Agenda, decisions and minutes

To elect a Chair for 2022/23.

Councillor Rob Triggs was elected as Chair of Barmouth Harbour Consultative  Committee for the year 2022/23.

Councillor Rob Triggs was elected as Chair of Barmouth Harbour Consultative  Committee for the year 2022/23.

To elect a Vice-chair for 2022/23.

Councillor Eryl Jones-Williams was elected as Vice-chair of Barmouth Harbour Consultative Committee for the year 2022/23.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Eryl Jones-Williams as Vice-chair of the Committee for the year 2022/23.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Louise Hughes (Cyngor Gwynedd) and Councillor Nia Jeffreys (Cabinet Member for Economic Development) as well as Wendy Ponsford (Meirionnydd Yacht Club), Mark James (RNLI) and Ian Sadler (Three Peaks Race Committee).

To receive any declaration of personal interest.

No declarations of personal interest were received.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the Barmouth Harbour Consultative Committee held on the 22^nd of March, 2022.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous committee meeting held on 22 March, 2022, as a true record.

To submit

a) a report by the Senior Harbours Officer

b) a report by the Harbourmaster

To note and accept the report.

The following reports were presented, and Members were invited to give observations on their content and to ask questions.

The Senior Harbour Officer's report, giving a brief update to the committee on harbour matters for the year ending March 2023. 

·       Members were reminded that the terms of reference of the harbour committees had been created under Section 102 of the Local Government Act 1972 and the Council's Cabinet had confirmed the membership.

·       It was confirmed that committee members needed to formally note that they cannot continue to attend the committee in order to formally change the membership and to elect new representatives.

·       It was explained that the Cabinet Member for the Economy and Community would be invited to attend meetings to discuss important matters with members, before reporting back to the Cabinet as required.

·       It was stated that there was a reduction in the number of boats on moorings in the harbour. It was confirmed that the numbers had also been reduced in other harbours in the county. By now the number of boats moored in the harbour continued to be high and the number of visitors to the town had increased.  It was emphasised that the number of boats registered had remained consistent.

·       It was stated that the condition of the moorings was very good and there had been fewer breakages this year. 

·       It was explained that officers were in the process of drafting a customer satisfaction questionnaire for next year. This will be a digital questionnaire and it was hoped that the initial figures would be available to be shared with the committee at the next meeting.

Port Marine Safety Code

·       Details were given that the harbour had received a thorough inspection by the Coastguard and had been given positive feedback.  The harbour had received an inspection by an external Designated Person, namely Captain Mark Forbes from Conwy County Borough Council. The Council had released a Statement of Compliance with the Safety Code to the Coastguard Agency as part of the required process.

·       It was mentioned that there had been a recent incident where a boat had sunk.  The boat was now on the beach and officers had contacted the boat's agent.  The owner has 21 days to remove the boat or officers will need to remove it from the site.  It was stated that such an incident was difficult to resolve quickly as difficulties arose regarding who was the landowner. Officers could not remove any boat off the land if it is private land or railway land. 

o   It was asked who would have to pay for the removal of this boat and the Harbour Manager confirmed that it was the Harbour Authority who would have to pay the cost. A re-payment of these costs could be received from the owner if there was proof that they own the boat. 

o   It was explained that Natural Resources Wales had a data base of abandoned boats and this could be useful for officers in the future. 

·       Concern was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To elect observers to serve on the following –

a) Aberdyfi Harbour Consultative Committee

b) Porthmadog Harbour Consultative Committee

c) Pwllheli Harbour Consultative Committee

To contact all committee members over e-mail in order for all members to have the opportunity to put themselves forward for this role.

It was resolved to contact all committee members via e-mail to give all the members an opportunity to put their names forward as observers.

To consider matters at the request of the Members.

None to note

To note that the next meeting of the Barmouth Harbour Consultative Committee will be held on the 28^th of March, 2023.

It was confirmed that the next meeting would be on the 28 March, 2023.

The opportunity was taken to thank the Harbour Manager for many years of hard work and his commitment and passion to the county's harbours.  He was wished well on his retirement.