Agenda item

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

The Maritime and Country Parks Officer guided the members through the report, drawing attention to the following main points:

·         No observations had been received relating to the Marine Safety Code since the previous meeting. 

·         It was anticipated that an auditor from the Coastguard Agency would visit the Council during the autumn to inspect the current code and provide advice regarding any improvements.

·         A hazardous shipwreck had been disposed of and steps had been taken to remove a boat located on Cei Balast by issuing a final warning to the owner.

·         That the boat on the slipway where an individual resided had been moved as a result of concerns.

·         That six notices to mariners were in force as some of the aids to navigation had moved off station and it had not been possible to re-site them in the correct location to date as a result of the inclement weather. It was hoped that the work of re-siting them would be completed in the coming fortnight.  

·         That Cwch y Dwyfor was being maintained by Partington Marine in Pwllheli at the moment with necessary work being undertaken.

·         Trinity House's Lighthouse Authority had conducted an inspection on 24 February 2016. The report had drawn 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 practicably possible to receive prior permission.

·         That the work of mooring maintenance had been completed today and that the investment would be of great benefit to the Harbour.

·         That 97 applications for annual moorings had been received and that 92 of them were returning customers.

·         Investment had been made in a new quality CCTV system that would serve as a weapon to tackle crime and disorder.   

·         The budgetary situation up to the end of February 2016, and noted that the income received in terms of Harbour car park fees were of great assistance to secure a budget that was generally balanced at the end of the financial year.

·         That the fees of the 2016-17 financial year had increased by 1% and that the water craft registration payments in relation to postal payments and applications made in the Harbour Office had now been aligned. 

·         That the Harbour Master's secondment had been extended until the end of September 2016 with a development plan in place in terms of meeting the post's requirements.

·         The Consultation of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on Proposed Special Areas of Conservation and Proposed Special Protection Areas - it was noted that the organisations should submit a response to the consultation directly if they wished to do so. 

Members' views were sought in relation to the relocation of the Fairway buoy, it was noted that Trinity House supported the principle. The Leisure Interests Representative noted the buoy could be moved slightly but that there was a need to consider that the harbour mouth was moving. The RNLI Representative noted that the organisation had discussed the matter and had advised that the buoy should not be relocated. The Commercial Interests Representative noted that the buoy was in the incorrect location and that mariners from the direction of Pwllheli could not see it. 

It was reported that a request had been received from an individual to sell light refreshments on Harbour land, it was noted that one concession currently existed for the sale of ice cream. The Local Member stated that he was open to the option.  It was noted that an exemption clause would be included, preventing the applicant from operating when events were held, should the concession be granted. Members noted that the companies on the quay should be consulted before progressing and consider holding a tendering process for the concession to ensure transparency and give everyone an opportunity. Consideration should also be given to the impact of locating the van on the mood of the area and the visual quality of the van selling light refreshments.  

The Harbour Master provided details on the maintenance work programme and members were asked to inform the service of any other work that needed to be done. In response to an enquiry by a member, it was noted that the container would be moved near the Harbour Office.

The Chair congratulated the Harbour Master on the extension to the secondment to his post.

During the meeting, the Maritime and Country Parks Officer responded to observations from the members as follows:

·         That terms of use would be drawn up for individuals who lived on their boats to coincide with the Harbour Regulations and they would be submitted before the Consultative Committee for approval.

·         The situation regarding parking and keeping boats on the grass in Borth-y-Gest would be revisited.

·         Acknowledgement was shown regarding the concern about buoys being off-station and every user was advised to contact the Harbour Office before entering the Harbour so that they avoided getting into difficulties. 

·         In the context of the Council's Parking Order, the Harbour car park income would continue to come to the Harbour in accordance with the existing agreement.