To elect a Chairman/woman for the 2013/14 Municipal Year.

Councillor Amil was elected Chairman for the 2013/14 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, the membership of the Committee had been amended for this meeting by including Councillor Addis instead of Councillor Hytche.

To elect a Vice-Chairman/woman for the 2013/14 Municipal Year.

Mayor Gordon Oliver was elected Vice-Chairman for the 2013/14 Municipal Year.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 March 2013.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Harbour Committee held on 18 March 2013 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairwoman.

To note the Harbour Committee’s Terms of Reference as set out in the Council’s Constitution.

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

Resolved:

i)             that the Constitution should be amended to state that substitutes to the Harbour Committee must have received relevant mandatory training in line with the protocols for the Licensing Committee and Development Management Control Committee.

To appoint a Harbour Appointments Sub-Committee for the 2013/14 Municipal Year.

The Committee considered appointments to the Harbour Appointments Sub-Committee to consider applications for External Advisors to the Harbour Committee and to make recommendations to the Harbour Committee on suitable appointments to those positions.  Members were advised that previous Sub-Committees consisted of four Councillors, including the Chair and vice-Chair.

Resolved:

That a Harbour Appointments Sub-Committee be re-appointed to comprise six members of the Harbour Committee (The Chair, Vice-Chair and Councillors Hytche, Richards, McPhail and Faulkner (J)).

To appoint the Harbour Asset Review Working Party for the 2013/14 Municipal Year.

The Committee considered appointments to the Harbour Asset Review Working Party to provide strategic direction in relation to those assets within Tor Bay Harbour and the harbour estate that are managed by the Tor Bay Harbour Authority.

Resolved:

That a Harbour Asset Review Working Party, comprising four members of the Harbour Committee (Chair, Councillors Faulkner (J), Richards and McPhail) and two of the External Advisors to the Committee (Captain Bob Curtis and Mr Gordon Jennings), be appointed with the following terms of reference:

a)    To review all assets within Tor Bay Harbour and the Harbour Estate;

b)    To establish how each asset is performing; and

c)    To identify any assets that are surplus.

To appoint the Harbour Budget Review Working Party for the 2013/14 Municipal Year.

The Committee considered appointments to the Harbour Budget Review Working Party to assist the Harbour Committee in the management of all of the Harbour’s financial matters in accordance with approved financial procedures and the Council’s aspirations for the harbour to be self financing as outlined in the Tor Bay Harbour and Maritime Strategy.

Resolved:

That a Harbour Budget Review Working Party, comprising three members of the Harbour Committee (Councillors Stringer and Hytche), plus the Chairman and two External Advisors to the Committee (Mr Stewart and Mr Jennings), be appointed to scrutinise the draft Tor Bay Harbour Authority budget prior to presentation to the Harbour Committee and to review the full range of harbour charges. Also, to assist Officers to monitor and review the budget ahead of each quarterly Harbour Committee meeting.

To appoint a Pilotage Review Working Party with the following Terms of Reference.

To review the Pilotage arrangements for the Tor Bay Harbour and to recommend amendments to the Pilotage direction as and when appropriate.

The Committee considered appointments to the Pilotage Review Working Party to review the Pilotage arrangements for Tor Bay Harbour and to recommend amendments to the Pilotage direction as and when appropriate.

Resolved:

That a Pilotage Review Working Party, comprising of two of the External Advisors (Captain Curtis and Mr Buckpitt) 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 note the Report on the Harbour Authority Outturn for 2012/13.

Members received and noted a report setting out details of Tor Bay Harbour Authority’s final expenditure and income figures against the budget targets for 2012/13.

Members requested that their thanks be passed onto all Harbour staff for their work during these difficult times.

To note the minutes of the above Harbour Liaison Forums.

The Committee received the minutes of the latest Torquay and Paignton Harbour Liaison Forum and the Brixham Harbour Liaison Forum and noted the contents.

Mr Stewart advised that an amendment was required to the Torquay and Paignton Harbour Liaison Forum minutes, as he was not shown as in attendance.

To note a Report on the Harbour Authority Budget Monitoring for 2013/14.

The Committee received and noted a report which provided members with projections of income and expenditure for the year 2013/14 compared with the approved budgets.

To approve the Audit Plan for the Tor Bay Harbour Authority Business Unit for 2013/14.

The Committee received a report setting out a dedicated Audit Plan for the Harbour Authority for the next four years.

Resolved:

The Committee approved the amended Tor Bay Harbour Audit Plan for 2013/2014 as set out at Appendix 1.

To note the accounts of the Arts and Crafts Market located on the Old Fish Market, Brixham.

The Committee received and noted a report which provided members with an update on the current use and management of the Old Fish Market at Brixham.

To approve the Tor Bay Harbour Port Masterplan.

The Committee considered a report on the progress of the Port Masterplan for Tor Bay Harbour.

Resolved:

i)          that the Port Masterplan for Tor Bay Harbour, as circulated for consultation during April and May 2013, subject to the adoption of the relevant points highlighted in the ‘Consultation Feedback and Response Table’ shown in Appendix 1 be approved; and

ii)         that Council be recommended  to adopt the Port Masterplan for Tor Bay Harbour as part of the Council’s Policy Framework.

To consider the Brixham Harbour Northern Arm Business Plan.

The Committee considered a report outlining the next steps in the potential development of a Northern Arm Breakwater at Brixham harbour.

Resolved:

i)          that the ‘Conclusion’ of the preliminary Business Case into a proposed Northern Arm Breakwater for Brixham harbour, contained in Appendix 1 be noted;

ii)         that the Torbay Development Agency be asked to prepare an economic and strategic impact assessment of the Council’s harbour authority function, to include an economic analysis of existing activity and an assessment of the value and importance of the Northern Arm project to the local and sub-regional economy;

iii)       that the cost of the economic and strategic impact assessment is funded from the two harbour reserve funds and that the Executive Head of Tor Bay Harbour Authority be authorised to amend the revenue budget accordingly; and

iv)       that the Torbay Economic Development Company, and the Executive Head of Tor Bay Harbour Authority be asked to continue to assess and explore all potential grant funding opportunities on an on-going basis, including in particular, any new European funding programmes and Environment Agency flood defence options.  A position report on such grant funding opportunities to be presented to the Harbour Committee in December 2013.

To consider a report on the performance of the Tor Bay Harbour Authority.

The Committee noted the report which detailed the year end 2012/13 performance position of Tor Bay Harbour Authority and the performance position to date in 2013/14.