Boatone

I did, indeed, omit absolutely everything due to not being familiar with this forums posting process ! Now corrected and my sincere apologies.

We Thames users are again being faced with inflation busting licence fee increases from 1st January (+4.8%) and facing further reductions in services. The Thames MotorBoaters Association (TMBA) move to subscription membership is well advanced and many existing members have already opted to pay the small subscription to become paid up members. At the end of November the TMBA will move to formalise its management and only paid up members will be eligible to participate in the nomination and election process. The TMBA is solely dedicated to promoting, and protecting, the interests of motor boaters on the non tidal Thames. Unlike any other organisation, every single member is an EA Thames licence holder. The strength of our membership offers an opportunity to present the EA with the views and concerns of the group of river users that provide the largest single revenue contribution to the management of the river. The future of navigation charges for EA waterways will come under major review during the coming year and it is essential that we, as a user group, are able to demonstrate strength, in both numbers and argument, in support of our interests. If you are a Gold Licence holder or regularly visit the EA Thames waterway and you are not already a paid up member please consider supporting us - your £5 subscription will help to defray costs, but your voice and your VOTE is invaluable. ​Further information and membership details on the website: http://www.tmba.org.uk

Well, looks like CRT won't be getting their hands on the EA Navigations yet awhile: A ministerial statement today confirms that the proposed transfer of the EA Navigations to the Canal and Rivers Trust will be deferred. Initial scoping work on transfer costs which was undertaken during the New Waterways Charity Project indicates that the transfer of EA navigations is unlikely to be affordable in the current climate. The Government has therefore decided that the Review planned for 2013/14 to consider options for the transfer will be postponed until Defra’s finances improve and there is a realistic prospect of the transfer being affordable and that it can take place on terms which would enable CRT’s Trustees to manage the additional liabilities involved. You can read the single page statement here: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/c...avigations.pdf I have a feeling this will turn out to be bad news - only time will reveal how bad.

"Cart are still having the same consultations on continuous cruising and mooring that were happening 10 or more years ago. EA haven't had these for years as they were resolved at the time." Sorry, but you are sadly misinformed about this. The problems persist today and moorings are a far more serious issue for the river. "I am very positive about the EA and if it goes down the charity route I hope it is a separate one." No chance. IMHO. It was clearly stated by government that their intention would be to transfer the EA navigations to the C&RT following the spending review and practicalities resolved. Whilst I appreciate the engagement, I am really looking for reports of experience to date and confidence amongst canal users regarding how well the transfer was managed and whether you think it will ultimately turn out to be a better way than it was under BW. In particular, funding has always been the real issue and I am looking for evidence that the freedom now enjoyed by C&RT to identify new sources of revenue is actually working, or at least showing promise in the fullness of time.

Not at all. Others are taking the view that we should oppose the transfer at all costs but I would prefer to form an opinion based on facts rather than emotion. The EA are stonewalling my efforts to get information regarding what is meant by "the navigation" and how the current EA responsibilities might be divided up - I suspect that they don't know and are still trying to make their minds up ! We also don't know what the government grant of additional monies to the C&RT might be if the transfer does take place, nor do we know what safeguards might be put in place to ensure that such funding is applied to the river rather than being absorbed into the general C&RT pot. Does the C&RT actually want the additional responsibility? As a trust they will need to ensure that accepting the rivers into their portfolio does not place their existing duties at risk.

Must confess I have not visited here for a while but I hope you won't mind a couple of questions from the big river. Now that the C&RT have been running the show for a while I would be interested to know how you guys think the changeover is going. I know its early days but do you perceive a change for the better ? I've also seen recently that it is claimed officially that licence evasion has been reduced to around 4% but have heard from individual canal users that they are very sceptical about this. Any comment? Why am I interested? Because the government is still intent on transferring management of the EA navigations to the C&RT in 2015 and, frankly, we know next to s*d all about how such a transfer of navigation responsibilities might take place. Not least, we still need to know what "navigation" in this context actually means and which current responsibilities might be retained by the EA. Will it be out of the frying pan and into the fire? If nothing else, the creation of the C&RT seems to have given the trust long term confidence in the level of government funding and the opportunity to work with long term budgets as well as freedom to develop new income streams.

You're absolutely right, of course. I'll get me coat.

And this is the problem with forums - a serious discussion is now being degraded into inconsequential chit chat. This is why, as far as the TMBA is concerned we consult by using polls and by direct email contact if we need to seek wider input.

This is exactly the problem that we are facing here on the Thames. I formed the Thames MotorBoaters Association last year, as a fully web/email based organisation and we now have well over 150 members, all of whom are EA licence holders. We have been trying to achieve recognition and a seat on the newly formed Thames Navigation User Forum (TNUF) but some existing organisations, including those mentioned here, have vigorously opposed us as they claim we are not constitutional because we do not have an elected committee and a subscription based membership. The EA have, regrettably, caved in to this opposition and we are currently excluded from participating in TNUF even though we have delivered a dossier of 50 + emails indicating total confidence and support for our management arrangements. We are currently exploring the steps we need to take to comply but feel we are actually being defeated by vested interests who are, effectively, interfering in our own internal affairs.

Am I not right in thinking that the new arrangements mean the C&RT Council is now comprised of individual elected members, some of whom have been nominated by and elected by boaters themselves, and that organisations per se do not have any formal representation?

Anyone know how many members NABO have ? I presume mainly canal based as we rarely hear of them on the Thames.

I've told the YBW crowd about this thread - you might see a few visitors later

Is that the best you can do, Phylis ? Maybe a little early in the day for you. Can we expect a more feisty response later?

Oh, that is sooooo cruel !!!! I promised her I would NEVER let anyone else see that picture

Not just a regular contributor but YBW originally set up the Thames Forum at my request so I do regard it as 'my baby'. Like most parents, I am delighted to see how it has grown and matured over the years although, also like most parents, I don't always approve of the company it keeps. Unlike me, Phylis chooses to use a different persona 'over there' but it didn't take long for us to recognise her ! (Anyone ever seen a picture of Phylis ? She seems strangely reluctant to 'reveal herself' sometimes ) Thanks for signing up.