Agenda item

To receive and consider a report by the Maritime Officer, Mr Barry Davies.

Submitted:                 To members, during the meeting, a written report by the Maritime and Country Parks Officer, on activities in Barmouth Harbour. 

 

The Senior Harbours Officer read the report to Members and specific reference were made to the following:

 

(a)          Registration of Powerboats

 

In response to a query by a Member regarding registration of boats via alternative arrangements, it was reported that most of the registrations from caravan sites were referred to the Harbour Master’s Office and the risk assessments are undertaken by the Harbour Master and are reviewed by the Maritime and Country Parks Officer and / or the Senior Harbours Officer.  It was assured that everything was all in hand.

 

Resolved:       To accept and note the above.

 

(b)          Navigation

 

It was reported that works are ongoing on the navigational aids since there had been delays due to the local contractor having been away.  Two new buoys are in the process of being purchased as well as new lights and it was assured that the Maritime Service was anxious to get the navigational aids up to scratch since it is a priority from a health and safety aspect.  The Senior Harbours Officer stated that he hoped that the works will be completed within the next 2/3 weeks.  It was further noted that the bar buoy is exposed to the weather and the Maritime Service is in discussion with Hydrosphere with regard to a suitable type. 

 

The Barmouth Harbour Users Group representative queried as to why had the navigational aids been neglected for so long.  In response, the Senior Harbours Officer stated that since he had only been in post since February that he was not aware that they had been neglected.  The Chairman reminded the Committee that the Harbour Users Group at the last meeting of this Committee had congratulated the Maritime Service for the standard of the navigational aids.

 

The Senior Manager – Economy and Community stated that there is no easy answer as to the neglect of the navigational aids but it comes down to a number of factors.  Inspection of all Harbours’ navigational aids had been undertaken by Trinity House and in terms of Barmouth Harbour there were lessons to be learnt and hopefully these would be rectified in the near future.

 

With regard to lights on the buoys in poor condition and particularly last Saturday (10.10.15), the Harbour Master stated that the navigational aids had been brought in for repair and a notice to mariners had been issued to this effect (a copy of the notices were circulated to members during the meeting for information).  In terms of the Fairway buoy, the light had been turned up to its maximum, a new light was on order for the bar buoy and it was assured that the navigational lights would be in working order as soon as possible.

 

It was further stated that good buoyage channel is very important especially for the purpose of encouraging more people to visit the Harbour.

 

The Senior Manager – Economy and Community accepted the comments made and appealed to Members of the Committee and users to contact the Harbour Master if they have any concern regarding the navigational aids.  

 

Resolved:       To accept and note the above.

 

(c)  Work Programme

 

The Senior Harbours Officer listed the schedule for the work programme at Barmouth Harbour for the next three months which included the following:

 

• Removing the pontoon fingers
• Examining and maintaining the remaining section of the pontoon
• Perch ladder
• Maintaining and refurbishment of the buoys
• Cleaning the compound
• Maintaining the notice boards
• Maintaining benches
• Cleaning and repairing the breakwater perch
• Maintaining the fencing on the harbour wall
• Maintaining the promenade
• Maintaining the dinghy racks

 

The Harbour Master confirmed that he had undertaken work to the Ferry steps.

 

Members commented as follows:

 

(i)            The rack for dinghies will be a huge improvement

(ii)   With regard to the benches, it was noted that the Barmouth Town Council own and were responsible for some and that a cross-reference be made as to the ownership

 

Resolved:       To accept and note the above.

 

(d)  Budgets

 

The Senior Harbours Officer issued a budget spreadsheet and members were guided through the information when it was noted that there was an underspend of £5,946.  In response to a query about depreciation of £11,900, the Senior Manager – Economy and Community stated that this appeared as a form of summary budget which refers to assets, buildings across the Council’s whole Services and that it does not affect the Barmouth Harbour budget.

 

In response to a query with regard to a budget of £3,000 on administration books, it was confirmed that this referred to log books, ordering books, etc. but that further enquiry be made by the Senior Harbours Officer with regard to this.

 

In view of the fact that there were two separate budget spreadsheets, it was requested in future that only one be submitted in order to avoid confusion for members.

 

 

Resolved:       (a)        To accept the budget spreadsheet subject to further enquiries being made as to reference 3250 – administration books.

 

                        (b)       That the Maritime Service be requested to submit one budget spreadsheet to future meetings for ease of reference to members.

 

 

(e)       Staffing

 

It was confirmed that Dafydd Rhun Thomas’ will be based at Porthmadog until 31 December 2015 and will be working at Barmouth, Aberdyfi and Hafan, Pwllheli, as necessary. 

 

With regard to Dafydd Rhun Thomas being on duty in Barmouth on the Harbour Master’s annual leave days, the Senior Harbours Officer stated that this matter would be referred to the Maritime and Country Parks Officer’s decision.  It was further confirmed that a member of staff would be on duty from 1^st April to October in the Harbour.

 

Resolved:       To accept and note the above.

 

 

(f)        Events

 

Reference was made to the events which had been organised during 2015 which included:

 

• Three Peaks Race
• Barmouth “Paddlesports” rowing events
• Barmouth “Motorcross” event
• Bamouth Yacht Club training events for dinghy sailing

 

It was appealed to members of the Committee that if they were aware of any events, that they please let the Senior Harbours Officer or the Harbour Master know in order that preparatory arrangements be made in terms of risk assessment, staffing, etc. 

 

Resolved:       To accept and note the above.

 

 

(g)          Port Marine Safety Code - National Consultation

 

It was reported that the National Consultation document of the Port Marine Safety Code was in draft form and it was agreed to send an electronic Pdf copy to each member (members were requested to provide their e-mail addresses on a list which was circulated at the meeting).

 

Resolved:       That the Senior Harbours Officer forwards a copy of the Port Marine Safety Code to each member of the Consultative Committee who provided their e-mail address at the meeting.

 

(h)      Red Diesel Provision

 

A request was made by the Senior Harbours Officer that customers provide feed-back if they experience any difference in quality of the red diesel provision. 

 

It was further suggested that possibly the Harbour Master could send an e-mail to all clients to seek their views.

 

Resolved:       To accept and note the above.

 

(i)            2016 Fees

 

It was noted that there would be 1% increase in the fees and charges for 2016/17.

 

During the ensuing discussion, the following matters were raised:

 

(a)  In reply to the concern of loss of income to Harbours, the Senior Manager – Economy and Community stated that each individual Harbour had to be sustainable in terms of income.  However, members were aware of the financial climate nowadays and the Maritime Service was endeavouring to encourage and restore activities across the coast.  The only Harbour making a profit was Hafan, Pwllheli.

(b)  A member was of the view that if the Council invested in the Harbour it would mean a massive change to the town of Barmouth and there is a need to bring more visiting boats into the Harbour. 

(c)  In reply to the above, the Harbour Master stated that the service did not turn anybody down in terms of moorings and he went on to explain the procedure regarding the issuing of Council owned moorings as compared to privately owned moorings.  However, as an authority there are health and safety procedures which have to be adhered to and prioritised.

(d)  A suggestion was made as to whether the Senior Harbours Officer could investigate the possibility of forming a business plan for submission to the Heads of Department in terms of additional moorings.

(e)  In reply, the Senior Harbours Officer stated that the health and safety aspect was important and felt that there was a need to look at the bigger picture rather than increasing the moorings such as attracting more people to events.

(f)   It was stressed that the harbour moorings must be serviced on an yearly basis.  Due to anomalies between Council owned and privately owned moorings, the Harbour Master had been requested to produce a plan of every mooring in the Harbour in order that procedures with regard to health and safety be improved.  The Senior Harbours Officer went on to state that he, in consultation with the Maritime and Country Parks Officer, were in the process of looking at processes in respect of “permit to lay” whereby no person would be able to lay moorings without the necessary paper work and Harbour Master’s consent.  There is also a need for an annual inspection of all the moorings so as to ensure compliance with health and safety aspects and the need to raise awareness with customers as to exactly what requirements are needed.  The Chairman requested that a further report on the matter be submitted to the next meeting of the Harbour Committee in March 2016 together with a list of comparison of Council owned moorings in the other Gwynedd Harbours. 

(g)  In reply to a question as to whether the Harbour Service would be allowed to remove a vessel, the Harbour Master stated that vessels could be removed if the appropriate paper work with regard to inspections, insurance, etc., were not produced.

 

Resolved:                   (a)        To accept and note the above.

 

                                    (b)       That the Senior Harbours Officer submits a progress report to the next meeting of this Committee in March 2016 as outlined in (f) above.