Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received at the meeting.

Cllr Louie O’Leary was not present shortly after the start of the meeting due to technical difficulties in accessing the meeting.

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 a general interest as he held a mooring at West Bay Harbour.

Cllr Mary Penfold declared a general interest as the 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 6 December 2021.

There were no written statements or questions received.

To consider a verbal report by the Chairman.

The Chairman reported that he had attended the South West Aquaculture Network AGM and conference on 28 October at Kingston Maurward and observed the operation to lift out the sunken fishing vessel FV Gitte from Weymouth Harbour.  He congratulated the harbours team for the way in which more serious pollution had been mitigated and also thanked those officers involved in the recent ministerial visit.

To note the minutes of the Weymouth, Bridport and Lyme Regis Harbour Consultative Groups.

The minutes of the HCG meetings that had taken place since the last meeting of the Harbours Committee were presented by the following HCG representatives:-

Lyme Regis (12 October 21) - Chris Turner, Chairman

Bridport (28 October 21) – Simon Miles, Chairman

Weymouth (10 November 21) - Dave Caddy, Vice-Chairman

Noted

To receive the following updates from the Harbour Masters:-

·         Weymouth

·         Bridport & Lyme Regis

The Harbour Masters presented their updates.

Weymouth Harbour

Following presentation of the report, members asked about a decrease in the number of commercial visiting fishing vessels. 

The Harbour Master explained that 3 commercial visiting vessels that had formerly made up the majority of commercial visits had now taken up annual berths. 

It was hoped that the new fish landing quay might attract other visiting commercial vessels in future.

Bridport & Lyme Regis

Further to his report, the Harbour Master confirmed that work scheduled in early December for the timber piles to be installed to the east side of West Bay had been moved to January 2022.

Noted

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

The Lead Manager – FCERM presented an update report for the three Dorset Council harbours.

Following his report, he responded to concerns raised during consideration of the HCG minutes, explaining that it was not possible to carry dredging out at exactly the same time each year due to dependency of this work on tides and general weather factors.

The Lead Manager also provided an update on the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) highlighting that this was a high level non-statutory policy document for coastal defence planning that included 3 categories for “no active intervention”, “manage realignment” and “hold the line”. The Plan was in the process of being refreshed by the Environment Agency to include updated legislation and any new information in relation to climate change with an expected completion date in 2022.

Noted

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

The Committee considered a report setting out the budget requirement for the Harbour revenue budgets for Weymouth, Bridport and Lyme Regis Harbours for 2022-23 and beyond, including fees and charges for all harbours and the Asset Management Plan improvements for Weymouth Harbour.

Following presentation of the report members asked about the impact of the increase in the price of utilities (in particular electricity) and were informed that this could be recharged directly to the customer at any time there was a price increase, meaning that the market price was always reflected in the fees.

The Committee also asked whether Parking Services had provided a parking revenue forecast, based on previous knowledge of the profitability of individual car parks. It was suggested that car parking could be part of a premium package to harbour customers in future which was noted for future debate.

Members were advised that work was ongoing with finance colleagues to assess how much car park income would be expected to be moved into the harbours budget at the end of each year.

The Committee was minded to agree to the recommendations contained in the report.

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:-

1.       That the fees and charges for 2022/23 for Weymouth Harbour be approved;

2.       The Asset Management Plan for 2022/23 for Weymouth Harbour    subject to a mid-year review be approved; and

3.       That the fees and charges for 2022/23 for Bridport and Lyme Regis Harbours be approved.

Recommended to Full Council:-

4.       The budget request for 2022/23 for Weymouth Harbour.

5.       The budget request for 2022/23 for Bridport Harbour.

6.       The budget request for 2022/23 for Lyme Regis Harbour.

Reason for Decisions

The Harbours Committee has the responsibility for the harbour finances within a  budget set by the Full Council.

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

The Committee considered a report concerning alignment of the Dorset Council Parking Policy to Dorset Council public car parks within the harbours estate.

The report was presented by the Head of Environment & Wellbeing who explained the standardisation of charges in accordance with the Parking Policy would reduce confusion and inconvenience for customers. It was the intention for Parking Services to continue to manage these car parks and for the net income to be transferred to the harbours budget to support harbours infrastructure. renewal, repairs and maintenance.

Within the Lyme Regis and Bridport harbours there was parking associated with slipway customers and leased areas providing parking for commercial fishermen and harbour traders, that were not available to the general public.  It was proposed that these areas would continue to operate separately from the Dorset Council run car parks and that harbours manage the charges for these areas going forward.

Members asked about residential parking within quayside car parks, particularly in West Bay, as well as the proportion of income allocated to the harbours budget from those permits allowing use of car parks within the harbours estate.

The Head of Environment and Wellbeing and the Portfolio Holder agreed to seek further clarification from Parking Services on both points.  However, it was confirmed that Weymouth Pavilion car park would be excluded from the permit scheme in future.

Members proposed that a workshop to explore the issues raised around parking permits was convened, reporting back to the next meeting of the Harbours Committee.

The Committee was minded to agree to the recommendation contained in the report.

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 charges for car parks within the Dorset Council Harbours estate align to other Dorset Council car parks as presented in the report to Place and Resources Overview Committee on 19 October 2021 and Cabinet on 8 November 2021 with the exception (where it applies) of vehicle and trailer parking that  relates to slipway use and existing allocated parking for commercial fishermen and harbour traders.

Reason for Decision

There has been an extensive piece of work done in considering how parking charges and regulations should be transformed across Dorset following the convergence of the predecessor councils. This has been done with significant stakeholder engagement and comparative parking charge benchmarking. It is important that charges for car parks which are located inside the Dorset Council Harbours estate align with other Dorset Council Car parks as this standardisation will provide consistency of charging within our coastal towns and reduce confusion and inconvenience for our customers.

To consider the Harbours Committee Workplan.

The Committee noted its forward plan.

Inclusion of car parking charges and permits in the forward plan would be determined following the outcome of the meeting of the proposed working group.

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.