Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

An apology for absence was received from Mr A Bowness.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the Agenda

RESOLVED,that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda Item 9 – Port Manager’s report and Agenda Item No 10 – Report on Existing Customer on the grounds that they contain exempt information as defined under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person including the authority holding that information.

Members are invited to disclose any non pecuniary interest not already registered, and any disclosable pecuniary interest they have in any item on the agenda which comprises

1          Details of any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for       profit or gain.

2          Details of any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from the authority) made or provided within the relevant period in respect of any expenses incurred by you in carrying out duties as a member, or towards your election expenses.  (This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

3          Details of any contract which is made between you (or a body in which you have a beneficial interest) and the authority

(a)       Under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be           executed; and

            (b)       Which has not been fully discharged.

4          Details of any beneficial interest in land which is within the area of the authority. 

5          Details of any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer. 

6          Details of any tenancy where (to your knowledge)

            (a)       The landlord is the authority; and

            (b)       The tenant is a body in which you have a beneficial                                                     interest.

7          Details of any beneficial interest in securities of a body where

(a)       That body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the          area of the authority; and

(b)       Either –

(i)      The total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one        hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or

(ii)     If that share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.

In addition, you must also disclose other non-pecuniary interests set out in the Code of Conduct where these have not already been registered.

Note

A “disclosable pecuniary interest” is an interest of a councillor or their partner (which means spouse or civil partner, a person with whom they are living as husband or wife, or a person with whom they are living as if they are civil partners).

Mr M Johnson declared an interest as a Managing Director of A J Johnson.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Workington Harbour Management Committee meeting held on 28 January 2022 (copy enclosed).

Subject to Mr J Coughlin’s name being added to the list of attendees, it was

RESOLVED,that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2022 be confirmed as an accurate record.

To report any changes in membership

There were no changes to membership to note.

To consider a report by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure (copy enclosed).

Members received the recommendations and action plan for Workington Harbour Management Committee from the Port Manager.  It was the intention to have revised recommendations for the action plan for future meetings.

RESOLVED,that the report be noted.

To consider a report by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure (copy enclosed).

The Port Manager updated members on the last Revenue and Expenditure for the quarter ending 31 March 2022. The Port Manager highlighted the provisional out-turn for the financial year 2021/22.  Members noted that despite the challenges presented, the Port had an upturn in revenue in the last quarter and congratulated the Port officers for this.  The Port Manager outlined cargo that had passed through the Port and new business activities that were expanding the Port’s customer base.  The volatility of the economy, the increase in inflation costs raising running costs and impacts of the Ukraine situation were discussed.  The Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure confirmed that work was taking place to assess the impacts and implications of these on the Port.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for 27 July 2022 at 10.00am at the Port of Workington.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee will be held on 27 July 2022 at 10 am in the Conference Centre, Port of Workington.

PART 2 – ITEMS CONSIDERED IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS

To consider a report by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure (copy enclosed).

The Committee received a report from the Port Manager on the general commercial activities that were on going and anticipated.  The Port Manager outlined sanctions that had been implemented at UK Ports in relation to Russian vessels and the support that the DfT was providing on this.

Members were informed of an incident that had taken place and where significant amount of learnings had come from the investigation.  These learnings included a change in the decision making process in adverse weather conditions and the addition of a formalised dynamic risk assessment.  The Marine Accident Investigation Bureau had concluded its investigation with the port and were satisfied with the report’s findings.

Members received a Covid 19 Update on response and recovery as well as a summary of the Port’s commercial and business activities from 1 April 2021 to 31 December 2021.  The Port’s Health and Safety matters were outlined by the Port Manager. 

Committee members were informed that the Port’s Masterplan had been approved by Cabinet in September 2021 and in support of the Masterplan, the Workington Town Deal Board had defined the Port as a key asset for the town and its clean growth credentials.  Infrastructure surveys of the Port’s key assets had been commissioned. The infrastructure survey would assist in evaluating the current condition of key port assets and help determine a 15-year plan for future surveys and works that are to be undertaken to ensure the continued operation of those assets.  Following on from this further detailed survey work had been commissioned to assist in planning the infrastructure improvements particularly in the areas of the quay walls and preliminary reports from this was appended to the report.  The Place and Enterprise Manager gave a presentation on Energy Coast Rail Upgrade.  The presentation included proposals for improvements of the Port’s rail infrastructure.

Members noted that, following the successful application to the Cabinet Office for the Port Infrastructure Fund (PIF) which was awarded to the Port of Workington to build a new warehouse for the storage of Wood Pulp, the warehouse construction was now complete with an official handover anticipated next month.  The success of the Gateway to Growth campaign, in raising the Port’s profile, was highlighted.

The Port Manager informed members that from 1 January 2022 the Port had been operating under the new border arrangements with no significant issues causing delays. The Ports Marine Safety System had undergone an annual audit and the Port’s action tracker had been updated with actions arising from this.

The Port Manager outlined maintenance dredging and Port recruitment. 

RESOLVED,that the report be noted.

To receive a presentation by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure.

The Assistant Director - Environment & Enterprise gave members an update on an existing customer at the Port.

RESOLVED,that the report be noted.

The Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure gave an update on Local Government Reform.