To record issues of note which have arisen since the last meeting

1.1 The Finance/Admin Officer John Davies has now retired. Thanks to all those Members who made a contribution to his retirement gift. A presentation will be made to John at a staff dinner to be held in Carnforth on 8^th December.

1.2 Staff are concerned about their future jobs following reorganisation of fisheries management in England and Wales under the proposed Marine Act.

1.3 In both England and Wales assurances have been received that Fishery Officers will be required to operate the new enforcement regimes and other staff will be found posts in the new management structures. Staff have been informed that they will have the option to be transferred to the new bodies with the same terms and conditions under the provisions of TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations.

1.4 The CEO will seek regular updates from WAG and Defra on progress with the re-organisations and on the planning of future deployment of staff so that officers can have information about their future prospects as early as possible.

2.1 The Committee’s health and safety policies were reviewed on 11 November. There have been no reported health and safety incidents in this quarter.

3.1 The move to the new office in Carnforth took place on October 21. Since then a new phone and IT network has been installed which is working well. New notepaper has been printed. We are in the process of informing all our stakeholders and ‘customers’ of the change in address. I hope Members were not aware of a significant break in service. A laboratory is now being installed and I expect to avoid any break in scientific survey data. Further improvements to functionality are ongoing.