MALDON HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT COMMISSIONERS
Printable pdf Minutes of Meeting 25 February 2025
MINUTES – ORDINARY MEETING, Tuesday, 25 February 2025 at 7.00 pm.
PRESENT:
D Patient (Chairman)
P Ellum
D Hansford (Treasurer)
N Cardy
M Chapman
Jim Dines
John Dines
N Harrisson
A Wiseman
51 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from C Anderson, A Fluker, C Swann, C Wilson.
52 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST
There were none, other than those declared during the meeting.
53 MINUTES – ORDINARY MEETING 26 November 2024
The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 26 November 2024 were formally received. The Minutes were AGREED.
54 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ORDINARY MEETING 26 November 2024
Minute 49 a) (26 November 2024). The boat was still there. Jim Dines had spoken to Sam Hicks regarding the Pontoon.
55 CLERK’S REPORT
Item 1. Dredge Protocol. The MHIC Dredge Protocol had been updated and published, January 2025.
Item 2. Commercial Harbour Dues. The deadline for payment was Friday, 28 February 2025. All payments were in.
Item 3. Joint River Users and Safety Meeting, 4 March 2025. The Clerk had visited BSC and the room layout was confirmed. The data projector was available and there would be Club Officers to assist with getting it running.
Item 4. Updates from Maldon District Council. The River Bailiff had prepared a report for Daren Spring to present to the Joint River Users and Safety Meeting. The next MDC Liaison meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, 12 March 2025.
56 INSURANCE
The revised quote from Winters was reviewed as per the email from the Clerk to the Commissioners 25 February 2025. The increase was less than £21. It was AGREED to accept the quote (unanimous).
57 TREASURER’S REPORT
Business and Community Accounts stood at £22,369 less payment to Heritage Marine (£1545) and expenditure on buoy maintenance of just over £1400.
The Treasurer asked for approval to continue using Lambert Chapman as auditors for the coming year. This was AGREED (unanimous).
58 BUDGET FOR 2025
There was discussion of fixed costs and possible variable costs eg maintenance.
59 SET COMMERCIAL HARBOUR DUES FOR 2025
Commercial Harbour Dues had been increased last year. Non-Commercial Harbour Dues were now in place. It was AGREED there would be no change in Commercial Harbour Dues for 2025 (unanimous).
60 HARBOUR MAINTENANCE AND BUOY REPORT
John Dines brought in examples of old centres to illustrate the need for new centres.
John Dines reviewed the buoy inspection carried out on Friday, 31 January 2025. The MHIC Contractor accompanied by Commissioner John Dines carried out an afloat inspection of all 12 of the Commissioners’ Channel Marker Buoys. All buoys were lifted clear of the water and the integrity of the attachment to their moorings inspected and assessed. Centre of No 15 Std Hand Buoy, was removed and replaced by the upgraded Mk II Centre (which embodied the replacement of the Perspex sleeve with a more substantial item made of Nylon 6 which was tougher and less brittle than the Perspex sleeve originally fitted).
All buoys were cleaned above the waterline and lights where fitted were tested and found to be serviceable.
MHIC await our Contractor’s report on the annual dry inspection of sinkers and risers.
Other matters:-
– All but one of the spare centres has been upgraded to the MK II version fitted with the Nylon 6 sleeve.
– A further search has unearthed a quantity of adhesive buoy letter and numbers.
– Continuity of Buoy Inspection and Contractor supervision
John Dines suggested that a Commissioner be appointed to succeed him to take over responsibility for buoyage in the future, and that in the meantime this Commissioner should accompany John Dines and our Contractor on future inspections. John Dines
had ascertained that our Contractor would be happy with this arrangement. John Dines proposed Patrick Ellum for this, M Chapman seconded. P Ellum agreed to succeed John Dines at some point in the future.
61 BLACKWATER SAILING CLUB NEW BUOY AT HERRING POINT
Jim Dines had asked BSC to provide details of the location. If it was not near the Channel, it would be acceptable.
62 JOINT RIVER USERS AND SAFETY MEETING, TUESDAY, 4 MARCH 2025
D Patient reviewed the input to come from MHIC. The Agenda, MHIC speakers and readers for external reports were established.
63 NORTHEY UPDATE
The Northey trip had been postponed until a date could be established.
64 a) HYTHE QUAY AND DREDGING
Maldon District Council was tendering for removal mud at the Quay and had brought in a Consultant.
64 b) MDC LIAISON MEETING
The schedule for 2025 to be arranged along a similar pattern to 2024.
65 INSTAGRAM
M Chapman reported 329 followers (previous meeting 286).
66 WEB CAMS
C Wilson reported by email:-
He now had the information. He had helped install the new CCTV system for MLSC and they were after the same public access requirements. He needed access to the MLSC router to change the port forwarding settings for their webcams, he could also carry out the same for MHIC webcams.
67 MHIC EMERGENCY PHONE
C Wilson reported by email:-
He had checked operation and noticed the mobile is no longer receiving calls. The subscription to GiffGaff had expired and required renewal. This should be a simple voucher payment, either online or purchased from a high street store. He would action this.
68 URGENT ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Item a) D Patient reviewed the situation with respect to the reinstatement of the Siltation Committee.
Item b) Jim Dines and N Cardy would be reviewing where gravel needs removing.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.55 pm.