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Bid to raise skills base of harbour board |
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Thursday, 14 February 2008 |
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Newlyn's Harbour Commission is applying to change its constitution to increase the skills base within its membership.
The
Department for Transport has confirmed it is expecting the commission
to make the application to conform with guidelines for good governance
set down by the government in January, 2000."The commission has been
negotiating with the Department for Transport," said Andrew Munson,
harbour master.
The guide says all boards should contain an
appropriate balance of skills to control the port effectively and
provide it with leadership, motivation and strategic direction.
However, elections for some board members, which are supposed to be
held every three years, did not take place at the last expected date.
"The
last time instead of saying every three years they asked us to stay
until the Harbour Revision Order comes into force," said a harbour
commissioner.
The next expected date for elections will be December.
The Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commission is made up of 10 commissioners.
Two
are appointed by the Department of Transport, one by Cornwall County
Council and is re-appointed at council elections, one is co-opted by
the board, three are boat owners, and one is a fish merchant.
Godfrey
Adams, chairman of the Newlyn Fish Merchants Association and owner of
Trelawney Fish, has confirmed he will soon become the new fish merchant
commissioner.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN
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One Commissioner is also a County Councillor whose remit is to keep County Hall abreast of events in the Harbour. Regrettably this obligation does not appear to have been discharged to the possible detriment of Penwith's economy. The Commissioners activities appear shrouded in secrecy, correspondence when not ignored totally takes an average of three months to elicit a reply and there is an aversion to stakeholder engagement which could be interpreted as wilful.
There certainly needs to be a rapid improvement in managerial skills in the light of the recent, most welcome grant of planning permission for the new fish market which is so badly needed in this age of traceability and chill chain integrity.