Last Updated on September 1, 2024 by Phil Hamerton
One of the most frequent objections to the 2023 draft Oban HRO related to the Council’s proposals over publishing of accounts. Despite the number of objections the Council does not, currently, propose to change the wording of the draft HRO in order to comply with the Harbours Act (1964) by making clear that they will publish full annual accounts for Oban harbour.
At the next Harbour Board (Sept 12th 2024) a motion will be considered which says exactly that, starting from the current financial year and applying to all Argyll & Bute Council harbours. In addition a second part of the motion requires that a plan for non-financial reporting should be brought forward to the Harbour Board next year. The motion has been proposed by Cllr Vennard and seconded by Cllr Corry.
This is a significant step towards ensuring that the Harbour Board is properly informed regarding the performance of Argyll & Bute Council’s harbours. If you think this motion should be supported you can e-mail members of the Harbour Board and encourage them to support it at the meeting. The full text of the motion and the names of the Members who sit on the Harbour Board are below.
Harbour Board Members (2024)
| Ross | Moreland | Chair |
| John | Armour | Vice-Chair |
| Andrew | Vennard | |
| Fiona | Howard | |
| Liz | McCabe | |
| Gordon | Blair | |
| Dougie | McFadzean | |
| Maurice | Corry |
Motion for Harbour Board Meeting 12 September 2024
The Harbour Board resolves and agrees as follows:
- That Council Officers are instructed to prepare reports showing statements of account of the
annual income and expenditure of the 8 statutory harbour authorities where the Council is
the statutory harbour authority, for the noting by the Harbour Board; declaring that the said
reports shall be prepared on an annual basis, commencing with the relevant statements of
account for the 2024/2025 financial year, and provided for noting by the Harbour Board at
duly convened ordinary meetings of the Harbour Board each calendar year; - That Council Officers are instructed to prepare a report on the options for the future financial
reporting regime of the portfolio of Piers, Harbours, and other maritime facilities managed by
the Council, for consideration by the Harbour Board in due course, together with a report
outlining the options for the non-financial performance reporting of the portfolio of Piers,
Harbours, and other maritime facilities managed by the Council; declaring that the said
reports shall be prepared and provided for consideration by the Harbour Board no later than
the last ordinary meeting of the Harbour Board held during the 2025 calendar year.
Proposed by Councillor Andrew Vennard
Seconded by Councillor Maurice Corry