Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any declaration of interest from a Member or Officer regarding any item of business.

No declaration of interest was received.

To consider an application for dispensation.

Applications for dispensations to participate in Council business were submitted by Councillors Jason Zalot, Stan Zalot and Howard Mattocks, members of the Beaumaris Town Council, on matters relating to the renewal of the Menai Strait East Fishery Order. The applicants have requested that the Standards Committee considers granting dispensations in relation to prejudicial interests, as outlined in each application.

The Chair welcomed Professor Ashenden, the Beaumaris Town Clerk and Councillors Zalot and Mattocks to the meeting. He reported that each application for dispensation would be considered separately on its own merits, due to slight differences in each case.

Professor Ashenden gave a summary of the background to the applications. He reported that the Menai Strait East Fishery Order Management Association are applying for the renewal of the Fishery Order, which permits mussel farming and dredging along the Menai Straits in an area which includes Beaumaris Bay and close to the town.

Professor Ashenden reported that the Management Association has given assurance that the renewal of the Fishery Order will not impact upon sailing, walking on the foreshore or angling in the area. However, there has been local concern over a number of years that the inclusion of Beaumaris Bay in the Order threatens the continued existence of the deep water moorings that are vital to many activities. The loss of, or a reduction in the area of deep water moorings would have a major negative impact upon the economy of the town and its residents, as well as activities in the bay.

It was noted that the Management Association has confirmed that it does not intend to dredge moorings or use the bay area. However, the Fishery Order, presently in its consultation stage, and due for renewal in 2022, does give the Association control of the area. Previously, an application was submitted to the Welsh Government Minister to exclude this part of the bay and the area close to the town in the Order, as there are moorings sited off the end of the pier. Subsequently, this application was refused.

Several members of the Beaumaris Town Council have a specialised interest in the use of the bay with regard to moorings, fishing, pleasure cruise trips, and enjoyment of the locality. 

The Panel noted that only Councillor Stan Zalot has applied to speak to officers of the Community Council, and no Councillors have sought a dispensation to write to officers. As the consultation period for the Fishery Order will be ongoing until 2022, Councillors Jason Zalot and Howard Mattocks were afforded an opportunity by the Panel to include ‘’to write and speak to officers of the Community Council’ in their applications for dispensation, to which they agreed. Councillor Stan Zalot’s application was amended to include ‘to write to officers’.

The Chair asked Councillor Jason Zalot to present his application for dispensation.

Councillor Zalot reported that he has worked on boats in Beaumaris operating pleasure cruises and fishing trips off the pier for many years, and previously  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.