Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Leigh Redman, Claire Sully and Co-opt member Nick Dunsby.

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

Resolved that the minutes of The Committee held on 29 July 24 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

Councillors present at the meeting declared the following other registerable interests in their capacity as a Councillor of a Town or Parish Council or any other Local Authority:-

The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.

We are now live webcasting most of our committee meetings and you are welcome to view and listen to the discussion. The link to each webcast will be available on the meeting webpage, please see details under ‘click here to join online meeting’.

Public questions were received from:

-       Kate Jeffrey – Fees and Charges

-       Sarah Reed – Fees and Charges

-       Debbie Allum – Fees and Charges

-       Allan Dyer – (read by Josh Barrett)

the questions and responses provided are attached to the minutes in Annex A.

To review the Fees and Charges report and to recommend to executive.

Resolved that the Harbour Advisory Management Committee:

(a) noted the proposed 25/26 charges: subject to a further discussion between the portfolio holder, Service Director and HMAC Committee Members to discuss the charges of Minehead Sailing and Watersports Club taking place.

(b) recommended the Fees and Charges increases for the Port of Bridgwater and Watchet and Minehead harbours set out in Appendix A of this report, to the Executive meeting on 3 February ahead of the Full Council meeting on 19 February for consideration as a part of the Councill’s annual budget setting process. 

The Chair of the Committee, Councillor Andy Sully introduced Service Director – Regulatory Services, Sarah Dowden, to introduce the report. The report highlighted the Fees and Charges for ports and harbours for the financial year 2025/2026 for Somerset Council.

- Councillors queried whether negotiations with the sailing club regarding feed and charges are underway. Service Director, Sarah Dowden confirmed that she will respond in writing after The Committee.
- Councillors raised the importance of resolving the issue with fees and charges with the sailing club as soon as possible.
- Councillors highlighted that the issue with fees and charges for the sailing club are separate to that of main Harbour Issues.
- Councillors queried whether there was an ethical issue to charging different rates for different organisations. It was confirmed that this has already been happening in previous years.

Councillor Andy Hadley proposed an amendment to the recommendation, and this was seconded by Councillor Marcus Kravis. The motion was passed and the Harbour Advisory Management Committee:

(a) noted the proposed 25/26 charges: subject to a further discussion between the portfolio holder, Service Director and HMAC Committee Members to discuss the charges of Minehead Sailing and Water sports Club taking place.

(b) recommended the Fees and Charges increases for the Port of Bridgwater and Watchet and Minehead harbours set out in Appendix A of this report, to the Executive meeting on 3 February ahead of the Full Council meeting on 19 February for consideration as a part of the Councill’s annual budget setting process.

To note the items on the work programme.

The Chair with support from Josh Barrett, Committee Clerk introduced the work programme for the following Committee. It was highlighted by Councillors that they would like to see an update on resource and individual harbour updates at future Committees. Sarah Dowden, Service Manager confirmed that further items would be added to the agenda in future once Acting Harbour Master, Jessica Tyson returns from absence.