Attendance and Membership

The 14 boat owners + partners + 5 committee members attended our second meeting. Apologies were received from: Paul Kent, Barry Heath, Roger Morgan, Pete Leyland, Ian Stockdale, David Massey, David Hands, Jeremy Miles, Andy Roberts, Kevin Lambert, Mark Perry & Colin Winchester.

Membership interest now totals 74.

MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
Minutes of the inaugural meeting held on 7 July at The Castle Hotel, Deganwy were approved04/08/03

MATTERS ARISING
Chairman had a constructive and forthright meeting with Mr Duncan Ashgrove, the Marina Manager on 1 August at the Majestic Yachts Office and consequently received an e-mail on 3 August with comments on the matters raised by members as follows: (This is roughly as written but amended for clarity).

Marina Charging Policy.
IInterguide Investment Holdings owns the Marina which was bought from Alan Waldron and Waters Edge Developments who provided the figures and meterage on which calculations for the purchase of the marina were based. There were numerous promises made via the previous owners most of which are still unfulfilled. Meterage and charges were due to be published in February 06 but the date got moved by the accountants and statisticians who were trying to juggle the figures as per the Bank requirements and consequently projections and business plans are at least 12 months behind.

Apologies are given for lack of communication in this regard.

Security.
The pontoons are accessed by key fobs which gives a good idea who is present, the car stickers also let the office know who is on site and the CCTV system constantly sweeps the marina 24hrs a day. The staff are aware of boat movements in and out of the marina by day and movements by night. Once the hotel is open there will be additional security from their own cameras so this is now considered pretty well covered.

IInsurance.
The marina is insured by one of the largest marine underwriters who visit the site regularly to keep things up to date and assess the risk of the basin draining and premiums are paid accordingly.

Electricity.
All electricity is metered out at one unit price in line with charges levied by Scottish Power. The marina has a demand meter that dials out and registers the capacity of the network which currently draws 45kVA.

VHF.
Day and night staff have access to both fixed and hand held VHF radios and Dect cordless telephone handsets so they can use these remotely when out of the office. The tools are available to them so they can only be requested to use them and it is hoped their common sense will prevail.

Parking.
This has been a bugbear for berth holders during the final stages of construction of the hotel but should be back to normal within the next few weeks. The marina parking runs alongside the marina, some 40 spaces when they are not blocked. There are a further 17 spaces by the turning circle adjacent to the south breakwater and additional parking can be accommodated on the hard-standing if necessary.

Staff Qualifications.
All the staff who are on the water have RYA qualifications and some have considerable experience of the river and boat handling. First Aid and Health & Safety courses are kept up to date and all employees have VHF radio licenses. In addition, the night staff, in order to be a security officer, have to sit an NVQ which includes topics such as Fire, Health & Safety, Conflict Management, First Aid & CCTV to name but a few.

Vermin.
The site has always had vermin so attempts are made to keep the bins in one area with the lids shut but until the sea wall and bin enclosure is built by Alan Waldron, this issue will continue. Bait is laid out by certified Companies and with the opening of the hotel, the persecution will only become more severe.

Additional issues discussed but not annotated.     

Mr Ashgrove suggested that all sea trips are logged with the marina if over 12hrs duration (one tide cycle) as a safety precaution. Call on Channel 80 VHF or phone.

The tidal gate is now monitored visually every cycle to prevent a recurrence of the basin draining.

A £60 fine for non-authorised parking has been proposed.

The fuel bunkering equipment was supplied and installed by Cooks Retail of Cheshire on a 3 year pay-back arrangement. Although the marina pays £0.40/litre it is obliged to charge around £0.60/litre to fulfil its terms. A possible buyout to overcome this handicap was mentioned.

Our research shows the following prices for diesel at nearby destinations:

Aberystwyth  £0.49/
Barmouth  £0.50/l
Porthmadog   £0.47/l
Pwllheli   £0.48/l
Holyhead   £0.41/l
Peel (IOM) £0.47/l

CLUB GROUP DISCOUNTS

The following organisations that we have approached have agreed discounts for card carrying DQBOC members:

Barry Lovell’s TLC have agreed 10% discount on chandlery but we need clarification on whether this includes other boat services.

Richards Restaurant in Llandudno has offered 5% discount. (Owner, Don Hadwin is a DQBOC member)

Marina services such as sling washing and hard-standing are currently being discounted by the owners.

Boat and engine dealers such as Dickies of Bangor are still to be approached.

Special rates for Quay hotel and spa, particularly weekend rates for non locals still pending.

It would be appreciated if any member could assist in this quest for group discounts.


04/08/05 WEBSITE REVIEW & COMMENTS
Many compliments have been received and no criticisms. The site address is:
www.deganwyquayboc.org


SUBSCRIPTIONS
22 members have paid their £20 subscriptions to date. These funds will be banked with RBS in Llandudno and a small amount will initially be used to pay for the first meeting room at the Deganwy Castle Hotel, costs of setting up the website by our webmaster Paul Kent and to produce the identity cards.

Please would you post your £20 subscription, requesting a receipt if required, to our Treasurer:

Simon Hanson.
c/o The Britannia Hotel
15 Craig-y-Don Parade,
Llandudno LL30 1BG. 

Numbered DQBOC membership cards will be issued to paid-up members at the next meeting or left in pigeon holes in the marina office for collection.

SOCIAL

We need a social secretary to co-ordinate events otherwise nothing will happen. New suggestions could be made by placing notices adjacent to our PR on the marina office notice board and links with other marine associations can be found on the website.

The following ideas were carried forward from the first meeting with amendments:

Organised flotillas to distant destinations e.g. Ireland, for those with limited offshore boating experience.

Cruises to new and members’ favourite venues for barbeques etc.

Sailing and yacht racing – possibly in association with Conwy Yacht Club and North Wales Cruising Club.

Boat exchanges – for cruisers to obtain sailing experience and vice versa.

Dining and/or dances and/or cabarets – probably at the new Quay Hotel.       

04/08/08 ANY OTHER BUSINESS – NEW (& ON-GOING) ISSUES

The following matters are unresolved and need to be clarified with the Management:

Charging Policy.
Due to many discrepancies experienced by members we need to know whether charges are based on berth length or price per meter.

Fuel berth.
Very limited depth when the gate is closed and the marina dinghy causes restricted access for users when moored. Informed opinion is that the breakwater adjacent to the gate should be at least 1m higher to avoid mud in suspension being carried over into the basin at high tide.

Tidal Gate.
Despite assurance regarding supervised raising and lowering we need confirmation that this is also the case at night. See additional issues at 04/08/03.

Fishing.
Is this allowed in the dock?

Notices.
We need a dedicated notice board, preferably in a weatherproof case at the pontoon entrance. See SOCIAL item 04/08/07.

Social.
Approaches are to be made to The Conwy Yacht Club via Rear Commodore and Membership Secretary, Vic Edwards regarding linking with their social events & liaison is to be sought with the North Wales Cruising Club.

Vermin.
Members expressed concern regarding home-owners throwing bread for seagulls and swans as this results in bird soiling on walkways and encourages rats. This should be taken up with the homeowners association.

Vandalism.
There has been a case of stone throwing at a wooden craft close to the southern access which was witnessed by our Treasurer Simon Hanson. What can be done to prevent this?

WC.
The ladies toilets have no power points for hairdryers. Perhaps at least 2 wall mounted, wired dryers could be supplied?

The Chairman will write to Mr Ashcroft regarding these issues.
04/08/09


DATE OF NEXT MEETING  & VENUE

It is hoped we will be able to continue using the top room at The Conwy Yacht Club or alternatively a room at the Quay Hotel but this has to be confirmed. The date for the next meeting will be Friday 1 September at 8.0pm and members will be advised the venue & Agenda by e-mail.