Agenda and minutes

Councillor Pothecary reported that Councillor Rob Hughes would be replacing Councillor Daryl Turner on the Harbours Committee, as agreed by the Leader of Council.  It was noted that Councillor Hughes had attended the recent Port Marine Safety Code training.

To elect a Chairman of the Harbours Committee for the 2019/2020 year.

The Chairman must be a Dorset Council councillor.

It was proposed by Councillor Louie O’Leary seconded by Councillor Rob Hughes that Councillor Mark Roberts be appointed Chairman of the Harbours Committee for the 2019/2020 year.

It was proposed by Councillor Sarah Williams seconded by Steve Pitman that Councillor Kate Wheller be appointed Chairman of the Harbours Committee for the 2019/2020 year.

At the request of the Chairman (Vice-chairman of Council) each councillor that had been proposed and seconded provided information about their relevant experience and knowledge in the area of harbours.

On being put to the vote

Decision

That Councillor Kate Wheller be appointed Chairman of the Harbours Committee for the 2019/2020 year.

To elect a Vice-Chairman of the Harbours Committee for the 2019/2020 year.

The Vice-Chairman must be a Dorset Council councillor.

It was proposed by Councillor Kate Wheller seconded by Councillor Dave Bolwell that Councillor Sarah Williams be appointed Vice-chairman of the Harbours Committee for the 2019/2020 year.

It was proposed by Councillor Louie O’Leary seconded by Councillor Rob Hughes that Councillor Mark Roberts be appointed Vice-chairman of the Harbours Committee for the 2019/2020 year.

At the request of the Chairman (Vice-chairman of Council) Councillor Sarah Williams provided information about her relevant experience and knowledge in the area of harbours.  Councillor Williams noted that she was a user of the harbour.

On being put to the vote

Decision

That Councillor Sarah Williams be appointed Vice-chairman of the Harbours Committee for the 2019/2020 year.

To receive any declarations of interest.

Steve Pitman declared an interest as a member of the Weymouth Sailing Club.

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.

The Chairman asked members whether they were content with the day and time of meetings of the committee as scheduled in the Calendar of Meetings.  She noted that there were four meetings of the committee scheduled for the year.

Members discussed the arrangements for the committee and following a vote

Decision

That the Harbours Committee continue to meet on the dates as scheduled in the Calendar of Meetings but that meetings commence at 9.00am instead of 10.00am on these dates.

Members noted that the Quorum of the Harbours Committee was 3 persons appointed to the committee but must in all cases be made up of a majority consisting of councillors.

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

There were no representations from town and parish councils or from members of the public.

To note the Terms of Reference of the Harbours Committee as set out in the Dorset Council Constitution.  The Terms of Reference set out the role and responsibilities of the committee and detail of the membership of the committee, the appointment of Chairman and Vice-chairman and meetings of the committee.

Members noted the Terms of Reference for the Harbours Committee as set out in the Dorset Council Constitution.  The Weymouth Harbour Master noted some amendments to the Constitution which he had proposed including within the powers delegated to officers and it was confirmed that these issues would be discussed with the Legal Team.

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.

To review the Forward Plan for the Harbours Committee for 2019/20.

Members noted the Forward Plan for the Harbours Committee for 2019/20.

In response to a concern raised with regard to the lack of strategic items on the Forward Plan, the Weymouth Harbour Master reported that the overall Business Plan for the harbours would be brought to the committee.

To consider the appointment of a councillor of the Harbours Committee to the Weymouth Harbour Consultative Group.

The committee considered the appointment of a councillor of the Harbours Committee to the Weymouth Harbour Consultative Group.  In addition to a Dorset Council councillor, a councillor from Weymouth Town Council would also be appointed.

The committee noted the Terms of Reference for the Harbour Consultative Group which had been included as an appendix to the report.

Decision

That Councillor Mark Roberts be appointed to the Weymouth Harbour Consultative Group for a 3-year period, as a representative of the Dorset Council Harbours Committee.

Following the decision, a general discussion was held with points raised as follows:

·                The Chairman of the Weymouth Harbour Consultative Group would attend meetings of the Harbours Committee to provide a verbal report of items covered at the last meeting and would also report back issues to the consultative group

·                There was a more informal arrangement for the harbours at Bridport and Lyme Regis with an informal meeting being held once a year for each harbour.  All harbour users were invited and members of the Harbours Committee could also attend to observe the meetings

·                Dates of all of the consultative group meetings would be circulated to Harbours Committee members.

The committee noted that Nick Thornley would be retiring after 29 years of service with the former West Dorset District Council and more recently, Dorset Council.  Members wished Nick well in his retirement.

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 x 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 is no exempt business.

There was no exempt business.