Agenda item

Report by Health and Safety Advisor (attached)

The Board considered a report by the Health and Safety Advisor (circulated previously) regarding the Quarterly Designated Person Port Marine Safety Code Audit of Ilfracombe and Lynmouth Harbours.

The Designated Person highlighted the following:

·         The quarterly audits were carried out for both harbours, virtually, on 25 January 2024.

Actions completed since last visit – Ilfracombe

·         The work to repair the cracked stone facing on Old Quay Head was completed on 22 November 2023.

·         At the Council Health, Safety and Welfare committee on 21 November 2023 discussion took place around the proposed sea basin at the Verity statue.  It was agreed that external Health and Safety legal advice be sought to fully understand what the Council’s liabilities were as the asset owner.

·         Further to water bathing quality testing the Harbour Master advised that a meeting had been held with the Council’s Environmental Health team who were addressing the issue of water testing and this would be carried out regularly for the Harbour.  Users of the proposed sea basin would be advised when it was not safe to swim.  The kits used for testing were very similar to the ones used by the Environment Agency.

·         Councillor Wilson informed the Board that there was a Water Quality group set up in Ilfracombe, of which she was a member, and they were looking to expand their services to coastal water testing.

·         Councillor Patrinos was leading the water testing in Lynmouth.

·         Data results of the testing were not published but could be requested to be viewed.

·         It was determined that the handrails along the RNLI steps were owned by North Devon Council.  Those handrails along with ones at the old Slipway and the Watersports Centre slipway had now been replaced with composite rails.

Risk Management – Ilfracombe

·         Internal audits were carried out on the following topics:

(i)            Environmental Duty

(ii)          Risk Assessment

(iii)         Incident reporting and Investigation

(iv)         Plans and Reporting/ Consensus and Monitoring

(v)          Harbour owned /operated craft – not currently applicable

·         Non-conformities were found in items (ii) and (iv) above.  The Harbour Master was seeking to set up a Harbour Advisory Committee.  The Harbour Master would be discussing the setup of an advisory committee with Yarmouth Harbour Authority who had recently done the same.

·         Funding was still in place for works to be carried out, in April 2024, on the sinking joints between the concrete landings and the slabs on the steps on East Face Quay and Old Quay Head.  There was an ongoing trip hazard here until works were completed.

·         The bulged wall at Stone Bench was continuing to be monitored with the catchment netting working to limit movement.

·         At another area of Stone Bench, it had been noted that a section of concrete had sheered from the pier.  The Senior Engineer had inspected the damage and noted a number of potentially significant defects in this area.

·         A consultant, who was familiar with the location, had offered to carry out an initial inspection survey free of charge.

·         This was due to happened during particularly low tides week commencing 10 March 2024.

·         The Cove netting works project had been awarded to contractors who were in the process of removing trees.

·         Edge protection areas for Old Quay Head were to be marked with a line of yellow paint along the row of stones with warnings to the public not to cross into the working area and no public access to the area permitted.

·         Signs had been procured to install to the railings around the Verity statue advising climbing of the statue was not permitted.

·         Trinity House would be visiting Ilfracombe Harbour on 26 February 2024.

Actions completed since last visit – Lynmouth

·         The Lynmouth Marine Safety Management System was now available on the Council website.

·         The Harbour Environmental Management Plan had now been documented and made available on the Council website.

·         North Devon Council and Lynton and Lynmouth Town Council had both agreed to contribute towards the Sea Defence Boulder works but this could not be carried out due to a legal impasse whereby Devon County Council had not confirmed ownership.

In relation to the Sea Defence Boulder works the clerk of Lynton and Lynmouth Town Council requested the Chair discuss with the Leader of North Devon Council the possibility of him expediting a response from Devon County Council on this matter as the works desperately need to go ahead.

Risk Management – Lynmouth

·         Some issues were still outstanding from the three yearly, external harbour audit which was carried out by ABPmer in June 2023.  These were:

(i)            The Lynmouth Harbour Safety Management System document did not contain any safety performance or Key Performance Indicators expectations.  It was agreed that the Town Clerk would document some Standing Targets and Period Targets in alignment with those of Ilfracombe Harbour.

(ii)          The Lynmouth Harbour Safety Management System document did not contain a policy on training, revalidation or maintenance of qualifications.  It was agreed that the Town Clerk would document a training policy.

·         An internal audit of the following topics was carried out this quarter:

(i)            Environmental Duty

(ii)          Risk Assessment

(iii)         Incident reporting and Investigation

(iv)         Plans and Reporting/ Consensus and Monitoring

(v)          Harbour owned /operated craft – not currently applicable.

·         The New Solar Aids to Navigation lights were flashing instead of being steady on.  An internal switch had been incorrectly set by the supplier.  The resetting of the switch would rectify this issue but the lights would need to be lowered to enable this.

·         Trinity House were due to visit Lynmouth Harbour on 26 February 2024 after first having visited at Ilfracombe Harbour.  They would be able to view the data logged from the operational activity of the Aids to Navigation ahead of inspecting them at the harbour.

·         The public consultation for a Harbour Empowerment Order, which would confirm North Devon Council as the Statutory Harbour Authority for Lynmouth had now closed.  92 objections had been received and a meeting to discuss best next steps was set for 9 February 2024.

·         The Senior Engineer had identified issues with damage to the stone surface and copings along the harbour arm and the slipway.

·         The stone steps opposite the Rising Sun pub, required some remedial work along with some stone steps along the edge of the slipway.

·         Arrangements were being made for the dredging of the slipway and entrance channels as well as debris on the harbour floor to be removed.

The Designated Person advised the Board that Ilfracombe Harbour continued to be proactively managed by the Harbour Master with many works now completed.  Much work had been carried out in Lynmouth, although documentation and training remained audit issues outstanding to be completed.