MALDON HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT COMMISSIONERS
Printable pdf Minutes of Meeting 29 April 2025
MINUTES – ORDINARY MEETING, Tuesday, 29 April 2025 at 7.00 pm.
PRESENT:
D Patient (Chairman)
P Ellum (Vice Chairman)
D Hansford (Treasurer)
N Cardy
M Chapman
Jim Dines
John Dines
A Fluker
A Wiseman
69 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from C Anderson, N Harrisson, C Swann, C Wilson.
70 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST
There were none, other than those declared during the meeting.
71 MINUTES – ORDINARY MEETING 25 February 2025
The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 25 February 2025 were formally received. The Minutes were AGREED.
72 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ORDINARY MEETING 25 February 2025
Minute 54 (25 February 2025). The boat was still there. Jim Dines had spoken to Sam Hicks again and asked him to remove it or MHIC would have it removed.
Minute 61 (25 February 2025). Jim Dines noted that the location for the new buoy at Herring Point (Blackwater Sailing Club), which had been requested at the Joint River Users and Safety Meeting had not been received.
73 CLERK’S REPORT
Item 1. Commercial Harbour Dues. The Harbour Dues Rates Notice for 2025 had been circulated.
Item 2. Non-Commercial Harbour Dues. As per last year, these would be collected in June.
Item 3. Dates for MHIC Meetings 2026. Maldon Little Ship Club had confirmed the proposed room booking dates are available. The Clerk had conveyed MHIC’s thanks to the MLSC for the use of their room.
Item 4. Visit to Northey. Katy Gilchrist, National Trust, would be pleased for the Commissioners to visit. A date needed to be established.
74 TREASURER’S REPORT
The Account stood at just over £19,000, with an end of year surplus of just over £3000. (Income just over £9K, expenditure approx £6K)
75 HARBOUR MAINTENANCE AND BUOY REPORT
Inspection afloat took place on 4 April 2025, John Dines, Patrick Ellum and Contractor Harley Swann. All 12 buoys were inspected.
All 12 Buoys were lifted clear of the water to enable an inspection of the underwater body of the buoys and the condition of their mooring attachments.
Varying degrees of marine growth were present on the immersed part of the buoys though none to a serious extent.
The modified centres, that have only been in service for a short period of time, are as should be expected, showing no signs of wear or deterioration.
Those buoys yet to be fitted with the modified centres were checked and none exhibited sufficient deterioration, as yet, to require replacement. It should be noted that MHIC has in stock sufficient Mk II modified centres to replace the originals as and when required.
The above water bodies of all buoys were cleaned of any fouling by hand brushing and washing down. It was noted that No 10 being a port hand can buoy having a large flat top was heavily fouled and indeed a gull remained sitting on the buoy until we were only a few feet away. It was decided that additional anti-bird spikes should be fitted to this buoy and the contractor will carry out this work shortly.
All light fitted buoys had the lights tested and were found to be serviceable although
No 15 Std hand, light was noted as being rather weak.
With the advent of warmer weather, it is intended that on the next afloat inspection we will pressure wash and scrape the underwater bodies of all buoys.
MHIC should be aware that during the Dry inspection carried out in February 2025 our Contractor stated that he was unable to inspect the attachment of the risers to the railway wagon wheel sinkers of some of the buoys (Nos 19/17/15) as they were buried under a thick layer of mud/silt.
76 HYTHE QUAY
There was a discussion regarding the testing of the mud at the Quay for the National Trust dredging.
77 DREDGING
N Cardy stated that 14 loads of gravel had been taken. N Cardy and C Swann had surveyed and found that No 10 buoy is on a “hump” causing flows behind the buoy to erode a channel deeper than the Fairway. N Cardy plans to dredge soon commencing at No 10 buoy.
78 SILTATION COMMITTEE
D Patient read out a letter from MHIC to Michael Neale, Team Leader, Essex Environmental Management Land and Water, Environment Agency, dated 19 February 2025, regarding the re-establishment of the Blackwater Siltation Steering Group.
P Ellum read out an email response from Tim Poulding, Senior Environment Officer, Water Quality, Essex Land and Water Team, dated 19 March 2025, explaining that the EA feel that they may no longer be required to chair meetings of the Group but endorsing that meetings should continue with Essex and Suffolk Water chairing and the EA copied in to minutes.
There was discussion of the running and chairing of the Siltation Group meetings. It was noted that the Terms of Reference stated that this should be done by the EA. P Ellum suggested that the meetings should go ahead without the EA and with the ESW chairing.
There was further discussion of the role of the Siltation Group and changes to the terms of the permit. Jim Dines enquired as to the discussions between the EA and ESW.
It was reported that MHIC had been a consultee for the Marine Management Organisation regarding the new pontoon at Blackwater Sailing Club. The Commissioners had responded but had no comment.
79 MHIC EMERGENCY PHONE
This would be followed up at the next meeting.
80 INSTAGRAM
M Chapman reported 357 followers (previous meeting 329).
81 WEB CAMS
This would be followed through at the next meeting.
82 URGENT ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Item a) It was AGREED that the Clerk’s salary be increased to £200 per month.
Item b) N Cardy raised the matter of wreck removal. A Fluker stated that this needs to be formalised. N Cardy had spoken to Paul Winters about The Telegraph, asking if it could be moved.
Item c) P Ellum informed the meeting that the Slipway had been locked and he had subsequently unlocked with a code provided by the River Bailiff. The Slipway was subsequently locked again by the Parks Department. This should be brought up at the next MHIC/MDC Liaison meeting.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.15 pm.