Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for 2016/17.

RESOLVED to re-elect Councillor Michael Sol Owen as Chairman of this Committee for 2016/17.

To elect a Vice-chairman 2016/17.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Hefin Underwood as Vice-chairman of this Committee for 2016/17.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Councillor Peter Read (Gwynedd Council), W. A. Partington (Maritime Traders Association), Councillor Mici Plwm (Pwllheli Town Councillor) and Councillor Mandy Williams-Davies (Cabinet Member for Economy).

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 22 March 2016, be signed as a true record.

The Chairman signed the minutes of the Consultative Committee meeting held on 22 March, 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, which provided a brief update of the period between April 2016 and October 2016, drawing attention to the following main points:

·         58 boats were moored in the outer Harbour, and 18 boats were moored at the Plas Heli pontoon. This temporary offer was made due to uncertainty as to the condition of moorings in Areas 5 and 6. In general, this meant a total of 83 boats being moored in 2016 compared to 87 boats in 2015.

·         It was confirmed that 287 were on annual pontoon mooring at the Hafan, namely 68% of the total number of pontoon moorings available. This compared with 292 boats on pontoon moorings in 2015.

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

·         The Senior Harbours Officer would review the safety code and the Senior Coastguard Inspector would visit the Council in February 2017 to inspect and give feedback on the code.

·         The Service continued to develop Performance Measures in relation to harbour management. The draft measures would be circulated for the attention of members and it was hoped that members could contribute to the measures in 2017-18.

·         Trinity House Lighthouses Authority conducted an inspection on 26 July 2016.  The 2016 report confirmed improvements in the condition and locations of navigational aids at harbours in Gwynedd.

·         The 'Hafan y Môr' navigational aid remained off-station. Although the Council was not responsible for the navigation aid, it was the Council's responsibility to ensure that the owner of the navigational aid conformed to the requirements of Trinity House. The Service had sent correspondence to Hafan y Môr managers stating the requirement to re-locate the navigational aid on its station as a matter of urgency.

·         Following consultation with the Consultative Committee, minor improvements were made to the setting of buoys in the high speed zone of the Glandon area; and, during the summer season, additional buoys were installed because power boats were straying close to the shore, occasionally at high speeds. It was noted that despite the minor improvements, there had been several complaints by the public about power boats navigating at high speeds in the area. The Service has identified the boat and a warning letter was sent to the boat owner.   

·         The Harbour and the Hafan's financial situation up to the end of September 2016 were mentioned in detail.

Areas 5 and 6 were referred to, noting the need to plan substantial work on the moorings due to accumulated mud in the area and the increasing size of banks. It was noted that a number of customers moored in Areas 5 and 6 in 2016 had taken the opportunity to moor at the Plas Heli pontoon in 2016 and Plas Heli was thanked for its cooperation.

It was reported that a quotation of approximately £8,000 had been received (for equipment only) to remove all the existing moorings from Areas 5  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To note that the next meeting will be held on 21 March 2017.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 21 March, 2017.