Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Andy Sargent, Chairman of Weymouth HCG and William Heaps – Designated Person.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registerable or non-registrable interest as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Cllr Mark Roberts declared that he held a mooring at West Bay Harbour.

Cllr Mary Penfold declared that she was Chairman of SCOPAC.

To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee from town and parish councils and members of the public.

Public speaking has been suspended for virtual committee meetings during the Covid-19 crisis and public participation will be dealt with through written submissions only.

Members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area, may submit up to two questions or a statement of up to a maximum of 450 words.  All submissions must be sent electronically to denise.hunt@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by the deadline set out below.  When submitting a question please indicate who the question is for and include your name, address and contact details.  Questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

Questions will be read out by an officer of the council and a response given by the appropriate Portfolio Holder or officer at the meeting.  All questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.  The deadline for submission of the full text of a question or statement is 8.30am on Monday 27 September 2021.

Councillor Kate Wheller addressed the Committee.  A copy of her written submission and response given at the meeting is outlined in the appendix to these minutes.

To consider a verbal report by the Chairman.

The Chairman reported on the following points:-

·         the advertisement period to recruit two new independent members had been extended.

·         Dorset Council had successfully hosted the LGA Coastal Special Interest Group summer tour and AGM the previous week.  He congratulated all the officers involved, in particular, Claire Connolly who gave an excellent tour of Weymouth Harbour.

To note the minutes of the meeting of Weymouth HCG on 18 August 2021.

Please note that the Bridport and Lyme Regis HCGs meet twice yearly and no meetings have taken place since the last meeting of Harbours Committee.

The notes of the Weymouth HCG meeting held on18 August 2021 were presented by the Dave Caddy, Vice-Chairman of the group, who highlighted the issue of harbour related highways concerns, particularly with regard to the impact of restricted access on the RNLI when attending emergencies.

It was felt that a highways officer should attend the Weymouth HCG meetings on a regular basis in order to provide feedback.

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Wellbeing.

The Committee considered a report concerning public consultation on the draft Harbours Strategy.

Following presentation of the report by the Head of Environment and Wellbeing, the Chairman thanked the Dorset Coast Forum and others who had contributed to the draft strategy document.

Members queried the form the consultation would take, the lack of quantifying measures and the need for greater explanation of the qualitative measures in the document.

The Head of Environment and Wellbeing advised that the consultation questionnaire would be available online and paper documents at libraries.

Members highlighted that it was not known whether all harbour users were made aware of the draft Strategy by their HCG representative with the suggestion that responses provided by harbour users should receive greater weight in the consultation.  However, it was explained that one of the consultation questions sought to identify harbour users and members were reminded that it was the committee’s role to achieve balance between the different harbour users whilst recognising that the harbour was an asset for all Dorset residents. The aim was for the harbours to be self-sustainable in future with detailed business plans to be considered by the committee in September 2022.

The committee was minded to agree to the release of the draft Dorset Council Harbours Strategy for a period of 8 weeks’ public consultation.

The Executive Director of Place stated that he had listened to the presentation, debate and vote and would determine the report recommendation in line with the committee’s “minded to” decision.

Decision: That the release the draft Dorset Council Harbours Strategy for a period of 8 weeks’ public consultation be approved.

Reason for Decision:
The draft Dorset Council Harbours Strategy sets out the strategic direction for our harbours. The strategy has been widely consulted upon in its development and we are at a stage where additional views from harbour users and the general public who have not yet had the opportunity to comment are required to finalise it. Following consultation, any proposed amendments and a final draft strategy will be brought back to Harbours Committee in March 2022 for approval.

To receive the following updates from the Harbour Masters:-

·         Weymouth

·         Bridport & Lyme Regis

The Harbour Masters presented their updates.

Weymouth Harbour – Jamie Joyce, Harbour Master

The Committee heard that the organisers of the Seafood Festival had been pleased with the Peninsular location and wished to explore using this area in future years.

Members asked how the budget could be more accurately predicted for dredging and whether more background information could be included in future reporting.

The Weymouth Harbour Master advised that he was working with the engineering team and hydrographic survey personnel to assess how much sediment needed to be taken away and from which areas of the harbour in order to make a more accurate financial prediction each year.

Bridport & Lyme Regis – James Radcliffe, Harbour Master

Following the Harbour Master’s presentation, the Chairman stated that the piles procured for Bridport Harbour had been purchased at a reduced rate from Bournemouth and were ready to be installed.

Noted

To consider a report by the Lead Manager - Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM).

The Lead Officer - FCERM presented an update report for the three Dorset Council Harbours.

Since the report had been published approval had been given by the Environment Agency for the Weymouth Harbour & Esplanade FCERM Scheme Phase 1 strategic outline case approved by Cabinet in June 21, giving the green light to proceed to a business case for the scheme and for the project to start in Autumn 2021.

The Chairman asked how the proposed refresh of the shoreline management plans might affect FCERM.

Members were advised that shoreline management plans were overarching strategy documents for the coastline that gave recommendations and a designation for each stretch of coastline. There were “hold the line” designations in place for the 3 Dorset Council harbours and it was anticipated that this would be unchanged as a result of the refresh.

Noted

To consider a report by the Weymouth and Bridport & Lyme Regis Harbour Masters.

The Finance and Admin Manager and Harbour Masters presented the current budget monitoring position for the harbour revenue budgets for Weymouth, Bridport and Lyme Regis Harbours at the end of August 2021 and the predicted Harbour Reserves for 2021-22.

Cllr Louie O’ Leary left the meeting following the report presentations.

Members asked about the increase in National Insurance contribution and were informed that this would take effect from 1 April 2022 and that advice was awaited on how the additional costs for Dorset Council would be met.

Noted

To consider the Harbours Committee Workplan.

The Committee noted its forward plan.

Members raised the issue of harbour parking charges and how this fitted with the Dorset Council parking charges strategy.  It was noted that there would remain some designated areas of parking for harbour users that may not come into alignment with other car parks. 

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

There was no exempt business.