Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence intimated.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The presentation was made as part of item 3(b) as detailed in this minute.

The Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure Services spoke to correspondence received from stakeholders and provided response to points raised.

Consideration was then given by the Board to a report and a presentation from Caledonian Economics which provided detail on the options appraisal which was undertaken regarding the future management of Oban Bay.

Decision

The Argyll and Bute Harbour Board:

1.    thanked Caledonian Economics for their work on the Options Appraisal;

2.    agreed that the Council would not at this time proceed with a transfer of assets on the basis that there were too many uncertainties around the proposal;

3.    noted that Options 4 or 5 (Argyll and Bute Council or Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) becoming the Harbour Authority for the unmanaged section of Oban Bay) provides a quicker route to addressing the current safety concerns and are therefore the best options available at this time;

4.    agreed that either Options 4 or 5 should move forward and request that Officers engage with CMAL, through the OBMG, on the basis that the Council’s preference would be option 5 and that the Council was prepared to be the Harbour Authority for the unmanaged section of Oban Bay, to begin the process of application for a Harbour Revision Order covering the unmanaged section of Oban Bay and to expedite the process for such an order and to report back to members on that process;

5.    noted that there was no inherent reason why a Trust Port would not be a good future option; and

6.    agreed that once Options 4 or 5 were delivered there would be a period of bedding in to monitor the new arrangement and, after that time, there would be a further report to members on the potential for and exploration of the future development of a Trust Port.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated November 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services

The Board considered a report that proposed an increase in fees and charges for the forthcoming financial year 2022/2023, in order to meet the requirements for the Argyll and Bute Council Asset Management Plan.

Decision

The Argyll and Bute Harbour Board:

1.    agreed to recommend to the Council, when setting the fees and charges for 2022 / 2023 that it approved an increase to piers and harbours fees and charges, over and above any inflationary increase, of 5% to generate sufficient income to develop the Council’s marine infrastructure;

2.    noted that this was in line with the motion passed at the Harbour Board meeting held in December 2020 which presented a stepped “proposed increase to allow smoothing” over a 10 year period; and

3.    agreed that the asset management plan would continue to be updated on a rolling 10 year basis.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure dated November 2021, submitted)