Agenda item

Officers advised that the Harbour Master report would be a standing item covering the Harbour revenue and capital budget, safety report and events update.

Harbour Revenue and Capital Budget

·       Officers noted the Member’s views on separating out the Harbour finances within a separate agenda item, and to provide more detail on a 5 year plan for the budget. Action: Officers to provide a budget update and 5 year plan report at the September Committee meeting and  ensure the budget update is separated out from the Harbour Master’s report for future meetings.

·       This year a ringfenced account had been created to work towards creating a more sustainable budget and an overview spreadsheet could be found within the reports pack.

·       The service was still reliant on the general fund support to ensure a balanced budget and colleagues predict that it could  take around 5 years to become self-sufficient.

·       Colleagues had provided visuals showing a ‘red line’ where the harbour boundary lies which included a number of car parks and properties that were generating income.

·       Action: Officers to provide a pinpoint map of development within the ‘red line’ for Members to better understand the Harbour estate.

·       It was confirmed that the income stream from the car parks would go back into the service but the on street pay and display car parking was managed by the highways team.

·       The Highways team are providing support with the management of car parking and issuing Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) and the team were currently in the process of developing a Service Level Agreement (SLA). The income generated from PCNs goes into the highways team.

·       Officers welcomed benchmarking data from Kevin Mowat who previously worked with Torbay Council.

·       There was a discussion around installing more electrical charging points and Members were advised that there was a mandate to City Leap who were developing this piece of work citywide they would need to distribute any funding.

·       There was a discussion around income from street traders and pubs with outside space and officers advised that an updated licensing policy and pricing structure was in progress but since Covid-19, the maximum charge was £100 per year.  However Kevin Mowat pointed out that the regulations covering docks estate is different and a commercial rate should be applied. There was a need to address the use of plastic cups as they often end up in the Harbour which incurs a cost to the service for removing.

·       Officers mentioned that the residual budget left from the harbour pontoon mooring, facilities and CCTV upgrade would be reallocated to the Capricorn Quay Pontoon project, which would see a number of new pontoons installed and they hope that the project will be finalised by the end of 2024.

·       Officers noted that the sluice gate system that controls harbour water levels is very old and requires updating. The service had recently secured funding from the Environment Agency to undertake these works to replace with a hydraulic system and this was due to be completed in Summer 2025.

·       Action: Officers to organise a boat trip around the Harbour for Committee Members.

Safety Report

·       It was noted that 8 accidents had been reported this year, none of which were a fault of the safety regulations, they were user error. 7 of these accidents resulted in no injury and 1 resulted in a minor injury.

·       There were no reports of near misses so it would be difficult to analyse the risk. The team rely on individuals to report a near miss, but these are not always reported. 

·       The team currently work with the Police and Fire and Rescue services on serious incidents, but each have their own system with different records/data. Officers are working on a new online system which would enable the sharing of key information, but this is a work in progress as there are challenges around data protection.

Events update

·       Officers noted that Members would like to see a full events programme at the next Committee meeting.

·       Members raised concerns about the waste collection at Harbour Festival. There had been an issue with the contractor on the Saturday morning however officers noted that this was resolved quickly.

·       Members noted that residents had expressed their concerned around the Capricorn Quay project. The team had been engaging with these individuals and had explained the planning permission criteria and plan to reach out again when work starts on the project.

Resolved; That the Harbour Master report be noted.