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National User Forum April 2018 I attended the National User Forum in Birmingham on Wednesday;18 April; various presentations which repeated the ones at Council albeit with a boating slant. These are my notes and my recollections; if I have omitted anything, , this is unintentional and these should not be viewed as exhaustive or as minutes. The Trust were both reviewing the last year and looking forward to the coming year. These were all presentations with short opportunity for Q&A - as the meeting is only two hours long - they cram as much in as possible leaving very little time for comment - but that seems to be how they wish to do things - tell us, rather than proper consultation. Julie Sharman, Chief Operating Officer - new Structure of Regions which takes effect from the 4 June 2018. She put some slides up but as I was at the back of the room I couldn’t see them (perhaps this is a good thing) - some Regional Directors are external appointments so may not be in place on $Th June due to notice periods. Reservoirs are full, boding well for coming boating season. Rebranding was then talked about and how the Trust needs to reposition itself and have a new image and the need to improve the awareness, currently at approx 36% meaning that 64% have no awareness of who Canal and River Trust are and what they do. This needs to be improved for funding in the future as the Government funding of £53m ends in 2027 and they start renegotiations in 2021 for the grant to continue - they see the canals as “National Health Waterway” and are to reposition as a Waterways and Wellbeing Charity and will be applying a new logo from 22 May - round and in blue and green to fit in digitally. First and foremost the Trust is a navigation body and without a functioning navigation there can be no spin off benefit for other users. Navigation therefore remains core to CRT and is reflected in the ongoing spending plans. Jon Horsfall, Interim Head of Boating, introduced the next section on boating and Matthew Symonds had a presentation taking us through the changes -  The London Mooring Strategy has been generally positively received; with 75% viewing it positively - there are improvements to Towpath moorings, increased management of short stay moorings, improved services in Outer London, creation of new offside Long Term Moorings and improved boater services to be implemented 2018/19. Annual Boaters Survey showed there were less boats in central London and evidence that boats are moving outwards in the recent boater number survey conducted in March.The growth of licensed boats in London slowed with only 150 new; compared with 400 in previous years and nationwide there were an additional 400 boats listed without a home mooring and CC. Licence evasion nationwide had fallen to 3.1% from 4% although there was a light increase in London of 5.1% Widebeams - recognition that there are many more widebeams than previously - 18% over 7’1” wide and they are being taken both on canals not built for widebeams both in width and profile. Approach is by communication - guidance issued on which waterways are considered unsuitable for unrestricted wide beam movement; individual issues will be addressed by communications with boaters concerned with enforcement seen as a last resort Licence Review - begins April 2019, phased in over five years -reduction in Prompt Payment Discount to 2.5%, with additional 2.5% for everyone paying by Direct Debit or online to allow a discount to those boaters who may not be able to afford to pay the licence annually. Width criteria phased in from in April 2020, historic and electric boat discounts still to be reviewed, wooden boats discount remains Further work to look at options addressing growth in use of canals in London and other areas by boats without a home moorings No difference for boats with or without a home mooring Business licence renewal now available online, further consultation regarding Licences to be held in the future Reasonable Adjustment requests for reduction in cruising pattern are now being received at an average of 20-30 per month. There were over 700 in place last year. To ensure a standard approach nationwide a “Capability to Cruise” questionnaire has been trialled from Jan 2018 and NABO and other groups are helping to refine the questions asked - this is to ensure the Trust fulfils its obligations under the Equality Act 2010. Water sports/un-Powered Craft - guidelines produced The online mooring strategy is being worked on and is expected in the summer 2018 Next was a presentation by Peter Walker - Technical Support very outwardly facing dealing with things like major infrastructure projects, Acquisitions and Hydrology. Currently busy with HS2 which will reach Curzon St Birmingham in 2026 and Phase 2a in 2027. 2a construction will be active 2020 to 2026 and has 50 points of impact on CRT either live waterways or potential restoration sites. They are asking boaters to be eyes and ears for the Trust to ensure that nothing unexpected is implemented in the construction phase. Please be alert to anything untoward and report it in immediately to the helpline. The various phases will have a significant impact but CRT is doing what it can to lessen impacts such as sound deadening fences.and he assured that the various CRT impacts will not result in multi month route closures with most being overnight or 24 hour stoppages as beams are swung into place. Stuart Mills - Chief Investment Officer was next giving us a brief outline of what the Trust does to maximise revenue to use for maintenance of the waterway structure . In 2012 CRT inherited a £615m endowment of assets to provide income.and since then the aim has been to grow capital and enhance investment income, with the aim to generate an 8% return with modest amounts of income volatility. The portfolio has changed over time to improve returns and simplify management. In 2011/12 investment income was £21.7m and this has risen to £30.4m in 2017/18, with assets growing in value to £850m The investment portfolio has grown well and is delivering increasing amounts of income which are available to be spent on operational improvement projects. The new Asset Improvement Director, Simon Bamford, delivered the news about the Marple Flight opening being put back until the end of May owing to the state of the Brickwork at the bottom of Lock 15, the one that collapsed. They were given Postcode Lottery money so used it to do a “Marple Makeover” extra work on the flight in addition to Lock Gate replacement - locks have been repointed, gates repaired and replace and a new surface and washwall on Pound 12. In addition a new railing has been placed on the Aqueduct at the bottom of the flight £60m was spent last winter plus between £10m to £15m of third party money (mainly on towpaths) - third party are where a development is taking place so the trust secures funding. In house staff undertook 1000 work packages spending £17m including 257 emergency projects and 180 gates made / fitted. A further £30m was spent on contractors at 160 larger projects £7.8m was spent on dredging in 38 sites, £1m spent grouting locks, £1.4m spent on offside vegetation control, 40,000 dog and litter bins emptied, 27,000 customer/boater service visits made Middlewich breach caused by overtopping attributed to paddles being left open and not asset failure with 3000 cubic feet of material washed away. There is now a solution being worked on to build a road along the canal bed with the active badger sett to be worked in later in the project as it is on the opposite bank. The narrowing of Filance Lock on the Staffs and Worcester was addressed last winter, £500k will be spent addressing the bottom lock at Hurleston next winter. A priority list is being worked through to tackle the known pinch point locks. Spend is split as follows - West 34%, Midlands 29%, North 20% & South 17% As we had then run out of time there was no other business and Richard Parry wrapped the meeting up. The walk back to New Street Station in the brilliant sunshine made the train journey worthwhile and thankfully my train ran on time and I had a seat after the train down was cancelled and I stood most of the way there. .