Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 14 June 2018 and its comments will be reported.

The Service Manager Community Safety and Enforcement presented the report on the options for discharging the Council’s Harbour Authority duties to an appropriate standard as soon as was practically possible. He advised that subsequent Marine advice had indicated that the ‘Duty Holder’ should be independent to the Harbour Master with marine and Health and Safety experience who was able to provide the Harbour Board with reassurance by checking and reporting back to the Executive.

Members were circulated with an amendment to the recommendation with regards to the ‘Duty Holder’. The City Solicitor and Head of HR advised that the Duty Holder role should be in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder. This was agreed by Executive.

In response to a Members question, the Service Manager Community Safety and Enforcement clarified that the Port Users Group and Exe Estuary Partnership had been consulted. 

Members noted that updates on the Harbour Authority duties would be brought back to Executive.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 14 June 2018 and its comments were reported.

RECOMMENDED to Council that:-

(1)        a new Harbourmaster post be created within the Waterways establishment and recruit a suitably experienced and qualified candidate to the role;

(2)        two new Harbour Patroller posts be created within the Waterways establishment and recruit suitably experienced and qualified candidates to the roles;

(3)        the Duty Holder role be delegated to the Service Manager with responsibility for waterways and the Principal Health and Safety Manager in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder for waterways and the Constitution be amended accordingly; and

(4)        the options for a Harbour Revision Order be explored with the Port User Group.

To consider the report of the Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement.

The Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement presented a report which set out the options for discharging the Council’s Harbour Authority duties to an appropriate standard as soon as was practically possible.  He confirmed that the area of responsibility spanned from the Blackaller Weir to the ‘Safe Water Mark’, one mile out to sea off Exmouth Beach.  This also included a duty of care to users of the Estuary, ensuring preventative and reactive maintenance of buoys and navigational aids for safe navigation as well as working with other bodies such as Natural England and the Environment Agency to support their activities in respect of conservation and the environment.  The proposed appointments for Harbour Master and two Harbour Patrollers would help to raise the Harbour Authority’s profile in the Estuary as well as offering an education and enforcement role in response to an increased level of anti-social behaviour of a minority of water users. He also welcomed the opportunity to explore the future role of the Authority with a range of stakeholders, including the Port User Group.

He responded to a Members’ comment and stated that, historically the Port of Exeter had been able to collect a levy from commercial vessels, but current use was almost wholly recreational and leisure use. There was currently no opportunity to levy Harbour dues from any non-commercial vessel or receive any contribution from neighbouring District authorities. It was noted that the buoy-store at Exmouth Marina provided a valued on-site presence for the Estuary.

The Chief Finance Officer also responded to a Member and stated that although substantial savings had to be found by Exeter City Council, there was a strategic responsibility to ensure safe navigational passage for vessels. The Director (DB) advised that the anticipated experience of the proposed appointments would also seek to strengthen the overall Waterways team.

Following discussion, the Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement agreed to arrange a site visit of the area covered for Members.

Place Scrutiny Committee supported approval by the Executive of the following:-- 

(1)        the creation of a new Harbourmaster post within the Waterways establishment and recruit a suitably experienced and qualified candidate to the role;

(2)        the creation of two new Harbour Patroller posts within the Waterways establishment and recruit suitably experienced and qualified candidates to the roles;

(3)        to ensure compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code the Harbourmaster be designated as the ‘Duty Holder’ in respect of the Port of Exeter and the Constitution be amended accordingly; and

(4)        options for a Harbour Revision Order are explored with the Port User Group.