MALDON HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT COMMISSIONERS

Printable pdf Minutes of Meeting 26 November 2024 

MINUTES – ORDINARY MEETING, Tuesday, 26 November 2024 at 7.00 pm.
PRESENT:
D Patient (Chairman)
D Hansford (Treasurer)
C Anderson
N Cardy
M Chapman
Jim Dines
John Dines
A Fluker
C Wilson

37        APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from P Ellum, N Harrisson, C Swann, A Wiseman.

38        DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST
There were none, other than those declared during the meeting.

39        MINUTES – ORDINARY MEETING 24 September 2024
The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 24 September 2024 were formally received.  The Minutes were AGREED.

40        MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ORDINARY MEETING 24 September 2024
There were none.

41        CLERK’S REPORT
Item 1.            Joint River Users and Safety Meeting March 2025.  Blackwater Sailing Club is unable to accommodate this meeting on the proposed date of 11 March 2025, but they have offered the date of Tuesday, 4 March 2025.  This is the date that would have been an MHIC Ordinary meeting, hence it would be acceptable to Commissioners.  The Clerk has asked BSC to confirm Tuesday, 4 March 2025 and is awaiting final confirmation.
Therefore, MHIC Ordinary meeting date would be changed to the previous week ie Tuesday, 25 February 2025.  The Clerk will confirm this to Commissioners when BSC give final confirmation.  This change of date does not have a major impact on the usual frequency of MHIC meetings which is approx 6 – 7 weeks.
Item 2.            Northey walk for Commissioners.  The proposed walk for Commissioners at Northey has been postponed until the spring.
Item 3.            Updates from Maldon District Council.  The River Bailiff reports no news or updates for Commissioners.  The next MDC Liaison meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 17 December 2024.

42        TREASURER’S REPORT
Business account stood at £10,659.27, Community account stood at £5,208.54.
Income for the period included Non-Commercial Harbour Dues.  There were no more Non-Commercial Harbour Dues payments outstanding.  Expenditure was for buoy maintenance and materials.

43        NORTHEY UPDATE
N Cardy reported 6 loads in the bund location, 2 loads of gravel, 17 loads over the wall.  The Essex and Suffolk Water commitment was finished.  There would be 13 more loads before Christmas.
After Christmas he was due to start with the gravel.  MHIC should decide where this should be taken from.  This was discussed.  This would be graded rather than taken from one place.  Herring Point was a possibility.  N Cardy, Jim Dines and David Patient would have a look and give an opinion in time for January 2025.  30 loads of gravel would be needed for the next year.
Regarding the vessel Telegraph – mast, ballast and rubbish had been removed by Landbreach.  The vessel might possibly be moved to Brightlingsea.  This would be added to the Agenda for the forthcoming Maldon District Council Liaison Meeting.

44        HARBOUR MAINTENANCE AND STATE OF BUOYS
John Dines reviewed the buoy inspection carried out on Monday, 18 November 2024.
All 12 Buoys were lifted clear of the water the mooring attachments were inspected and the under-water body cleaned of an accretion of weed and barnacles.
Buoys 19 and 17 were both now fitted with the upgraded centres pictured and discussed at the last meeting.
It was too early to assess the longevity of the modified centres.
It was considered that the remainder of the buoy attachments will survive another winter.
John Dines has almost completed machining operations on a further 6 centres which will then be available to replace those on the remaining plastic ‘two part’ buoys, as and when they are judged to require changing.
All lights were serviceable currently, and there is 1 spare light available.
All buoys were pressure washed off above the waterline and none showed any signs of damage.
The Contractor would carry out an inspection of the ground tackle, as usual, in the new year.
The cost of the materials for the upgraded centres had exceeded the original estimate of around £70 and now stands at around £85.
As previously stated, John Dines would not be charging MHIC for his time and consumables, (welding rods etc).

45        MDC LIAISON MEETING, TUESDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2024
Items for the Agenda included the Telegraph and wrecks; buoy maintenance; Northey; Hythe Quay; dredging; new pontoon.

46        INSTAGRAM
M Chapman reported 286 followers (previous meeting 134).  Items published included the buoy pictures – after and before cleaning, Notices to Mariners, local events, Anglian Awards, Marine Police news, RNLI videos.

47        WEB CAMS
C Wilson reported that this is progressing.  The next stage is to establish a stable camera feed.

48        MHIC EMERGENCY PHONE
C Anderson had received no calls and would continue to be the Commissioner on-call.

49        URGENT ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Item a)  N Cardy reported that a Tesco trolley needed removing.  He also raised the matter of the boat and pontoon that were subsiding/sinking (as previously reported by N Harrisson).
Item b)  C Wilson expressed concern that the bank above Fullbridge was becoming undercut.

50        END OF YEAR REVIEW
D Patient thanked Commissioners for their support and reviewed the year’s successes and progress.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.35 pm.