Agenda item

To submit a report in relation to the above.

Submitted – a report by the Principal Development Officer Tourism & Maritime in relation to Charter/Pleasure Boat Fees 2014/2015.

It was reported that apart from the annual fees for commercial pleasure boat operators (sightseeing/fishing/adventure trips) all other maritime fees and charges (berthing/mooring/registration and launching etc.) have been adopted by the

Authority to be backdated from 1st April, 2014. Discussions have been undertaken over a number of months with the operators in respect of this matter.

Controversy over maritime fees and charges lies in Amlwch Port where historic anomalies in mooring/berthing fees together with charges for licenced passenger vessels (charter boats) were apparent. Appendix 1 attached to the report showed a five year analysis of fees in Amlwch Port. The 2013/14 charter boat fees were never adopted and remain ‘in dispute’ with the operators.  Appendix 2 attached to the report was a SWOT analysis of all four of maritime ports/harbours were the Authority is the statutory Port Authority i.e. Amlwch Port, Pier in Beaumaris, St. George’s Pier, Menai Bridge and one charter boat vessel operates from the Fish Dock, Holyhead.

The Officer referred the Committee to Appendix 3 attached to the report which gave 6 Options for Charter/Pleasure Boat Fees. It was noted that Option 3 was the favoured option for a single annual payment of £840 or a lower annual payment of £420 with a passenger surcharge/levy of 26p passenger applied. The Charter Boat operators to choose either option.

Issues raised by Members of the Committee :-

•  If Option 3 was the favoured option, this would entail them having to pay a total fee of £1,340. The Charter Boat operators are already paying a berthing fee of £500.  Questions were raised as to what facilities operators at Amlwch Port were receiving for the total amount of £1,340 as the facilities are not of a high standard compared to other areas.  The Officers agreed that the facilities at Amlwch Port were not as good as other locations.

•  Questioned raised as to why Commercial Fishing Boats who fish on the Irish Sea are not charged for berthing at Amlwch Port.  Consideration should be given to imposing a levy on these boats in line with other ports in Britain. The Corporate Director (Sustainability) responded that the matter would be given due consideration.

•  The berthing fees seem to be different at other berthing area. Members gave examples of berthing fees along the North Wales coast.  Members questioned as to where these berthing fees had originated from? The Officers responded that these fees are historical fees and it is very difficult to compare fees along the coastline of North Wales. Using Beaumaris as an example, the boats can use the Pier at Beaumaris to launch and it could be argued that the facility can be used 24 hours a day.  The Officers stated that Conwy County Borough Council has invested a great amount in the Marina in Conwy and it is anticipated that the berthing fees are low due to an incentive to use the facilities at the Marina.

•  Members of the Committee wished to have fair and realistic boat fees across the coastline of the Island and stated that they considered that due to the anomalies in the fees they were unable to support the adoption of Option 3 as a preferred option by the Officers.

Following lengthy deliberations it was RESOLVED that the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee agreed that the matter of Charter/Pleasure Boating Fees should be decided at the Executive.

ACTION : To note that the Charter/Pleasure Boating Fees will be discussed at the Executive in due course.