting:-

·         A draft of the Harbour bye-laws, and a request was made for committee members to submit any observations they had on the draft bye-laws before 31 December 2019.  It was noted that an electronic version of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To note that the next meeting of the Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committee will be held on 11^th March, 2020.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 11 March 2020.