Agenda item

Report by Health and Safety Advisor (attached).

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive introduced The Head of Place, Property, and Regeneration to the Board.

The Board then 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 audit visits were carried out at both, Ilfracombe and Lynmouth harbours on 15 April 2024.

Actions completed since last audit – Ilfracombe

·         Consultant Engineers had undertaken a survey of the Harbour and made an assessment of the condition of structural elements on The Pier, Stone Bench, Lower Landings and East Face.  The report found the concerns were not as bad as first thought.

·         The Consultant engineers had provided a bid document for further funding from the Environment Agency to enable more substantial investigations to be carried out to inform a medium/long term maintenance study for the Harbour.

·         The tree and vegetation removal on the Cove Cliff had been completed.  Works to install the netting were due to commence 22 April 2024.

·         Safety wording and yellow lines had been painted along the working edge of Old Quay Head – these were to advise the public of the no public access areas on the Harbour with signage yet to be installed.

·         The working area along the Cove was now distinct.

·         A larger, more prominent sign had been erected on the Verity statue plinth advising of no climbing.  No further incidents had been recorded.

·         Trinity House had visited the Harbour to assess the Aids to Navigation on 26 February 2024, they were signed off as compliant.

·         A line of yellow buoys had been placed in the harbour marking Larkstone Cove designated recreational areas to enable an area for swimmers and the use of non-powered craft.

·         The Pier car park pot holes had been patch repaired on 8 April 2024, this would suffice for the short term.

·         A pedestrian crossing and traffic stop sign had been reinstated near the Water Sports Centre on the upper Cove roadway.

Risk Management – Ilfracombe

·         Internal audits were carried out on the following topics:

(i)            Drink and Drugs

(ii)          Dangerous Vessels and Substances

(iii)         Licensing Work – Tugs (works/tugs/craft), Permitting (Diving/Hot works)

(iv)         Auditing Internal/External, Plans and Reporting

(v)          Open Port Duty and Setting Dues

(vi)         Enforcement

(vii)        Consultation and Consensus

(viii)       Piloting, Towage, Bunkering

·         The only non-conformity was found in item (vii) above, as there was no formal Harbour Advisory Committee set up. 

In response to a question on whether a Face Book group could be used as an advisory committee.  The Harbour Master replied that a formal adoption of a constitution and at least two face-to-face meetings had to be in place for a committee to be considered.  A Face Book user group could be a useful means of communication.

·         The Devon Audit Partnership had carried out an internal audit in December 2023 the findings of which could be seen at Agenda item 8.

·         The bulge at Stone Bench was still being monitored, the netting was working well and funding was in place should further works be required.

·         The Senior Management Team would be considering a report from the Royal Life Saving Society regarding the use of the Sea Pool. 

In response to a question of when the sea pool could be open for use.  The Harbour Master advised it was hoped to be Autumn 2024.

Actions completed since last audit – Lynmouth

·         The issue with some of the Solar Aid to Navigation lights not receiving enough sun light during the winter months had been resolved.  It was found that there had been an error during the set up and now that this was resolved the batteries were charging sufficiently without repositioning required.

·         Trinity House had inspected the Aids to Navigation during their visit on 26 February 2024 and found them to be compliant.

·         A public meeting was held in Lynmouth for members of the public to attend and discuss their concerns regarding the recent Harbour Empowerment Order submission.  The Harbour Master, Designated Person, Harbour Board Chair and ward member, Councillor Patrinos were able to listen to the concerns the public had and as a result numerous objections were withdrawn.  The remaining objection was reduced from 10 pages to one.

·         The Rhenish tower was temporarily closed off to the public.  Loose stonework had created trip hazards.

·         The Slipway and harbour entrance channels had been dredged.

Risk Management – Lynmouth

·         The Lynmouth Harbour Safety Management System document still did not contain Key Performance Indicators as picked up by the three yearly external harbour audit carried out by ABPmer in June 2023.  Following the recent internal audit carried out by Devon Audit Partnership, it was agreed that the Harbour Master will formulate a Business Plan for Ilfracombe Harbour and then the Lynton Town Clerk will create a similar document for Lynmouth reflecting the aspirations of harbour users.

·         The outstanding training policy, also picked up during the ABPmer audit was now in place.

·         The same internal areas of audit were carried out at Lynmouth which included the following topics:

(i)            Drink and Drugs

(ii)          Dangerous Vessels and Substances

(iii)         Licensing Work – Tugs (works/tugs/craft), Permitting (Diving/Hot works)

(iv)         Auditing Internal/External, Plans and Reporting

(v)          Open Port Duty and Setting Dues

(vi)         Enforcement

(vii)        Consultation and Consensus

(viii)       Piloting, Towage, Bunkering

·         There were no non-conformities or non-compliances given that Lynmouth was not currently a Statutory Harbour Authority.

·         The switch in the new Solar Aid to Navigation Lights had now been set to steady rather than flashing.

·         After complaints received regarding algal growth causing slippery conditions along the slipway it had been agreed to ensure the works to remove the growth was carried out every six weeks.

·         The remedial work to the stone steps near the Rising Sun pub, was still outstanding.

·         The Lynmouth Study was underway and the topographical survey had been completed.  The Senior Engineer was going to set up a stakeholder workshop to discuss the interim findings.

·         Sea water was getting through joints between stones on the sea wall during extreme weather conditions.  The issue to be raised with Devon County Council and the Environment Agency.

The Designated person confirmed that both harbours were being proactively managed and the status of Lynmouth Harbour was still outstanding and being progressed.

In response to a question about what the Lynmouth Study was, the Harbour Master replied that this was funded by the Environment Agency after a successful bid submitted by the Senior Engineer and was being carried out to assess coastal erosion along the Lynmouth Coast line.

RESOLVED that the findings of the Quarterly Designated Person Port Marine Safety Code Audit report be noted.