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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Faulkner (J) and Mr Buckpitt.

Consideration of renewal of landlord’s consent. 

Item deferred from Harbour Committee on 17 December 2012.

The Chairman advised the Committee and public present that this Harbour Committee Meeting had been arranged to hear an agenda item relating to Blue Sea Food which had been deferred from the 17 December 2012 Harbour Committee.

This was due to the level of public interest in the item and the need for fairness and transparency to allow people the opportunity to speak and to have a balanced debate and for Members to make an educated decision.

The Chairman advised the Committee that he had decided to exercise his discretion for this item only, to permit all registered parties to have two minutes each to speak for and against the recommendation in the submitted report and then to allow a representative from the Blue Sea Food Company to receive the total time allotted to the other speakers, to state their case and incorporate anything that may have been raised by the speakers.

The Chairman requested that Members resolve to suspend Standing Order B4.1 so that Members registered to speak would also be restricted to two minutes instead of five minutes each for fairness with other speakers.

Resolved:

Not to suspend Standing Order B4.1.

The Chairman reminded Members that today’s Harbour Committee had been asked to consider a recommendation in its capacity as a landlord, with due regard to its responsibility for the safe management of the harbour estate and the overall business of the harbour authority.

The Chairman advised that the legal advice he had been given was that the Harbour Committee was totally separate to the Development Management Committee, which determines planning matters and as such, there was no conflict of interest for members who sat on both Committees as the consideration of the submitted report was in the capacity of the Council acting as the Harbour Authority and as the landlord and not a consideration of any past or future planning issues and asked speakers and members to refrain from referring to these issues.

At the meeting Mr Michael Smith, Managing Director of Doran Packing, Mr David Morgan and Mr Brian Pauley representing South Devon and Channel Shell Fisherman’s Organisation, Mr Allan Brown, self appointed spokesman for Paignton Harbour User Group addressed the Committee against the recommendation in the submitted report.

Mr Frank Sobey, representing Harbour Sports, addressed the Committee in support of the recommendation in the submitted report.

Mr Gordon Cowell, representing 6^th Torbay Sea Scouts who was registered to speak but unable to attend, asked Mr Allan Brown to read a statement which was against the recommendation in the submitted report but listed various issues causing problems for the children and harbour users.

In accordance with Standing Order B4.1 Councillor Thomas (D) addressed the Committee against the recommendation in the submitted report and Councillor Brooksbank addressed the Committee in support of the recommendation in the submitted report.

Mr David Markham, Sales Director of the Blue Sea Food Company addressed the Committee against the recommendation in the submitted report and responded to representations and answered Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

1.    The Chairman welcomed Mr Michael Stewart on to the Harbour Committee as a new External Harbour Advisor and expressed his thanks for his acceptance of the position.

2.    The Chairman advised the Committee that Ms. Elaine Hayes, External Harbour Advisor, had tendered her resignation on the Harbour Committee as she had been appointed Chair of Seafish and had a new role as AONB Manager for North Devon.

Resolved:

The Chairman send a letter to Ms. Hayes, on behalf of the Harbour Committee, to thank her for her dedication and support during her term on the Committee and wish her well in her future career.