Agenda, decisions and minutes

To elect a Chair for 2021/22.

To re-elect Councillor Selwyn Griffith as Chair of this Committee for the year 2021/22.

RESOLVED to re-elect Councillor Selwyn Griffiths as Chair of this Committee for the year 2021/22.

To elect a Vice-chair for 2021/22.

To re-elect Councillor Nia Jeffreys as vice-chair of this Committee for the year 2021/22.

RESOLVED to re-elect Councillor Nia Jeffreys as Vice-chair of this Committee for the year 2021/22.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Llewelyn Rhys (Porthmadog Town Council Representative), David Eastwood (Harbour Interests Representative), Chris Fisher (Cricieth RNLI Representative) and Councillor Gareth Thomas (Cabinet Member - Economic Development).

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.

No urgent items were received.

The Chairman will propose that the minutes of the meeting of this committee, held on 10^th March, 2021, be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous committee meeting held on 10 March, 2021, as a true record.

To submit a report by the Senior Harbours Officer.

(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”:-

·         That this committee preferred 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.

·         The importance of ensuring training for users and a call to increase the age limit for driving recreational and personal watercraft were emphasised.

The following reports were presented, and members were invited to give feedback on safety matters and harbour operational matters.

(1)     The Senior Harbours Officer's report, giving a brief update to the committee on harbour matters for the period from March 2021 to October 2021.

Referring to part 2 of the report - Porthmadog Moorings and Boat Registration - the Senior Harbours Officer noted that 1,302 Personal Watercraft (Jetskis) and 1,308 Powerboats had registered online and in person, giving a total of 2,610 of registered vessels.

In response to a question by the Chair regarding who is responsible for dredging the harbour, the Maritime Manager explained:-

·         Under the Porthmadog Harbour legislation, the Council did not have dredging powers without going through processes, and the Marine & Coastal Access Act had tightened environmental protection considerably, and also the ability of harbours to dredge without going through statutory processes.

·         Porthmadog Harbour was a harbour that was gradually silting up, with material slowly returning into the harbour.

·         Natural processes had been hampered significantly when the Cob and Pont Glaslyn were constructed.

·         There was a warning when the pontoons were granted that this would create an area of quiet waters, and everything transported down-river would be left in the harbour, as there would be an insufficient flow for it to be carried out to sea.  

·         Regarding the pontoons area, the Council would certainly not dredge an area where it had no responsibility or lease. 

·         It would be very difficult to dispose of mud from Porthmadog harbour.   It would have to be sucked up and pumped out into the sea, however, it would have to be tested first, and probably obtain a marine licence, prior to commencing the process.   

·         Although at a quite different scale, plans to dredge Victoria Dock, Caernarfon and Hafan, Pwllheli were worth £280,000.

·         It would take time to conduct habitats regulations assessments.

·         He was willing to look into the matter, however, no promise could be given that it would be possible to dredge Porthmadog harbour in the future.  

A member agreed with these observations and noted:

·         He did not believe that there was any purpose to dredge the harbour, as the channel within the harbour had not altered much in 45 years.

·         If there was a wish to increase the number of moorings, it would be much better to install pontoons down the centre of the harbour, in order for water to flow either side, and possibly have a system to transport people to their boats.  

The Maritime Manager noted that an estimate of the harbour budget from 1/4/20 to 31/3/21 and 1/4/21 to 31/9/21 had been sent very recently to members, and he gave details on the current situation and noted:- 

·         That a larger number of staff had been appointed this year to cope with the anticipated number of visitors to the coast over the summer, and it was pleasing to see so many enjoying what this area has to offer. However, disappointment was expressed that some people had behaved in a  ...  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^TH March, 2022.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 8 March, 2022.