Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed Cllr Brown and Mr Plant to their first Board meeting following their respective successful applications to serve on the Harbour Board.

to approve as a correct record and authorise the Chairman to sign the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 1 April 2019

The minutes of the meeting of the Salcombe Harbour Board held on 1 April 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Deputy Monitoring Officer to consider the granting of dispensations for the 2019/20 Municipal Year;

The Deputy Monitoring Officer reminded the Board of the implications under the adopted Code of Conduct.  She went on to advise that the payment of harbour dues constituted a contract with the Council, and therefore should be declared by Members as a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI).  In the event of declaring a DPI, a Member would have to update their Register of Interest forms immediately. 

As a number of Board Members were in this position of paying Harbour Dues, the Deputy Monitoring Officer granted a dispensation to all Members to enable them to take part in the meeting, (as stated in Paragraph 8.1 (c) of the Members Code of Conduct) as otherwise the meeting would be inquorate.  This dispensation would be in force until the next Annual Council meeting in May 2020.

Members are invited to declare any personal or disclosable pecuniary interests, including the nature and extent of such interests, they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting

Members were invited to declare any interests in the items of business to be considered during the course of the meeting, and the following were made:

Ms Jones, Mr Mackley, Mr Marriage, Mr Plant, Mr Stewart and Mr Taylor each declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in all related agenda items by virtue of paying harbour dues to the Council.  As a result of the Deputy Monitoring Officer granting each Board Member a dispensation, they were all able to take part in the debate and vote on any related matters (Minute SH.3/19 refers).

a period of up to 15 minutes is available to deal with questions from the public

In accordance with the Public Question Time Procedure Rules, the following member of the public addressed the Board:

(a)    Mr Tim Tucker, South Sands Ferry

In addressing the Board and citing a recent accident that had required an ambulance being called, Mr Tucker stressed the importance of the stream being prevented from undermining the slipway at South Sands.

Officers responded by stating that, whilst the slipway was unregistered, the Council was committed to finding a solution to this problem.

to receive verbal reports from Board Members who attend the Harbour Community Forums on behalf of the Board

The Board received verbal update reports from those Members who attended the Harbour Community Forums.  The updates were given as follows:

Salcombe Kingsbridge Estuary Conservation Forum (SKECF)

The representative advised that there had not been a SKECF meeting held recently.

South Devon & Channel Shellfishermen

The representative advised that:

-        Progress remained positive with the Fish Quay.  Currently, the on-site defibrillator had been sent away for a service in an attempt to get it operational;

-        he was willing to take a lead on making an application to the Maritime Management Organisation for funding towards the purchase of Personal Flotation Devices; and

-        the two main Fish Quay users were now able to plug into an electricity meter supply on site.

Kingsbridge and Salcombe Marine Business Forum

The representative informed that the marine businesses were working well together and with the Harbour staff.

In addition, the representative stated that the businesses were of the view that there had been a lack of recent progress updates over the proposed commercial units at Batson.  In reply, officers informed that the timetable was still on schedule whereby the planning application was due to be determined by the Development Management Committee at its meeting on 17 July 2019.  In the event of any parties wishing to make representations on the planning application, they were encouraged to do so via the planning portal on the Council website.

Subject to planning approval being granted by the Committee, it was then intended for a due diligence exercise to be undertaken on the preferred contractor.  If this exercise was proven to be satisfactory, then the development was anticipated to commence in September 2019 and concluded by Easter 2020.

Kingsbridge Estuary Boat Club (KEBC)

The representative did not provide an updated to this Board meeting.

East Portlemouth

The representative informed that the old pontoons were now being fully utilised.

Consideration was given to a report that advised the Board of the Harbour’s final trading position in 2018/19 together with brief details of the main variations from the original Budget.  Furthermore, the report also presented a summary of the Harbour Reserves.

During the ensuing discussion, reference was made to the trading surplus of £20,499 being welcomed.  In addition, officers were thanked for the presentation of the accounts that were felt to be concise and more reader friendly than in previous reports presented to the Board.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1.      That the income and expenditure variations for 2018/19 be noted;

2.      That the overall trading surplus of £20,499 be noted; and

3.      That this surplus be allocated to the Harbour’s General Reserve Fund.

The Board considered a report that provided an update on a number of recent issues that had affected the Harbour.  In particular, the report provided an update on service performance, major projects and any other issues that impacted upon the Harbour.

During the subsequent debate, the following points were raised:-

(a)    It was confirmed that the Rates and Charges Member Workshop would be held on the morning of Wednesday, 3 July 2019;

(b)    Following a successful recruitment and selection exercise, 27 applications had been received for the vacant Mooring Officer post and the Harbour Master stated that the role had now been filled, with the successful postholder due to take up their role on 1 September 2019;

(c)    As a general point, a Member emphasised the importance of all Harbour staff training needs being identified and addressed.  In response to a Member wishing for the Board to be satisfied that staff remuneration was no longer an issue, it was felt that the Harbour’s five-year business plan was the appropriate forum for this to be undertaken.  By way of assurance, the Chief Executive highlighted the amount of time that had previously been taken on this matter and she confirmed her belief that the solution that had been reached had resolved this matter;

(d)    Whilst the content would evolve, the Harbour Master stated his confidence that the new website would be a quality product once it was fully completed;

(e)    As a follow up to the Salcombe Dinghy Sailing presentation that was delivered to the last Board meeting (Minute SH.30/18(b) refers), it was PROPOSED and SECONDED and when put to the vote declared CARRIED that:

‘A 50% reduction of Salcombe Dinghy Sailing’s annual invoice be approved and the Harbour Authority monitors and works closely with the organisation to monitor the impact of the proposal for the remainder of 2019, with an update then being presented to a Board meeting during early 2020.’

(f)     A Member asked that consideration be given to future Board meetings being hosted at different venues around the Estuary.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1.      That the content of the report be noted and endorsed;

2.      That a Rates and Charges Board Workshop be arranged for the morning of Wednesday, 3 July 2019; and

3.      That approval be given to a 50% reduction of Salcombe Dinghy Sailing’s annual invoice and that the Harbour Authority work closely with the organisation to monitor the impact of the proposal for the remainder of 2019, with an update then being presented to a Board meeting during early 2020.