Agenda, decisions and minutes

To elect a Chair for 2022/23.

To elect Councillor Gwilym Jones as Chair for 2022/23.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Gwilym Jones as Chair for 2022/23.

To elect a Vice-chair for 2022/23.

To elect Councillor June Jones as Vice-chair for 2022/23.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor June Jones as Vice-chair for 2022/23.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor June Jones (Cyngor Gwynedd) and Dr John Jones-Morris (Leisure 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.

No urgent items were received.

The Chairman will propose that the minutes of the meeting of this committee, held on 8th March, 2022, be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous committee meeting held on 8 March 2022, as a true record.

To submit a report by the Senior Harbours Officer.

To note and accept the report.

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

(1)     The Senior Harbours Officer's report, giving a brief update to the committee on harbour matters for the period from March 2022 to September 2022.

Matters were raised under the following headings:-

Introduction

Referring to the Harbour Committee's Constitution, which was included as an appendix to the report and which listed the committee's membership, the Maritime Manager expressed his concern that so few of the representatives of the harbour users' various interests were attending the meetings. He stated his intention to contact those representatives to highlight the importance of securing their members' input, or that of their delegates, in order to have a cross-section of observations in the meetings.

Port Marine Safety Code

The Chair noted that Porthmadog Town Council had received a letter recently complaining that Personal Watercraft were coming too close to the shore in Samson Bay, and he asked if the maritime staff could have a word with those responsible.

In response, the Maritime Manager noted the following:-

·         The Service shared those concerns, and the maritime staff had dealt with fatal accidents involving Personal Watercraft, and also powerboats over the past years.

·         The Service was trying to improve control of this in this area of the harbour, especially over the summer season, but the incident in question had happened on 2nd of October, two days after the maritime staff had finished working on the beaches for the season.

·         There was photographic evidence available of the incident, and the Service would have a word with the owner of the watercraft and the owner of the company that provides training.

·         The number of complaints about Personal Watercraft and powerboats were decreasing overall, which showed that the Service's management of the situation, and people's behaviour, was improving.

·         If the public or staff could not flag down a driver of a watercraft who was driving irresponsibly or too close to the shore, the Council had a registration system in place so that the owner could be identified fairly quickly.  It was agreed that it was not always easy to see the registration number, but the driver was bound to come ashore somewhere.

·         Robert Owen, as the representative for this industry on the committee, was proactively encouraging responsible and good use of the watercraft.

·         PWC Gwynedd had held the 'Black Rock Blast' event to promote responsible and safe behaviour when using Personal Watercraft.  The Council was also sharing evidence of irresponsible behaviour with PWC Gwynedd so that they could upload it on their website. 

·         It was difficult to police the length and breadth of the coastline, and although the Service had a boat in Porthmadog Harbour it was not always possible to get it out.  However, the Service would try to improve this for next year.

·         Anglesey and Conwy Councils had adopted a system of registering watercraft, as had existed in Gwynedd for years, and it would be good if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To elect observers to serve on the following -

a) Aberdyfi Harbour Consultative Committee

b) Barmouth Harbour Consultative Committee

c) Pwllheli Harbour Consultative Committee

Since so few members were present at this meeting, to defer the election of an observer(s) to serve on the Aberdyfi, Barmouth and Pwllheli Harbour Consultative Committees for now, and contact all the members as soon as possible to invite anyone interested to submit their names forward.

The committee was invited to elect an observer to receive information, or attend the meetings of the other three harbour committees.

RESOLVED that since so few members were present at this meeting, to defer the election of an observer to serve on the Aberdyfi, Barmouth and Pwllheli Harbours Consultative Committees for the time being, and to contact all the members as soon as possible to invite anyone interested to put their names forward.

To note that the next meeting of the Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committee will be held on 7^th March, 2023.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 7 March 2023.