Government statement on transfer of state-owned waterways into new waterways charity

The Government has today announced its preference for a phased transfer of state-owned waterways in England and Wales into the planned new waterway charity, with British Waterways’ canals and rivers moving in 2012 and the Environment Agency (EA) navigations moving . . . → Read More: BW Waterways to Charity in 2012 – EA Navigations in 2015]]> Monday, 28 February 2011

Government statement on transfer of state-owned waterways into new waterways charity

The Government has today announced its preference for a phased transfer of state-owned waterways in England and Wales into the planned new waterway charity, with British Waterways’ canals and rivers moving in 2012 and the Environment Agency (EA) navigations moving in 2015. The decision is intended to ensure that sufficient funding can be found to enable the charity to take on the liabilities associated with the EA navigations from the start of the next Spending Review.

Commenting on the announcement, British Waterways’ Chairman, Tony Hales said: “We welcome the Government’s continued commitment to the planned ‘national trust for the waterways’ and hope the EA navigations may be able to benefit in the future. While there will be some who are disappointed by the decision not to include all the state-owned waterways from the outset, we appreciate the Government’s caution in ensuring the considerable issues of financial sustainability for the EA navigations have first been fully addressed.”

Consultation on the proposal to establish a ‘national trust’ for British Waterways’ canals and rivers in England and Wales is expected to begin in March. The setting up of the new charity will be enabled by the passage of the Public Bodies Bill through Parliament later this year. The new waterways charity is expected to be up and running by April 2012, subject to Parliamentary time and consent.

Defra has already started the process of establishing the new charity, appointing an Advisory Panel on First Appointments and Transition to provide advice to Ministers and advertising for ‘Transition Trustees’ who are due to be appointed in April.

Published on Sunday 30 January 2011 at 3:03pm

The myth: Several Sunday newspapers are inaccurately reporting that the costs of the managing heritage forests will double if they pass into control of charitable trusts, and that there are no guarantees concerning future access to . . . → Read More: Future of the Public Forest Estate – DEFRA busts myths]]> Future of the Public Forest Estate – Myths busted by DEFRA

Published on Sunday 30 January 2011 at 3:03pm

The myth: Several Sunday newspapers are inaccurately reporting that the costs of the managing heritage forests will double if they pass into control of charitable trusts, and that there are no guarantees concerning future access to our forests and woodlands for members of the public.

The truth: Heritage and community woodlands will be run for the benefit of the communities and visitors that enjoy them and the wildlife they sustain, and the government’s proposals will not jeopardise access. For commercial woodlands, leasehold conditions will protect public access. Neither will the consultation proposals cost the taxpayer any more than the current arrangements.

Update: Defra abandons sale of forests

via Future of the Public Forest Estate – Myths busted « Defra News.

As part of the same cull, the government has decided it wants to turn British Waterways into a charity . . . → Read More: Lords express concern about abolishing IWAC]]> One of the targeted victims of the Coalition’s quango cull is the Inland Waterways Advisory Council (IWAC) which has produced a number of worthwhile studies in support of the inland waterways over the past several years.

As part of the same cull, the government has decided it wants to turn British Waterways into a charity and both actions are part of the Public Bodies Bill currently being debated in the House of Lords.

DEFRA’s  recent announcement that British Waterways funding would be cut by £9.8 million has caused wide spread concern amongst waterway insiders who wonder how the dramatically reduced level of funding will effect the viability of the new charity.

Labour peer, Lord Berkeley, expressed similar concern in a Lords’ debate on the Bill this week, :

“We have not been and we probably will not be told where it will get its funding from,” he complained, “and it struggles hard to find funding at the moment.”

The noble Lord also argued that an independent body like the IWAC would be needed to guide the new waterway charity (NWC) through its initial stages: “I hope there will be a transition period of several years after the charity is established before this body is abolished,” he said.

In making this point he seemed unaware that the NWC would have a powerful Council that will comprise of perhaps 50 members representing various stakeholder groups and local authorities. Given their expertise, it seems likely that the existing members of IWAC will be amongst the candidates for this Council.

Another Labour peer, Lord Faulkner of Worcester tabled an amendment which aimed to remove IWAC from the list of bodies to be abolished.  He made the point: “This is not the most controversial proposal in the Bill, but I believe that the 14 members of the IWAC, all of whom are volunteers and unpaid, its part-time chair, John Edmonds, and the two support staff deserve at the very least an expression of public thanks and recognition for what they have achieved”. Lord Faulkner withdrew the amendment when Lord Henley (Cons),  a spokesperson for Defra, made the point that an upcoming consultation would discuss the timing of when IWAC would be abolished.

On agreeing to withdraw the amendment, Lord Faulkner observed: “This is one of those areas where it would have been better if the consultation had happened before the Bill rather than the other way round”.

With an income of around £200m, British Waterways will be one of the sector’s largest charities. Around 90 per cent of British waterways are covered by the organisation.

To read the whole debate click here

Louise Nousratpour of LifeStyle reports that:

A government decision to turn British Waterways into a charity could threaten the future of the country’s network of canals and its vital work in flood prevention, unions warned today.

Under wider plans to cull nearly 200 quangos, the government decided to move the body . . . → Read More: Union says BW Charity Plan Spells Disaster]]> Thursday 14 October 2010

Louise Nousratpour of LifeStyle reports that:

A government decision to turn British Waterways into a charity could threaten the future of the country’s network of canals and its vital work in flood prevention, unions warned today.

Under wider plans to cull nearly 200 quangos, the government decided to move the body which looks after Britain’s 2,200 miles of rivers and canals into the charity sector by 2012, creating a “National Trust for waterways.”

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said this was a “missed opportunity” to turn British Waterways into Britain’s first truly national park, linking England, Scotland and Wales to create a leisure and nature resource.

The union made the proposals earlier this year.

Mr Prentis also raised fears that the country’s waterways would fall into disrepair as bodies across the third sector were reporting a funding crisis.

“The flood prevention work that British Waterways carry out is too important to leave to chance,” he said.

“The public could also lose the right to use the waterways free of charge as charities are forced to introduce charges to make ends meet.”

Unite national officer for docks and waterways Julia Long warned that vital maintenance work could be left to volunteers if enough money was not found to pay qualified engineers, raising the risk of flooding along the banks of the network.

She demanded government guarantees that “there will not be a wholesale cull of the workforce and that there will be sufficient employed, skilled staff to prevent the potential devastation which would be caused if, for example, just one of the banks gave way.”

via LIFESTYLE- BRITISH ISLES WATERWAYS ABANDONED TO CHARITY.

Robin Evans, CEO of British Waterways – “We’ve wanted this for ages”

The largest new arrival in the charity sector from the public sector – the English and Welsh arm of British Waterways – is looking forward to a brave new . . . → Read More: Who wants to be a charity?]]> The website Third Sector reports on the new British Waterways charity:

Robin Evans, CEO of British Waterways – “We’ve wanted this for ages”

The largest new arrival in the charity sector from the public sector – the English and Welsh arm of British Waterways – is looking forward to a brave new world of freedom, innovation and volunteering.

“Being part of central government means you’re not seen as an organisation people have ownership of and responsibility for,” says Robin Evans, the chief executive. “People say: ‘Government has all the money in the world – why don’t you just get them to spend it on the waterways?’ We need to find another way.”

Evans has campaigned for the move into the voluntary sector since before the last general election, arguing that it would foster innovation and provide access to new sources of funding. He also believes it will attract thousands of volunteers because people like the idea of caring for a local river or canal.

“To do that they would previously have had to offer their time to the government,” he says. “No one wants to volunteer for a quango. Others in the third sector tell us that once you engage the public, great innovation comes.”

The organisation is currently a public corporation. Its English and Welsh arm looks after more than 2,000 miles of rivers and canals, and the third-largest portfolio of historic buildings in the UK. It has an income of about £180m. Its annual government grant will continue for 10 years, but Evans expects it to fall by 20 per cent to £40m a year. The organisation also receives income from property, services to boaters, the sale of water to farmers and fire brigades, and grants from other bodies. Evans estimates the charity could eventually attract about £20m a year in donations and legacies.

He also foresees increased efficiency and better governance. “In government we had one way of doing things,” he says. “We had strict guidelines about what we could and couldn’t do. It was frowned upon to be too entrepreneurial.

“We also plan to have a council representing all the groups that use the waterways. The boaters have the most financial interest, of course, but we need to make sure that British Waterways also represents anglers, walkers, environmentalists, historians and many others with an interest.

“We also want to attract a good balance of trustees,” says Evans.

“We need businessmen, in particular, who can identify ways to find new revenue.”

via Governance: Who wants to be a charity? – Third Sector.

The British Marine Federation (BMF), which represents over 1,400 members who employ more than 35,000 people in the UK marine industry, has broadly supported the plans to convert British Waterways into a new waterways charity (NWC).

The BMF believes that the Government must ensure the future of our waterways for users and those businesses . . . → Read More: BMF supports new waterway charity but…]]> 21/10/2010

The British Marine Federation (BMF), which represents over 1,400 members who employ more than 35,000 people in the UK marine industry, has broadly supported the plans to convert British Waterways into a new waterways charity (NWC).

The BMF believes that the Government must ensure the future of our waterways for users and those businesses that depend on them and welcomes guaranteed support for small businesses and increased commitment to the export market.

Abolition of British Waterways

Rob Stevens, Chief Executive of the British Marine Federation, commented :

“The BMF supports Defra’s decision to turn British Waterways into a new waterways charity in England and Wales, but this must take into account the needs of all who use waterways across the UK, in particular those companies who are wholly dependent on the navigation bodies to maintain the required environment in which their businesses operate. The transition must be handled as smoothly as possible, and ensure that safety is paramount.

“We already have a close and constructive working relationship with British Waterways and we will continue to work together going forward to ensure that the prime objective of this new waterways management organisation is to maintain the existing network of canals and rivers in a navigable condition.

“In order to realise the broader socio-economic benefits of the waterways, the BMF believes that there should be an appreciation for the fact that while boating and fishing licenses account for the majority of funding derived from users, many others benefit.

“Therefore the BMF believes that the funding provided to any new organisation should be sourced from all stakeholders that derive a benefit from their assets.”

via British Marine Federation (BMF) – News.

British Waterways set on course its own abolition before last week’s quango cull, writes Martin Wainwright

If there was one chirrup from the government’s bonfire of the quangos last week, it will have come from British Waterways, which has been pressing for its . . . → Read More: Making the cut on Britain’s canals]]> Tuesday 19 October 2010 16.30 BST
From Martin Wainwright in the Guardian:

British Waterways set on course its own abolition before last week’s quango cull, writes Martin Wainwright

If there was one chirrup from the government’s bonfire of the quangos last week, it will have come from British Waterways, which has been pressing for its own abolition for the past two years.

Famously the custodian of rich wildlife – in 2005 its annual survey included a crocodile spotted in the Gloucester and Sharpness cut – the agency plans to rise like a phoenix, a third sector, charitable equivalent of the National Trust for 2,200 miles of canals and navigable rivers. The aim is for the new structure to be in place by April 2012.

“This is a tremendously innovative model for reinvigorating the waterways,” says Tony Hales, British Waterways’ chair, who sees third sector status as “unlocking enormous public support for this national treasure.” His chief executive Robin Evans, who launched a prospectus for the future last year called Setting a new Course is equally upbeat.

“It is a matter for celebration,” says Evans, contemplating a future less bound by civil service budget restrictions and more freedom to borrow, while the canals’ large property estate is locked into charitable ownership. The National Trust is his model – “a quite extraordinary success, especially in the devotion and expertise of its thousands of volunteers.”

The v-word is central to the organisation’s post-quango future; even its new name is likely to come from consulting the waterways’ myriad groups of muck-diggers, litterpickers and restorers of whole flights of locks and builders of new bridges. Evans is lost in admiration for his local Wendover Arm trust, which is reopening 6.7 miles of canal in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. The group raised more than £400,000 for the first 1.3 miles.

Enthusiasm for the waterways goes to the very top. The minister for the natural environment and fisheries, Richard Benyon, owns land beside the Kennet and Avon canal and is a vice-president of its legendary trust. Over half a century, the group has led the rescue of 87 miles of canal and river navigation between Bristol and Reading, winning grants including £25m from the National Lottery.

How does this rosy reaction to the quango’s reincarnation play on the cut today? Four homemade grappling irons and a scoop-net reinforced with duct tape tell part of the story in Loughborough, as the Clear Cut group clamber on to their “litter boat”.

The central quartet are typical of canal enthusiasts – and, in his dreams, of David Cameron’s “big society”. Barrie Ball lives on a narrowboat after a career in road haulage; Jo Swift is a circulation promoter for the local Loughborough Echo. Jane Johnson is taking time out from organising national training for the Domino’s pizza chain and takes the lead on youth involvement; and Swift’s husband Morris runs Loughborough’s thriving canal festival with her.

A retired joiner and carpenter, he is responsible for the grappling irons, scoop and other ironmongery. “We had to make them ourselves,” he says. “British Waterways promised us all sorts of equipment when we started in February. But, so far, all we’ve had is four pairs of rubber gloves.”

The group’s experience of British Waterways is not the easiest of reading for the Evans and Hales, but seems to bear out their prospectus of unlocking forces from bureaucratic restraints. Discussions with the quango about Clear Cut’s work and plans drag; hints of help with gear remain hints, and when the group landed its first litter catch – nine bikes, two pushchairs, two supermarket trolleys, a pram, a lawn mower and an empty safe – British Waterways took the £42 scrap value for itself.

“We didn’t know the rusty old stuff was worth that,” says Jo Swift, whose networking helped raise £3,000 sponsorship from local business 3M Healthcare. “Since then, you can be sure that we’ve taken what we find to the scrap yard ourselves.” Ball describes how the group advertised for towpath litterpickers and got an enthusiastic response. What did British Waterways do? He says: “Just a couple of weeks later, they set one of their own people on clearing the path. He’s up there now and he does a thorough job. But it left our new volunteers with nothing to do, and us with somewhat red faces. The man they’re using is a skilled lock repairer, too. It doesn’t make obvious sense.”

The comments don’t come with any edge. The volunteers get on well with the agency’s staff, have a shared sense of mission and acknowledge that the really mighty works needed on their cut, officially the Soar and Loughborough Navigation, could not come from a few volunteers.

The biggest recent fillip to the six-mile stretch is an example: British Waterways’ £14m partnership with property developers which has remodelled the town’s canal wharf and surrounded it with brightly-coloured student flats.

“A volunteer group like ours isn’t going to have the resources to carry out major work, say on the canal banks and locks, let alone all the health and safety and insurance involved,” says Morris Swift. “It will be interesting to see how the new version of BW works out, but I’m not sure how the nature of canals’ long tradition of volunteering can change.”

For now, Clear Cut is concentrating on whether four promised life vests, worth £50 each, will finally appear at their next regular meeting with the quango. But Evans and his colleagues are chipper about the group’s grassroots focus. Small acorns like the Loughborough enthusiasts are vital, they say, and can grow into much bigger organisations like the Kennet and Avon trust.

And the fledgling policy of “adopt-a-canal” is also growing large volunteering oaks. Just a few days’ sailing from Loughborough’s Boat Inn, more than 240 staff from HSBC’s subsidiary HFC bank have taken over clearing, cleaning and lock gate-painting on part of the Birmingham and Fazeley canal. Chugging the other way along the Grand Union takes you to Barclaycard’s adoption of the one-mile Northampton Arm.

British Waterways senses freedom, rather than doom, from its impending charitable status. Another targeted quango, the Inland Waterways Advisory Council, called this summer for “cumbersome inefficiency” to be replaced with “the principles of participation, stewardship and a very high level of engagement with users”. Evans, Hales and the Clear Cut four would all say cheers to that.

Against the backdrop of forthcoming major budget cuts to publicly-funded waterways, a conference planned by AINA – the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities – will address in particular, the Government’s decision to transfer the waterways in England and Wales which are cared for by British Waterways to a new charitable body – . . . → Read More: AINA conference to focus on future for inland waterways]]> 20th Oct 2010

Against the backdrop of forthcoming major budget cuts to publicly-funded waterways, a conference planned by AINA – the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities – will address in particular, the Government’s decision to transfer the waterways in England and Wales which are cared for by British Waterways to a new charitable body – a move which represents the biggest change in the management of inland waterways since nationalisation and the formation of British Waterways in the early 1960s.

The key principles associated with managing waterways within civil society will be explained along with some of the practicalities which will need to be addressed in order to make the new charity, which is intended to be up and running by April 2012, sustainable and successful. Perspectives will be offered by local government and leading organisations from within the third sector. In addition, results and updates from important relevant research projects led by the sector will be presented.

The Government’s decision may yet have wider implications for other waterways, as Defra continues to explore whether the Environment Agency’s navigations should be included in the new body, and discussions with the Scottish Government continue over the potential inclusion of Scotland’s canals.

AINA’s conference will appeal to everyone involved with navigation authorities across the public, private and third sectors; in addition to all waterway stakeholders, funders, user-groups, and third sector organisations such as those engaging and working with volunteers.

Defra Waterways Minister, Richard Benyon MP will give the keynote speech as part of an exciting programme of speakers.

Registration is free – to download a registration form and to find out more about the conference and its speakers visit the AINA website.

via AINA conference focuses on future for inland waterways | News | Waterscape.