3.2
/ MINUTES OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETINGHELD AT THE QUADRANT, NORTH TYNESIDE COUNCIL
ON 27 OCTOBER 2015 AT 2.00 PM
PRESENT: NIFCA Members:
Mr G R Arckless (Chairman), Mr L Weller (Vice Chairman), Mr B Burdis, Mrs C Hedley, Dr M Kitching, Mr S Lowe, Mr B Pidcock, Mr P Rippon, Mr N Robinson, Dr C Scott, Mr J Stephenson, Mr I Thomas, Mr D Watkin.
Also in attendance were the NIFCA Chief Executive Officer Mr M H Hardy, Chief IFCO Mr A B Browne, Deputy Chief IFCO Mr J Green,
IFCO Ms V Rae, IFCO Mr J Cooke, NIFCA Administrative Officer Ms E Cosimini and Mr R Blackhurst from Seafish.
3.1 INTRODUCTION OF NEW STAFF FOLLOWED BY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
The Chairman welcomed the new Environmental IFCO Vicky Rae and part-time Operational IFCO Ricky Willis to the Authority. Both have been working with NIFCA for a few weeks and have settled into the team well.
No declarations of interest made.
3.2 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING AND MATTER ARISING THEREFROM
3.2.1 Minutes of the quarterly meeting held on 28 July 2015
These minutes were received by the meeting and approved as a correct account.
3.2.2 Minutes of the Technical & Scientific meeting held on 5 October 2015
These minutes were received by the meeting and approved asa correct account. Catherine Scott explained that there had been an omission from these minutes of the discussion regarding Brown Crab stocks which was agreed by Les Weller. Catherine Scott will email Emma Cosimini with the details to be added to these meeting minutes.
3.3 MEETINGS ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AUTHORITY INCLUDING A REPORT ON ST AIDAN
The document was noted and received by the meeting.
Richard Blackhurst from Seafish attended the meeting to give an update on St Aidan. He explained the issues with St Aidan over the last few weeks have been with the spray rails, steering and drainage and work has since been done to amend these issues. New solid filled spray rails have been bonded to the hull which is a huge improvement to the original hollow spray rails which were fitted to the vessel. An electric emergency steering system has been fitted and the drainage has been replaced. The Chairman asked how Richard Blackhurst felt that St Aidan had faired as a prototype vessel to which Richard confirmed that it is a great high-spec model that has had a couple of issues but is overall very good. The Chairman gave thanks to Richard Blackhurst for his time and all of the hard work that had been put into making St Aidan a success by himself, Goodchild Marine and others working on the vessel.
3.4 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT FOR QUARTER ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2015 (FOR MEMBERS ONLY)
The Chief Executive confirmed that the Authority is still waiting to hear whether New Burdens Funding will be continued into next year’s budget.
He also explained that the Demersal Landing Obligation (DLO) will come into force from 1st January 2016 and that IFCAs may be contacted to do some joint working with the MMO. He confirmed that some fish included in the DLO will apply to the North Sea area and IFCOs may be asked to take part in some training to better understand this. Steve Lowe asked whether training regarding the DLO (and other relevant NIFCA training) will also be directed at Members as it may help to better understand the role of, and challenges facing, NIFCA. The Chief Executive agreed that some of the training that NIFCA staff are given could be beneficial to the Members and that in the case of the DLO something could be developed for Members who feel they would benefit from it. The Vice Chairman asked whether Minimum Landing Sizes would still apply when the DLO is introduced to which Neil Robinson confirmed that DLO will replace Minimum Landing Sizes and it will happen quickly so training will need to be put in place soon to ensure staff are up to date with the changes. The Chief Executive confirmed that a briefing paper for Members will be created with the support of Chief IFCO Browne and Neil Robinson.
3.5 MPAs REPORT
The document was noted and received by the meeting. The Chief Executive confirmed that further thought and planning was being undertaken regarding the possibility of opening soft grounds in the B&NNC SAC. This particularly involves the analysis and mapping of data which has been gathered to enable a decision to be made.
The Chief Executive also said that Coquet to St Mary’s is still expected to become a MCZ, but with no definite date yet for when that will be confirmed.
3.6 MMO APPOINTED MEMBER APPRAISALS
The document was noted and received by the meeting. The Chairman explained that he had hoped to do Member Appraisals as a matter of exception rather than everyone having to take part but this, unfortunately, was not allowed by the MMO. The Chief Executive explained that the appraisals could take place at the NIFCA office if preferable for the Chairman and the Members and Emma Cosimini could liaise with everyone to arrange suitable appointments. Claire Hedley suggested that, if preferable, the Chairman could complete the reviews then send them out to Members to sign – the Chief Executive explained that in the first year a phone call is probably the bare minimum that should be undertaken, unless a meeting is preferable for the Member. He confirmed that he and the Chairman would discuss this further and report back to the Members at the next meeting. Catherine Scott asked whether the MMO appointees will also get the chance to review NIFCA. The Chief Executive explained that this could be a possibility in the future but also confirmed that there had been an opportunity in 2014 to review the IFCAs when the public and Members were invited to give feedback to DEFRA for their 4 yearly report, from which NIFCA emerged very favourably.
The Vice Chairman explained that the new Terms and Conditions for existing MMO Appointed Members had not yet been circulated by the MMO. The Chief Executive confirmed he would write to David Abbott to remind him that Members were still waiting for this update.
3.7 BYELAWS REPORT
The document was noted and received by the meeting. The Chief Executive confirmed that the new NIFCA byelaw package has now been delivered to DEFRA with the MMO seal of approval and it is hoped that they will be signed off on behalf of the minister by 1st December 2015. NIFCA have now introduced a Byelaw working group of Al Browne, Sally Stewart-Moore, Emma Cosimini, Pat Temperley and Julian Sutton particularly to prepare the new permits system. The Chief Executive went on to explain that NIFCA remain the only IFCA to date who have replaced the Legacy Byelaws with a whole new set.
Bernard Pidcock asked why there was an allocation of £100 per new Byelaw in the Impact Assessments to which John Green explained that it was to cover the costs of advertising (statutory consultation) regarding the new package.
3.8 UPDATE ON NIFCA PROJECTS AND JOINT PROJECTS INCLUDING LOBSTER STOCK ASSESSMENT, PROJECTS WITH NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY, LOBSTER HATCHERY AND FLAG
The document was noted and received by the meeting. The Chief Executive explained that the Lobster Stock Assessment which was started by Emma McLoughney has been continued by Sally Stewart-Moore. He explained that every month, Sally works on 4 fishing vessels (each vessel once a month) taking part in this project at different points in the district to measure and take tissue samples from lobsters. Information and samples are then passed to Newcastle University to process. The Chief Executive confirmed that this project is gathering valuable data about the status of the Northumberland lobster stocks which will be shared with CEFAS. Outcomes and findings will be produced next year.
3.9 RECREATIONAL SEA ANGLING UPDATE
The Chief Executive explained that NIFCA Officers have been out at events meeting Sea Anglers and taking part in competitions as a way to enhance relations with this group and get more people engaging with NIFCA. Bass size and tackle box stickers have been distributed and NIFCA adverts have been placed in 10 competition programmes. So far, 24 online surveys have been submitted by Sea Anglers with some Officers also taking responses in person.
3.10 REVISED IFCA SUCCESS CRITERIA
The document was noted and received by the meeting. The Chief Executive explained that the IFCA Vision and Success Criteria is a framework for all IFCAs to follow. It has been used as a basis for Annual Reports and has so far been a good framework but now some of the Success Criteria have become outdated and the document has been revised. The changes need to be checked and approved by all IFCA Members but the recommendation is that the document be accepted by NIFCA.
The Chairman confirmed that the revision of the IFCA Vision and Success Criteria is being considered by all IFCAs and asked the Members if there was any feedback. The Vice Chairman was pleased to see that the IFCA websites would be updated by the last working day of each month. Steve Lowe said that he didn’t feel that SC1 showed the balance of conservation work that IFCA do. The Chief Executive explained that SC3 offers the balance to SC1 by focussing on the conservation and environmental work of IFCAs but that he would raise this nationally with COG. Steve Lowe also pointed out a typographical error on page 5 which the Chief Executive noted. The Chairman then asked if the Members would be happy for NIFCA to adopt this revised document to which the Members confirmed they are.
3.11 FUTURE MEETING DATES
The Chairman explained that the core of the County Council Meeting dates had been set up to take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and so a few Council Members were finding clashes with the NIFCA meetings on a Tuesday. He explained that it has been suggested that the NIFCA meetings are moved to the last Monday of every quarter to prevent further meeting clashes. The Chairman asked whether present Members would be happy to accept this which was agreed by the Members. The Chairman confirmed that this would also be proposed to the Members that were not able to attend this meeting and then confirmed for approval. Dougie Watkin gave thanks to Emma Cosimini and Mike Bird at NCC for liaising about this matter.
3.12 CORRESPONDENCE
The document was noted and received by the meeting with thanks. The Vice Chairman asked if he could get a copy of the “Common DAB Fisheries Biology on the Northumberland Coast” report which the Chief Executive confirmed could be sent to him and any other interested Member.
3.13 RISK ASSESSMENT UPDATE
The Chief Executive explained that a Risk Assessment working group has been set up including himself, Julian Sutton, Mark Southerton, Al Browne and Emma Cosimini. The group have recently reviewed and updated the Risk Assessment Matrix which needs to be approved by the meeting. The Chairman gave the Members the chance to give feedback on the document. The document was approved by Members.
3.14 ORAL SUMMARY OF WATCH AND FINANCE COMMITTEES BY CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The summary was delivered by the Chief Executive and the minutes will record the details of those meetings. The CEO confirmed that all presented minutes, accounts and reports were received and approved by both meetings. Infringements were discussed with 1 case being approved for a FAP and another for prosecution.
Occupational Health Checks were carried out for NIFCA Officers (office staff health tests taking place later this year) and it was agreed that Officers will get an annual health check and office staff will get a health check every 2 years. The new Smoke Free Workplace Policy was circulated and approved by Members and will be circulated to staff later in the week.
In the Finance meeting, Members were updated on the Staff Matters, Reviews, Appraisals and Merit Payments questionnaire that went out to staff and the consultation which followed. There was an update on the Intel Project and the Expenses report for the quarter was received and approved, as were the Estimates and Actuals. The Annual Audit was authorised by Members (more to follow later in this meeting) and the 2016/17 Budget Preparation Meeting was arranged for Monday 14th December at County Hall.
3.15 IFCO REPORTS
3.15.1 Chief IFCO Report and Reports on areas 1 and 2 for the quarter ending 30 September 2015
The document was noted and received by the meeting
3.15.2 Deputy Chief IFCO (Environmental) and EIFCOs Report for quarter ending 30 September 2015
The document was noted and received by the meeting. The Vice Chairman said he understood that the Conservation Advice Workshops have been postposed and asked Catherine Scott if this was the case to which Catherine confirmed that they had put back until 2016/17 as it was too soon to do this.
3.15.3 Maintenance Report and Engineering Log for quarter ending 30 September 2015
The document was noted and received by the meeting.
3.16 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Audit Report:
The Chief Executive explained that NIFCA had passed their Annual Audit with a couple of points of action raised: 1) a set of initials were missing from one page of the minutes. 2) The reporting of the Audit was noted in the Finance Committee minutes but not in the General Committee meeting minutes. The Chief Executive confirmed that formal approval of the Audit needed to be given by the Committee – the External Audit Report and Annual Return for 2014-15 were read out by the Chief Executive and passed around the Members. The Audit documents were approved by the Authority.