Issue - meetings

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

A report was presented to the Harbour Board providing details of the forthcoming Piers and Harbours Fees and Charges review due to be reported to November’s meeting of the Harbour Board with process tasks to be as follows:

·         Benchmarking exercise;

·         Survey of marine assets;

·         Review of services provided;

·         Consultation with key stakeholders;

·         Member workshops; and

·         Report with recommendations to Harbour Board.

Discussion focused on the need to agree principles to inform the consultation that whist outlining a clear plan with regard to Gourock – Dunoon ferry service were still adaptable enough to apply to the varying needs of other piers and harbours within Argyll and Bute.

Decision

The Argyll and Bute Harbour Board considered a motion that was put forward by the Chair and seconded by the Vice Chair and unanimously agreed;

1)    to note the report. 

2)    that in future pier/harbour dues should be set as a minimum at a level which will cover operating and staffing costs; inspection, maintenance and whole life asset management costs; any prudential borrowing costs required to fund shoreside infrastructure associated with the future ferry services;

3)    to consider the possibility of developing a case to secure Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) on the basis of the expenditure required to retain/maintain categories of harbours where income is insufficient to cover expenditure;

4)    when developing proposals for harbour fees and charges, the Board will have regard to the individual business model/financial position of harbours where there is significant ferry transport activity;

5)    the cost recovery approach referred to above at point 2  and 4 should be promoted by Officers as part of their early discussions with bidders as part of the current Transport Scotland tender for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service and that the same principles apply to the carryings for either a passenger/vehicle service or for a passenger-only service;

6)    that further consideration is also given as part of this current tendering exercise to the following, should any potential ferry operator approach the council:

a)    The leasing of the transport harbour at Dunoon to interested ferry operators.

b)    Entering into some form of user agreement for a specified period.

c)    Consideration for sale of the transport harbour at Dunoon to an interested operator;

7)    that Argyll & Bute Harbour Board represents to Transport Scotland and to Scottish Ministers to intervene with CMAL to ensure that the principles for harbour charges being promoted for Dunoon should also be progressed for the harbour facility at Gourock;

8)    to note that consultation workshops due to take place in September will consider options based on the principles set out above; and

9)    to note that the outcome of the review will be reported to the Board and to the Policy and Resources Committee/Council as appropriate.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dates 11 August 2016, submitted)