Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Councillor Hefin Underwood, attending his first meeting, was welcomed.

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 20 October 2015, be signed as a true record.

The Chairman signed the minutes of the previous meeting of the Consultative Committee, held on 20 October, 2015, 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 October 2015 and March 2016, drawing attention to the following main points:

·         The Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Consultation on Proposed Special Areas of Conservation for Harbour Porpoise and Proposed New and Extended Special Protection Areas for Seabirds - it was noted that the organisations should submit a response to the consultation directly if they wished to do so.  It was confirmed that the consultation closing date would be 19 April 2016.

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

·         There had been a delay in developing the draft Performance Measures in relation to the management of the harbours and beaches. The Senior Economy and Community Manager noted that the measures used by others would be investigated, in order to develop measures of impact, quality and safety.  The draft measures would be circulated for the attention of members.

·         Trinity House Lighthouse Authority had conducted an inspection on 24 February 2016.  The report drew attention to the service's failure to comply with the 'Panar' requirements and drew attention to the fact that permission was needed from Trinity House before the location of aids to navigation was moved.  It was noted that it was not always practically possible to receive prior permission.

·         Following consultation with the Consultative Committee at the previous meeting, agreement had been reached on the location of the maximum speed zone buoys and it was confirmed that it was necessary to continue to maintain the buoys on South Beach in 2016. It was agreed that the maximum speed zone buoys in the Glandon area needed to be amended in order to reflect the activities held in this area of Pwllheli harbour. It was noted that the new scheme would be operational from May onwards.

·         Dredging work had been undertaken to dredge the harbour entrance and to level the navigable channel bed, and further work would be undertaken during the summer to retain the levels. A hydrographic survey would be held during the coming weeks to confirm the levels.

·         67K of dredged material had been moved to Carreg y Defaid.

·         Details were provided on the financial position of the  Harbour and Hafan up to the end of February 2016.

·         Details of the fees were provided, noting that individuals could pay in 10 instalments for the annual mooring in Hafan Pwllheli, with the cost now only 5% higher than paying a lump sum, compared with the previous 8%. It was noted that this payment option would encourage mooring holders to remain, and to attract others to take an annual mooring.

·         Reference was made to the investments during the period, and it was noted that work on the shelter and the North Quay footbridge would be completed in 2016/17 following consultation with the Town Council.

·         It was hoped that there would be an improvement in the situation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To note that the next meeting will be held on 18 October 2016.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 18 October, 2016.