Agenda, decisions and minutes

To elect a Chair for 2022/23.

Councillor Hefin Underwood was elected as Chair of Pwllheli Harbour Consultative Committee for the year 2022/23.

To elect Councillor Hefin Underwood as Chair of this Committee for the year 2022/23.

To elect a Vice-Chair for 2022/23.

Councillor Elin Hywel was elected as Vice-chair of Pwllheli Harbour Consultative Committee for the year 2022/23.

To elect Councillor Elin Hywel as Chair of this Committee for the year 2022/23

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Councillor Richard G Roberts and Councillor Nia Jeffreys

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.

Due to concerns about issues relating to Dinas Dinlle Air Ambulance Site, a letter of concern should be sent in the name of the Committee.

Councillor Elin Hywel drew an urgent matter to the Committee’s attention, with the permission of the Chair, regarding Dinas Dinlle Air Ambulance Site. She noted the importance of responding to the consultation as the Pwllheli Harbour Consultative Committee.

The Chairman will propose that the minutes of the meeting of this committee, held on 15^th March, 2022, be signed as a true record.

The Chairman signed the minutes of the previous committee meeting held on 15 March, 2022, as a true record. Jenny Moss requested for the programme to clearly reflect that she represented Pwllheli Marina Berth Holders' Association on the Committee.

To submit the report of the Hafan Pwllheli and Harbour Commercial Manager.

Update on Harbour Management Matters

Hafan and Pwllheli Harbour Statistics

Financial Report 2022 – 2023

Performance Management Hafan and Pwllheli Harbour 2022

To note and accept the report

The Pwllheli Hafan and Harbour Commercial Manager introduced himself formally to the Committee making reference to the paper that provided an update on the Harbour and Hafan Management and Operational matters.  He elaborated on some matters as follows: -

1.1  Port Marine Safety Code

It was confirmed that the Harbours Officer would look in detail at the Safety Code.  In terms of the Duty holder, it was confirmed it had now been transferred to Councillor Nia Jeffreys as the Economy and Community portfolio holder and she had already visited.

It was confirmed that complaints regarding safety has come to light, including

·       No Harbour Master in Pwllheli

·       No management of personal watercraft, and concern that someone will suffer harm

In response, it was noted that staffing changes had been made including appointing an Assistant Harbour Master, and that the team was currently full.  It was also confirmed that the Harbour Deputy Manager,Wil Williams, was the Harbourmaster of Pwllheli.

It was confirmed that the Hafan and Mooring Master had been out to try and slow the personal watercraft and that there was work to install a loudspeaker on the harbourmaster's building, that would be ready by the summer term next year.  Reference was made to the work of promoting and informing the speed and it confirmed that the Police vessel had been on the water for two weeks.

In response to a question about the intention to place identification numbers on personal watercraft, it was confirmed that they should have numbers by now, and to be fair a vast number did.  It was confirmed that the Maritime Traders were spreading the safety message but managing access could be problematic.

It was confirmed that CCTV cameras had been installed on the slipway and that the work of monitoring the Parking and Launching Companies was taking place in order to ensure everyone’s safety.  It was noted that the camera picks up the numbers, especially near the fuel quay, and additionally that people share personal videos and pictures with the Council.  It was confirmed that the cameras had been installed from the mouth of the Marina in order to try and have eyes everywhere.

It was questioned had there been a prosecution following some of the stupid things people had done, but it was noted although there had been accidents that no prosecution had come from this, mainly as personal watercraft were not categorised as ships.  It was noted that unfortunately it was not possible to manage all the coast.

1.2  Dredging the Channel

It was confirmed that this work had been very successful in May, and that the same effort would be made at the start of 2023, the specific timing was dependent on the timing of the shallow water.  It was confirmed that a discussion had taken place with Welsh Water regarding purchasing or leasing the land.  One of the other challenges was emptying the marina basin, but it was reported that work in collaboration with Gwynedd Consultancy was on the horizon to  ...  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) Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committee

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Stephen Tudor to serve as an observer on the Aberdyfi, Barmouth and Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committees. 

RESOLVED:

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Stephen Tudor to serve as an observer on the Aberdyfi, Barmouth and Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committees. 

To note that the next meeting of the Pwllheli Harbour Consultative Committee will be held on Tuesday 14^th March, 2023.

It was noted that the next meeting will take place on 14th March, 2023 at 6pm.  The Committee noted their wish to meet face-to-face when the Council would open this out to more committees.