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Agenda item

The Chairman will propose that the minutes of the meeting of this committee, held on 12 October 2016, be signed as a true record.

Minutes:

The Chairman signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this Committee, held on 12 October, 2016, as a true record.

 

The representative of the RNLI referred to support by members to the carrying out of a safety inspection of the areas of the Glaslyn estuary and Black Rock Sands and to a subsequent talks about how the situation could be improved using existing resources. The Maritime and Country Parks Officer had confirmed that he would contact the RNLI in relation to the safety inspection. He expressed his dissatisfaction that this had not taken place and that the Officer had stated in January that officers from the service would complete the safety inspection. He noted that he had emailed the Senior Manager - Economy and Community Department but had not received a response.

 

The Chairman highlighted the fact that this was a Consultative Committee and, as such, there was no necessity on officers to act.

 

The Senior Manager – Economy and Community Department noted that he appreciated the observations of the RNLI representative and accepted his concerns. He noted, because of the scarcity of resources and the likelihood of not being able to implement risk mitigating measures, that they were avoiding carrying out a high number of inspections. He emphasised that the Council welcomed partners' input, including the RNLI, and cooperated with the institute in mitigating risks at Barmouth. He apologised that the representative had not received a response to his email and that he would give the email due consideration.

 

In response to an observation by a member that it would be useful to have the RNLI's input with regard to Porthmadog, the Senior Manager - Economy and Community Department stated that the Service prioritised according to risk.

 

The member expressed his disappointment that the RNLI's input was not sought as regards the inspection of the Glaslyn estuary and Black Rock Sands areas, noting that the Council could consider the matters highlighted by the Institute and prioritise actions to mitigate the risks.

 

The Maritime and Country Parks Officer noted that the Service did take the opinion of the Consultative Committee into consideration. It was reported that experienced officers from the Service had carried out an inspection and were, consequently, in the process of installing more signs in the area as well as revising information leaflets given to beach users emphasising the risks at the North Bank.

 

The RNLI representative noted that the institute wished to continue collaborating with the Service and offered the same assistance at Porthmadog as was provided at Barmouth and Tywyn. He added that he acknowledged that expertise existed within the Service but that he was dissatisfied that the Maritime and Country Parks Officer had not contacted the RNLI having confirmed at the previous meeting that he would do so.

 

In response, the Maritime and Country Parks Officer stated that a risk assessment of the Morfa Bychan area had been completed by the RNLI two years previous, and it was not considered timely to revisit.

 

The Harbour Master confirmed that a new sign (in accordance with the RNLI design) had been installed on Lôn Gwydryn and three more signs would be installed, along with another at Borth-y-Gest, upon which would be a tides table.

 

A member noted that it would be useful for the Council to seek the opinion of outside organisations and that this should be welcomed.

 

In response to an enquiry by a member regarding the latest on the Porthmadog Sailing Club's plan to install pontoons at the Harbour wall, the Leisure Interests Representative noted that investigation and assessment work was ongoing.

 

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