Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal briefing from each Harbour Master (Weymouth, Bridport and Lyme Regis) covering:

·                Staff structure

·                Budget

·                Major projects/works

·                Ongoing issues

By way of introduction to members of the committee, each Harbour Master provided a presentation for each harbour which covered key harbour information including staff structure, budget, major projects and works and ongoing issues.

During the presentation, points were raised as follows:

Weymouth Harbour

·                Clarification was provided in respect of Weymouth Harbour and responsibilities for dredging between the council and Dean and Reddyhoff

·                A discussion was held in respect of Weymouth Harbour and the development of the Peninsula area.  It was noted that there were no plans to include a ferry port in the development as a decision had previously been taken to pursue the position set out in the Fisher Study to develop the Peninsula as a tourist leisure destination.  Dorset Council would be reviewing all major strategic development sites and councillors would be included in this work

Bridport Harbour

·                Plans for the dive building were currently with Architects

·                Land owned by the harbour authority included specific car parks and part of the river basin basin including the kiosks.  Income from these facilities was held within the property budget.  Issues around harbour budgets were to be discussed with Finance and a report brought to committee at an appropriate time

Lyme Regis Harbour

·                It was noted that dredging would be undertaken during high season which was later than previous years, due to engineering works

·                Reference was made to income made by facilities on harbour authority land and it was noted that this income was held within the property budget

General points

·                A point was raised with regard to the need to bring the three harbours together under a strategic plan.  In response it was noted that a new Head of Service was to be appointed, whose responsibilities would include harbours.  The new Head of Service would be tasked with looking at the harbours strategically and this could include a business plan for all three harbours

·                Councillor visits to the harbours were to be arranged.