Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Councillor Peter Read (Gwynedd Council).

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 Chairman will propose that the minutes of the meeting of this committee, held on 18 October 2016, be signed as a true record.

The Chairman signed the minutes of the Consultative Committee meeting that took place on 18 October, 2016 as a true record.

To submit a written 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:

·       Members were requested that any matters relating to the Maritime Safety Code be brought to the attention of the Service.

·         The Service had expected an inspection of the code by an inspector from the Coastguard Agency in January. However, unfortunately, due to the lack of capacity the inspection has not taken place and the Service was awaiting for the inspection to be re-organised. It was anticipated that the inspection would take place in September 2017.

·      Following a comment made at the previous meeting, the light on the Navigational Buoy had been changed so that it could now be seen at a further distance from the sea. Reference was made to the strength of the security lighting of the Blue Marine Water company, the Maritime Traders Association Representative noted that he would raise the matter with the company. 

·         The Service, jointly with the RNLI, had commenced a review of the safety signage in the Harbour area and on Pwllheli beaches. The Service would respond to the recommendations of the review and it was hoped that any new sign would contribute to safety on this section of the Gwynedd coast. 

·      Details were given of the Harbour and the Hafan's current financial position and it was noted that the Service was confident that the budget would be in accordance with the target except for an income shortfall in Hafan. 

·      How financial information is presented to the Consultative Committee would be reviewed.

·      The Council had supported the Service's request to reconcile the charging process in Hafan. From 1 April onwards, the process for charging a fee for a pontoon mooring would return to a boat Length Overall (LOA) arrangement in Hafan Pwllheli.  It was anticipated that this would reduce the cost of an annual mooring for 95% of the customers on a banding charging arrangement and it was hoped that this would attract new customers to Hafan over the next three years.

·         In 2017 the Council would have to add a fee for each mooring in every Harbour under the Council's management.  It was explained that the fee has been added by the Crown Estate who would claim £25.00 from each mooring in the external harbour. It was noted that the Council, as the Harbour Authority, was required to charge and collect this fee on behalf of the Crown Estate. It was added that the additional fee was also payable for visitor moorings and this payment would need to be funded via the Harbour budget. 

An update was given on the work to be undertaken in accordance with the Dredging Strategy, it was noted that an inspection of the channel would be undertaken during the next most favourable low tide and a hydrographic survey would be done to identify if bed levelling work would need to be commissioned in the channel. It was noted that the work of dredging the harbour mouth  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To note that the next meeting will be held on 17 October 2017.

It was reported that the Member Support Officer would write to the organisation/societies in May to request their constitutions / annual general meeting minutes together with confirmation of their representatives.

It was noted that the next meeting would take place on 17 October, 2017.