DfT investigate harbour running following dismissal and departure of commissioners

AN INVESTIGATION has been opened by the Department for Transport into the running of the Newlyn Harbour Commission following the controversial dismissal of two commissioners and the departure of a third.
A DfT spokesman confirmed the government will approach the port authority after receiving a formal complaint from the three former commissioners in June.
Nick Howell, John Lambourn and Juliet Taylor lodged the appeal after they were ousted from the commission in a disputed secret ballot on May 31. They told the DfT the port authority were not acting within the 2010 Harbour Revision Order, a statutory requirement, or following the guide to governance.
Nick Howell, who was reinstated and then axed again in September with John Lambourn, said the trio did not expect to be recalled to the board.
He said: "All we can hope is that they undergo the training as soon as possible so they can follow and understand the guide and the revision order."
A DfT spokesman explained when a complaint is received it is passed to the harbour authority who are asked to respond to the points raised.
The harbour authority's response is then provided to the complainant and so on until both the harbour authority and the complainant state that they have no new information to provide.
The Department will then give an opinion in respect of the issue. However, there are no powers for it to direct the harbour authority.
He said: "The Department has received a formal complaint from those concerned and – as set out in our guidance – will follow up the matter with the Newlyn Harbour Authority."
Harbour Master Andrew Munson explained the Harbour Commission had not yet been approached by the DfT on the matter. Meanwhile, chairman Gilbert McCabe has revealed a shortlist of seven candidates has been drawn up to fill the places vacated by the three departed commissioners.
A panel consisting of Mr McCabe, Mr Munson, Cornwall Council maritime manager Andy Brigden and Stephen Bailey from the European Fisheries Fund will conduct interviews on November 24 and 25.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN