Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for this Committee for 2017-18.

 

Resolved:       To elect Councillor Gethin Williams as Chair of this Committee for 2017/18.

 

To elect a Vice-Chairman for this Committee for 2017-18.

 

Resolved:       To elect Councillor Eryl Jones-Williams as Vice-chair of this Committee for 2017/18.

 

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Ioan Ceredig Thomas (Cabinet Member - Economy), Cllr.  Louise Hughes (Gwynedd Council), Mr John Johnson (Barmouth and Cardigan Bay Sea Fisheries Association), Mr Arthur F. Jones (Senior Harbours Officer).

 

To receive any declaration of personal interest.

The following members declared a personal connection for the reasons noted:  

 

(a)          Cllr. Gethin Williams – member of the Community Trust  

(b)          Cllr. Julian Kirkham  - related to one of the ferry operators  

(c)           Mr Mike Ellis - member of the Three Peaks Race Committee

(d)          Mrs Wendy Ponsford – member of the Yacht Club and the Community Trust

(e)          Cllr. Rob Triggs – member of the Community Trust and the Yacht Club  

(f)            Mr Martin Parouty – a commercial operator in the Harbour and member of the Yacht Club and the Community Trust  

(g)          Dr John Smith – member of the Yacht Club and the Community Trust

 

Members did not vote on the matters that dealt with their personal interest. 

 

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the Barmouth Consultative Committee held on 14 March 2017.

 

(Copy enclosed)

Submitted:     Minutes of a meeting of the Barmouth Harbour Consultative Committee that took place on 14 March 2017.

 

Resolved:        To accept and approve the minutes as a true record.

 

To consider a report by the Maritime and Country Parks Officer.

Submitted:     The report of the Maritime and Country Parks Officer, Mr Barry Davies, updating the committee on Harbour management matters with specific reference to the following:-

(a)          Membership of Consultative Committee -  the Barmouth Viaduct Access Group was asked to submit their constitution and minutes of their Annual General Meeting to the Member Support Officer, in accordance with the resolution of the Gwynedd Council Cabinet in 2014.  

 

The organisations / institutions would need to submit this information annually.

 

(b)          Barmouth Moorings and Boat Registration - an additional list was presented to Members during the meeting and reference was made to two boats that had recently broken away from their moorings.  

 

It was stressed that there was nothing wrong with the moorings, but the link between the front of the boat and the buoy had broken and this was the responsibility of the boat owner.   Boat owners are regularly encouraged to ensure that they follow the appropriate guidance and that the moorings are fit for purpose  In response to an enquiry from a member, it was confirmed that Harbour staff checked and ensured that the strops were suitable.  The Maritime Service felt frustrated in light of the fact that there were arrangements in place to submit appropriate current documentation to the Harbour master, however, some individuals did not conform.  In future, it was suggested that an audit of all the moorings should be conducted and if they were not in accordance with the Service guidance, there would be no other option but to exclude them from the Harbour and instruct the moorings to be removed.  

 

The importance of establishing a robust process to deal with the above matter was emphasised and it was suggested that it would be useful to revise the By-laws in order to operate in a stricter way in the future.  The support of the Consultative Committee to this suggestion was welcomed and Members were encouraged to spread the message to their organisations about the importance that moorings reach the requirements and are fit for purpose.    

 

In response to an enquiry regarding the statistics for powerboats / yachts and that the percentage in Meirionnydd had reduced compared to the increase in Pen Llŷn, the Maritime and Country Parks Officer explained that Pwllheli had been identified as a location to stage local races and the town had a strong sailing industry.   

 

It was added that the Meirionnydd Yacht Club did excellent work with the youth in the town of Barmouth.

 

Resolved:       To approve that the Maritime Service conducts a review of the Harbour By-laws in order to establish a strong procedure to be put in place to submit appropriate documentation of the suitability of moorings.    

 

(c)          Port Marine Safety Code 

 

The Maritime and Country Parks Officer reported that the Coastguard Agency's inspectors (MCA), Welsh Government Transportation Department, carried out a review of the current safety arrangements and systems of the County's harbours and their report would be submitted to the next Harbour Consultative Committee meeting in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

(a)       Local Member:

 

1.    Report on the barrier

2.    Future of the pontoon?

3.    Request for a ‘cordoned off’ activities area

4.    Request to hold a local competition to design (and build) a unique ‘beach hut’ for Barmouth (rather than using the usual steel container).

5.    Status of harbour resources (machinery, etc)

6.    Lack of attendance on event dates

 

 

(b)       Barmouth Town Council:

 

1.    General tidiness and storage around the harbour

2.    Income streams

3.    Compound road parking

4.    Mooring maintenance and report forms

 

 

(c)       Arthog Community Council:

 

1.    Penrhyn Point Management Update

2.    Penrhyn Drive South Slipway

 

 

(d)       Merioneth Yacht Club:

 

1.    To discuss an Open swimming area in the confines of the Harbour

2.   Very little space for Fin Keel boats

3.   Possible use of Concrete Scour matting to rectify drop at bottom of slip

 

 

(e)       Barmouth Harbour Users Group:

 

1.    Pontoon – transition of responsibility, care and maintenance.

2.    Moorings – advice on whether moorings should be taken ashore every winter

3.    Powerboat / Personal watercraft exclusion zone – reinstating buoys to mark the bathing zone to ensure a safer area for bathing

 

 

 

(a)          Request for a cordoned off activities area

 

The Chair reported that he had received a request to designate a cordoned off activities area in the harbour for leisure activity use. 

 

Resolved:       To approve that the matter is investigated and to ask the persons who made the request to contact the Maritime and Country Parks Officer to discuss their ideas further. 

 

(b)          A request to hold a local competition to design (and build) a unique 'beach hut' for Barmouth  

 

The Chair reported that something more aesthetic than what already existed was required that would be of benefit to tourism. 

 

Resolved:       To approve the idea in principle and for those interested in the above to contact the Maritime and Country Parks Officer to further discuss any ideas that come to hand.

 

(c)          General tidiness and storage around the Harbour

 

A complaint had been received from a member of the public about fishing tackle in the harbour and there was no room for children to go crabbing.    The importance that fishermen store their fishing tackle in the compound was noted.

 

Resolved:       To request that the Maritime and Country Parks Officer discusses the matter with the fishermen to ensure that the pots are stored and to leave a gap for people to be able to walk around them.  

 

(ch) Income Streams

 

It was asked if there was any way to increase the Harbour's income?   It was noted that many more canoes and kayaks were to be seen and did the authority charge them a fee? 

 

A member stated that there was so much coming and going by boats in the Harbour area that increasing water use around the Harbour would create a safety risk. 

 

In response, the Maritime and Country Parks Officer explained that they tried to encourage activities in the Harbour and no fee was charged as it would not be cost effective, in light of the fact that it would cost more to administer the arrangements to collect the fees. 

 

Resolved:       To accept and note the above.

 

(d)          Parking on the road near the compound 

 

It was noted that the contractors would be given first choice in terms of parking on the above land.

 

Resolved:       To accept and note the above.

 

 

(dd) Mooring Maintenance and feedback forms

 

It was reported that the above matter would be discussed with the relevant staff in November.

 

Resolved:       To accept and note the above.

 

(e)          The latest regarding management of Penrhyn Point

 

Cllr. Julian Kirkham reported what had been discussed at a recent meeting of Arthog Community Council and they would be making an application to the Council's Highways Department for assistance to:  

·         Paint parking areas near the turning and passing area

·         Install a pay and display machine in the parking area, with the following words to be included on the pay signs "Money from this pay and display machine will go towards keeping Friog toilets open".

·         Erect a strong height restriction barrier.  It would be necessary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To elect observers to serve on the following -

 

a) Aberdyfi Harbour Consultative Committee

b) Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committee

c) Pwllheli Harbour Consultative Committee

 

To consider nominations for observers to serve on the following committees:

 

(a)  Aberdyfi Harbour Consultative Committee

(b)  Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committee

(c)   Pwllheli Harbour Consultative Committee

 

The names of the following three Members were submitted and they will decide amongst themselves which meeting they will attend:

 

Cllr. Rob Triggs

Cllr. Julian Kirkham

Mr Martin Parouty

 

Resolved: To request that the Member Support Officer sends the dates to them in order to decide and confirm who will attend the meetings.

 

To note that the next meeting of the Barmouth Harbour Consultative Committee will be held on 6 March 2017.

Resolved:       It was noted that the next meeting would take place on 6 March 2018.