Cowes Harbour Commission Annual Report 2016-2017 | Page 8

The Commissioners are committed to seeking guidance from an Advisory Committee that has been appointed by the Board to represent the beneficiaries and stakeholders of Cowes Harbour : cowesharbourcommission . co . uk / advisory _ committee

Cowes Harbour , as a Trust Port , is run by a Board of Commissioners who are directed by the Department of Transport to consult an Advisory Committee on all matters affecting the management , maintenance , improvement , conservation , protection or regulation of the harbour and its navigation .

Cowes Harbour Advisory Committee ( CHAC ) represents the different stakeholder groups within Cowes Harbour , and plays a key role in maintaining successful two-way communications between harbour users and the Harbour Commission . Harbour users vary from leisure sailors to commercial shipping , and training schools to local traders .

The Advisory Committee currently has 15 members including representatives for the Cowes yacht clubs and keelboat classes , Cowes Week Ltd , marinas , sailing schools , Red Funnel , commercial shipping , Cowes Business Association and the Isle of Wight Council .

The Advisory Committee elects a Chairman and meetings are held several times a year with the Harbour Master and Commissioner for Stakeholder Communications in attendance . Depending on the subject being discussed , specialists are also sometimes invited to attend .

The Advisory Committee meetings enable CHAC members to comment on proposed changes in the operation of the harbour , and to suggest ideas for improvements or raise issues of concern . Recent items on the agenda have included : the next phases of the Outer Harbour Project ( Shrape extension and Eastern Channel dredge ), the planned Victoria Quay marina and East Cowes development , the proposed Medina Yard development , harbour safety , water taxi services , harbour maintenance dredging , a Committee Boat for Cowes , and the new Destination Cowes partnership . Equally , the Advisory Committee meetings provide an opportunity for the Commission to share information on new projects with the CHAC stakeholder representatives .

All CHAC meeting minutes can be viewed at : cowesharbourcommission . co . uk / advisory _ committee

The composition of the Advisory Committee is decided by their Committee members , with reference to their stakeholder group constituent bodies , and is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure it is representative of the community and stakeholders that the Commission serves .

Advisory Committee members remain in post for two , three-year terms , and vacancies will be coming up for new members to join . If you are interested in getting involved , contact the Harbour Office on Tel : 01983 293952 , or email the Advisory Committee : chac @ cowes . co . uk

The following organisations and interest groups are currently represented on the Advisory Committee :

Nominated Body

Sailing and Training Schools Commercial Ship and Wharf Operators Cowes Business Association Cowes Clubs and Classes Association Cowes Combined Clubs and CWL Medina Combined Clubs Red Funnel Group Newport Harbour Authority and IW Council Dean & Reddyhoff East Cowes Town Council Cowes Town Waterfront Trust and BMF Traditional Boat Builders

Advisory Committee Members

* John Corby ( Chair ) Ben Willows , CEO UKSA ( Vice Chair ) Ian Baylis , MD Seacat Services Kate Kirby , Chairman CBA Bob Milner and Dave Ross Peter Taylor Peter Jackson and Mike Harvey Mark Slawson , Fleet and Technical Director Red Funnel Alex Minns , Strategic Manager Leisure Recreation and Parks IWC Mike Townshend , Marina Manager East Cowes Marina Cllr Karl Love Jon Pridham , MD Cowes Yacht Haven Martin Nott , Boat Builder

* John Corby has been reappointed as CHAC Chairman , but the Advisory Committee has a working group looking at current stakeholder representation and committee membership .

Newport Harbour Advisory Committee

Cowes Harbour Commission continues to be represented on Newport Harbour ’ s Advisory Committee , in the same way that Newport Harbour has a seat on CHC ’ s Advisory Committee . A key issue on the agenda recently has been the proposal to make a formal application for a Harbour Revision Order ( HRO ) 2017 for Newport Harbour and the statutory consultation on the order .