The Board considered a report by the Harbour Master (circulated previously) regards the Designated Persons Annual Report 2024.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive highlighted the following:

·         On page 32 of the agenda, the year referred to under 3.0 of the contents should be 2024 not 2023.

·         On page 44 of the agenda, the year should be 2024 to make the title: Summary Profit and Loss Account as at 31 March 2024.

·         Oil Spill Contingency Plan, as detailed on page 36 of the agenda, was compliant and had been approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

·         Any contractors working on the Harbour had to have their own Oil Spill Contingency Plan.

·         Ambipar Response Limited were contracted to respond to all pollution events under the authority of North Devon Council and so this would include Lynmouth Harbour.

·         There was a valid Port Waste Management Plan in place, approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in February 2023.

·         The Marine Emergency Plan was tested when a drill exercise was carried out on 23 October 2024.

·         The exercise would be carried out at Bideford harbour next year and it was hoped 256 passengers would be on board a ship to help manage a full evacuation.

·         The next Oil Spill drill was planned to be carried out as a multi-agency exercise in March 2025.

·         As agreed at the last Harbour Board meeting the Ilfracombe Harbour Business plan was a rolling five year plan and super ceded the Development Strategy 2012-2026.

·         The formation of a new Advisory Board had been approved and this was nearing completion.

·         The high number of Out of Hours (OOS) recorded for the Aids to Navigation lights at Old Quay were due to the old wiring needing replacement that took longer than expected.

·         Activities Undertaken for Commercial and Leisure as detailed on pages 39 and 40 of the agenda received positive comments.

·         Sea school lessons had been held with 42 courses run across a range of ages, the youngest student being 12 and the oldest being 75.

·         A good number of people had been recorded as using the Watersports Hub, with 5537 people actively getting out on the water to date this year.  This did not include the wild swimmers (as cannot be recorded) which could add 500 to the total.

·         No complaints received when the buoys were put in to demarcate where wild swimmers could safely swim.

·         Lynmouth Harbour was mentioned on page 42 of the agenda and it was confirmed that we were still waiting for the Secretary of State for final sign off on the Harbour Empowerment Order.

·         Page 43 of the agenda listed all the reports that came through the Harbour Board for consideration.

·         Page 44 of the agenda detailed the budget accounts for both Ilfracombe and Lynmouth.

RESOLVED that the Board accept that the 2024 annual report is in compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code.