Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To elect a Chair for 2024/25.

To elect Councillor Gwilym Jones as Chair for 2024/25.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Gwilym Jones as chair for 2024/25.   

Condolences were extended to the family of Dr John Jones-Morris who had been a faithful member of this committee for many years.

To elect a Vice-chair for 2024/25.

To elect Councillor June Jones as Vice-chair for 2024/25.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor June Jones as vice-chair for 2024/25.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Dr Melfyn Edwards (Representing Porthmadog Town Council) and Robert Owen (Representing Commercial Interests).

To receive any declarations 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 Chair.

No urgent items were received.

The Chair will propose that the minutes of the meeting of this committee, held on 27^th February 2024, be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous committee meeting held on 27 February 2024 as a true record.

To submit a report by the Senior Harbours Officer.

To note and accept the report.

The reports below were submitted, 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 2024 to October 2024.

Further to the content of the written report, the Senior Harbours Officer noted that he would be retiring in full on 31 March 2025, following a period of flexible retirement.  He noted that his job had been advertised and it was hoped that this would be filled before Christmas so that the new post holder could shadow him in the role over the coming months. 

In response to questions from members, the Maritime Services Manager stated that the job advertisement had been out for around a week and that two applications had been received to date. He intended to monitor the situation over the coming days, and if very few additional applications would arrive, there would be a need to consider spreading the job advertisement in the press, etc. 

The Senior Harbours Officer thanked the Committee for their support over the years.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked the Senior Harbours Officer for all of his work over the years, and he wished him a happy retirement. The Maritime Service Manager and Harbourmaster also thanked him for his service and noted that he would be missed.

Financial Matters

The Maritime Service Manager provided a brief summary of the Harbour's budgets 01/04/24 - 31/03/25 (August 2024 Review), included as an appendix to the report. The following was specifically noted:–

·       That there was an overspend under the Employees heading due to overtime costs. It was noted that harbour staff had been assisting in other harbours and also on Morfa Bychan beach due to staff recruitment difficulties this year.  It was also noted that the officers had had to respond to some incidents outside normal working hours.

·       That there was a substantial underspend under the Property heading and this money could be used to meet the overspend under other budget headings.

·       That the figure of £39 in the 'Projected Spend' column under the 'Transport' heading was wrong, and that the actual figure could not be confirmed at present; it was not anticipated that it would be higher than the sum of £800 earmarked for it in the budget.

·       That there was an overspend under the Services and Supplies heading for many reasons, specifically: due to high maintenance costs and boat maintenance and the need to upgrade the Harbour's CCTV system and invest in new safety equipment.

·       That £30,000 was earmarked in the Maritime Fund in order to improve the land and compound in Porthmadog Harbour with the work happening over the autumn and winter months.  The Committee would be updated on the development of the plan at the next meeting.

·       An income deficit of £5,210 was anticipated, mainly due to the poor weather over the summer months and the reduction in the number of registered powerboats.

·       In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To note that the next meeting of the Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committee will be held on 4^th March, 2025

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 4 March 2025.