MALDON HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT COMMISSIONERS
Printable pdf Minutes 6 January 2026
Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Commissioners held on Tuesday, 6 January 2026 at 7.00 pm.
PRESENT:
David Patient (Chairman)
P Ellum (Vice Chairman)
Dave Hansford (Treasurer)
C Anderson,
John Dines
A Fluker (District Councillor)
N Harrisson
C Wilson
A Wiseman
62 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from N Cardy, M Chapman, Jim Dines, C Swann.
63 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST
A Fluker stated that he was a District Councillor. Otherwise, none other than those declared during the meeting.
64 TO RECEIVE AND CONFIRM THE MINUTES – ORDINARY MEETING, 25 NOVEMBER 2025
The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 25 November 2025 were formally received. The Minutes were AGREED.
65 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ORDINARY MEETING 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Minute 55 (2025) re Siltation Steering Group – to be discussed next time.
66 TO CONSIDER THE RE-APPOINTMENT OF ALLAN WISEMAN WHOSE PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT ENDED ON THE 31 DECEMBER 2025
On being duly proposed and seconded it was AGREED Allan Wiseman be reappointed as Commissioner.
67 CLERK’S REPORT
Item 1. Non-Commercial Harbour Dues. Payments had been received except from Chandlers Quay. Chandlers Quay had now been invoiced and Colin Wilson was pursuing.
Item 2. Commercial Harbour Dues Invoices for year ending 2025. These would be sent out on 7 January 2026.
Item 3. Port Marine Safety Code Compliance. Compliance forms from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency were available from 1 January 2026. The deadline for submission was 31 March 2026.
The Clerk would be completing the online forms and adding an upload of a signed letter from David Patient, Chairman.
Item 4. Insurance Quotes. The deadline for renewal was 28 February 2026 for the Marine Combined Liability policy and 26 February 2026 for the Commercial Legal Expenses policy. Winters had been asked to quote for a renewal and this was due to be with MHIC towards the end of January.
Everards contacted the Clerk enquiring about possibly quoting and the details had been sent to them.
Item 5. Register of Interests and Commissioners’ Contacts List. These had been circulated and are up to date.
Item 6. Department for Transport MSD5 Annual Port Freight Return. This had been submitted.
Item 7. MHIC Stock Take. The Clerk had asked H Swann, John Dines and C Swann to undertake a stock audit for the records (as per MHIC Financial Regulations).
68 TREASURER’S REPORT
Status of bank accounts as at 1 January 2026
Business Account £6,506 Savings Account £12,632 £19,138
One non commercial invoice outstanding.
Commercial invoices will be issued shortly.
No outstanding payments due.
Reference report on Commercial Harbour fees issued by Treasurer 31 December 2025.
69 HARBOUR MAINTENANCE AND BUOY REPORT
On 22 December 2025 the last of the regular inspections of 2025 was carried out by our contractor accompanied by Patrick Ellum and John Dines. All lighted buoys had serviceable lights although No 12 Port Hand light was dim.
All 12 buoys were lifted clear of the water to enable inspection of the mooring connections and the fouling of the immersed section.
None of the mooring components were found to be in a critically worn condition.
All buoys were foul below the waterline but since growth was not extensive and would not increase until warmer water temperatures exist later in the year, it is planned to undertake pressure washing the below water bodies as trialled in Autumn 2025. This would be a more cost effective procedure than removing buoys to be cleaned and anti-fouled, and deploying temporary substitutes, (with the requirement to issue two separate Notices to Mariners).
During the inspection the opportunity was taken to remove No 13 Std Hand unlit buoy and deploy a substitute. No 13 had suffered damage to the lifting lugs and had shipped a significant amount of water. It was now ashore and the opportunity would be taken to fit a modified centre tube and mooring shackle, similar to those already fitted to Nos 19 and 17 which were showing no signs of significant wear or deterioration. In addition since the Buoy was unlit it was proposed to fit a lifting shackle to the top of the new tube thus avoiding the necessity to use the damaged lifting lugs.
70 HARBOUR DUES RATES FOR 2026
D Hansford forecast an income of £8609 from all sources ie Commercial Harbour Dues, Non-commercial Harbour Dues, Triathlon fee, bank interest, less Fixed Costs leaving a surplus of £1665. This represented a reduced surplus from last year. He reviewed the potential income if Commercial and Non-Commercial Dues were increased.
a) Commercial Harbour Dues Rates for 2026
An increase in Commercial Harbour Dues was discussed. Of the 9 Commissioners present, 6 preferred to hold the Commercial Harbour Dues rate the same as the previous year. The Clerk would publish the Harbour Dues Notice for 2026.
b) Non-Commercial Harbour Dues
All payments but one for 2025 had been received. The remaining due was still pending, having only recently been invoiced.
71 DREDGING AT THE QUAY. REPORT ON STATUS WITH MALDON DISTRICT COUNCIL
D Patient commented that despite many hours of work regarding the Quay, MHIC’s advice was not being taken. This was disappointing. A Fluker stated that MHIC is a statutory body and a consultee and MDC and the Commissioners should work together.
P Ellum had sent an agreement to MDC for signature, setting out that MHIC does not own the mud at the Quay. MDC had not replied. P Ellum would write to J Skelton MDC to follow this up. A Fluker would contact D Wilkinson, MDC Chief Executive, to expedite the signature. He suggested a meeting with D Wilkinson, D Patient, P Ellum and himself to discuss general matters and to clarify that MHIC are a statutory consultee.
Dredging at the Quay has to use MHIC’s licence.
72 DREDGING
N Cardy is currently carrying out maintenance of the Fairway.
73 MHIC EMERGENCY PHONE
C Wilson explained that Tesco is no longer providing call forwarding. He would find an alternative mobile provider.
74 INSTAGRAM
M Chapman continued to manage this.
75 WEB CAMS
C Wilson had made good progress.
76 URGENT ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Item a) N Cardy asked if the timing of the meeting could be changed. This was discussed. The general opinion was to continue with a 7 pm start.
Item b) MDC had offered to arrange car parking permits specifically for MHIC meetings. The Clerk would go ahead with these.
N Harrisson pointed out that MHIC used to have passes for 2 cars in case of emergency. A Fluker stated that all previous passes were rescinded when the new MDC pass scheme was instigated.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.55 pm