The Harbours Sub-Committee met to discuss Macduff Harbour rates and dues for 2025-2026. The report pack included a recommendation to approve changes to Macduff Harbour rates and dues for the remainder of the 2025/2026 financial year, effective from 1 September. The committee was also asked to consider its Public Sector Equality Duty¹.

Macduff Harbour Rates and Dues 2025-2026

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss proposed mid-year changes to the rates and dues applied to Macduff Harbour following a review and consultation with harbour stakeholders. The review included comparisons of professional port services offered by similar commercial harbours.

The report pack stated that the income generation within the commercial harbour of Macduff had been extensively reviewed as part of the Macduff harbour Economic Development Implementation Plan 2025 (MEDIP) strategy. It said that a key short-term requirement was to put the commercial harbour on appropriate cost recovery terms, and that all professional services within the harbour should be charged for appropriately and relevant to the different levels of service provision being made available and utilised by commercial clients. The proposed changes were said to be in line with comparable commercial harbours within the region.

The report pack stated that the proposed changes would eliminate historical gratis service provision and raise other current services charging to be in line with neighbouring commercial harbours. It was anticipated that this would ensure that the harbour improves its cost recovery position and assists in maintaining a more stable trading environment for all marine clients using any of the commercial harbours within the region.

It was noted that the proposed changes would provide a forecasted increase in annual revenue income of approximately £86,000 for Macduff.

Appendix 1 of the report pack contained a detailed breakdown of the proposed changes to the Macduff Harbour Charges 2025-2026. Examples of the proposed changes include:

• Fish Landings: Vessels <10m would be charged 1.50% of the value of their catch. Vessels >10m would be charged 2.5% on first £7,500 total catch value reduced to 1.5% for remainder of quarter
• Waste Disposal: A compulsory waste disposal charge of £25 (£30 including VAT) would be introduced.
• Slipways & Repair Pads: The charge per metre, per 24 hours for vessels > 15 Tonnes would be £38.00.
• Turnout Charge: A charge of £70 (£84 including VAT) would be introduced for any attendance by a Harbour Officer out with provision of listed standard port services.
• Mooring & Springing assistance: A charge of £65 would be introduced for Mooring & Springing assistance upon request during normal hours, and £125 out of hours and weekends.
• Fish Cold Storage: A charge of £0.42 (£0.50 including VAT) per box in excess of 10 boxes only, per day or part thereof would be introduced.
• Pollution Cleanup: A minimum charge of £2,000 (£2,400 including VAT) would be introduced for pollution event cleanup where causation is made.

The report pack stated that the changes would help deliver the council's strategic priorities of A sustainable economy and Connected communities by ensuring that the Harbour is maintained and operated in a manner that presents the best opportunity for sustainability and future proofing.

An Integrated Impact Assessment² was undertaken as part of the proposals.

The report pack stated that the assessment identified positive impacts in that material and area deprivation is reduced by managing and maintaining the harbour in the best possible condition, by promoting existing and future use and investment. This would safeguard and promote current commercial activity and promote future investment opportunities whilst supporting potential jobs within the local area.

Public Sector Equality Duty

The Sub-Committee was asked to consider its duty under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010³ to have due regard to the need to:

• eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation;
• advance equality of opportunity between those who share a protected characteristic and persons who do not share it; and
• foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

The report pack directed the Sub-Committee to the section in reports headed 'Council Priorities, Implications and Risk', which indicated whether or not an Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) had been carried out as part of the development of the proposals and, if so, what the outcome of that assessment is.