To elect a Chairman/woman for the 2019/2020 Municipal Year.

Councillor Amil was elected as Chairwoman for the 2019/2020 Municipal Year.

            Councillor Amil in the Chair.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman/woman for the 2019/2020 Municipal Year.

Councillor Dudley was appointed Vice-Chairman for the 2019/2020 Municipal Year.

To receive apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Committee.

It was reported that, in accordance with the wishes of the Conservative Group, Independent Group and Liberal Democrat Group, the membership of the Committee had been amended for this meeting by including Councillors Hill, Morey and Mandy Darling instead of Councillors Barrand, Ellery and Dart respectively.

Apologies for absence were received from External Advisors Mr Blazeby and Mr Ellis.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 March 2019.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Harbour Committee held on 18 March 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairwoman.

To note the Harbour Committee’s Terms of Reference as approved at the Adjourned Annual Council meeting on 28 May 2019 and set out in the Council’s Constitution.

The Committee noted the current Terms of Reference for the Harbour Committee.

To appoint a Harbour Appointments Sub-Committee for 2018/2019.

The Committee considered the submitted report on the appointment of the Harbour Appointments Sub-Committee which considers applications for External Advisors to the Harbour Committee and makes recommendations to the Committee on suitable appointments to those positions.

Resolved:

That the Harbour Appointments Sub-Committee be appointed to comprise five members of the Harbour Committee (The Chairwoman, Vice Chairman and Councillors Bye, Dart and Mills) with the following Terms of Reference:

To consider ad hoc applications for external advisor positions on the Harbour Committee and recommend to the Harbour Committee the persons who should be appointed to those posts as and when vacancies arise, and to determine the rolling programme for advisors tenure.

To appoint two External Advisors to the Harbour Asset Review Working Party.

Members noted that the Harbour Asset Review Working Party was appointed, with the following Terms of Reference at the Adjourned Council meeting on 28 May 2019:

1.    To review all assets within Tor Bay Harbour and the Harbour Estate.

2.    To establish how each asset is performing.

3.    To identify any assets that are surplus.

The working party was subject to political balance with nominations for elected members made by group leaders.  Therefore nominations to fill the two External Advisor positions only were sought.

Resolved:

That the Harbour Asset Review Working comprise of elected members as nominated by group leaders and External Advisors Mr Day and Mr Stewart.

To appoint two External Advisors to the Harbour Budget Review Working Party.

Members noted that the Harbour Budget Review Working Party was appointed at the Adjourned Council meeting on 28 May 2019, the working party was subject to political balance with nominations for elected members made by group leaders.  Therefore nominations to fill the two External Advisor positions only were sought.

Resolved:

That the Harbour Budget Review Working Party comprise of elected members as nominated by group leaders and External Advisors Mr Ellis and Mr Stewart.

To appoint the Pilotage Review Working Party.

The Committee received the submitted report on the appointment of a Pilotage Review Working Party which reviews the Pilotage arrangements for Tor Bay Harbour.

Resolved:

That a Pilotage Review Working Party, comprising two of the External Advisors (Mr Buckpitt and Mr Stewart) be appointed to work alongside Officers to review the Pilotage arrangements for Tor Bay Harbour and to recommend to the Harbour Committee any amendments to the Pilotage Directions as and when appropriate.

To consider the Port Masterplan – Addendum 2019-2020.

Members considered the addendum to the Port Masterplan, the Tor Bay Harbour Master informed Members that having reviewed the Port Masterplan the strategic direction continued to be relevant with the aims and aspirations requiring a refresh.  Members were advised that a number of consultation events were held at the three harbours generating considerable feedback.

Members welcomed the refresh of the Port Masterplan, but felt the section on Paignton, whilst setting the scene, lacked clarity and aspiration for Paignton Harbour and requested the Tor Bay Harbour Master undertake further revisions.

Resolved:

That the Port Masterplan – Addendum 2019-2020 be revised further and presented to the Harbour Committee on 24 September 2019.

To consider a report on the above.

Members considered a report that sought to earmark up to £40,000 of Harbour Revenue Reserves to progress the proposed Brixham Harbour improvement scheme from the concept to the assessment phase. 

Resolved:

That the Harbour Committee requests the Interim Director of Place to approve the allocation of a further £40,000 of Harbour Revenue Reserves for the purposes of undertaking wave modelling to inform a future detailed business case for the Brixham Harbour Improvement Scheme.

To note a report that provides Members with projections of income and expenditure for the year 2019/20 compared with approved budgets.

The Committee noted a report that provided Members with details of the projected income and expenditure for the year 2019/2020 compared with approved budgets.  The Tor Bay Harbour Master advised Members the fish toll was down on this time last year as a result of the weather.  However following the successful introduction of the online auction, resulting in a world-wide market, the price of fish had increased offsetting the fish toll.

To note a report that provides Members with the details of the Tor Bay Harbour Authority final expenditure and income figures against budget targets for 2018/19.

Members noted a report that provided details of the Tor Bay Harbour Authority final expenditure and income figures against budget targets for 2018/19.  The Tor Bay Harbour Master informed Members that a break even budget had been forecast due to required maintenance to the mooring chains. However during the final quarter of the financial year an increase in fish tolls offset the maintenance costs, coupled with an insurance payment for storm damage, resulting in a £132,000 surplus.

To consider the above.

Members considered the Tor Bay Harbour Authority Pilotage Directions which had been reviewed by the Pilotage Review Working Party and presented to the Harbour Committee for adoption.

Resolved:

That the Tor Bay Harbour Authority Pilotage Directions as set out in the submitted report be adopted.

For Members to note the latest accident statistics for the Harbour Authority’s operational area.

Members noted the report that set out the accident/incidents recorded across Tor Bay Harbour and harbour estate.  The Tor Bay Harbour Master informed Members that the report was produced just prior to the recent tragedies, none the less these incidents would be recorded and investigated.

To note the minutes of the above Harbour Liaison Forums.

The Minutes of the Torquay/Paignton and Brixham Harbour Liaison Forum were noted.