CaRT's Charitable Objectives

Regarding Paul Robinson’s query about the Canal and River Trust’s Charitable Objectives, I’m reminded of a Richard Parry meeting a few years ago, writes Andrew Bails.

I raised the objective which I felt obliged them to ‘support communities on and around the waterways’ (or words to that effect) in a question about gentrification and its effects on mooring availability in London.

His response has long remained with me as, in true Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean style, he clarified that the ‘Objectives’ were in fact more like ‘Guidelines’ and had no legal status.

And we wondered why the Government wanted their ‘Bonfire of the Quangos’...

The Governance Handbook

Andrew continues:

Regarding Victor's difficulties in accessing the Canal and River Trust's Charitable Object(ive)s. They're accessible online through CaRT's website, in their Governance Handbook published in May of this year. I include them here, as, footnotes notwithstanding, they're pretty brief and pretty clear:

2. Objects The Trust’s objects are:

2.1 to preserve, protect, operate and manage Inland Waterways for public benefit:

2.1.1 for navigation;

2.1.2 for walking on towpaths;
and

2.1.3 for recreation or other leisure-time pursuits of the public in the interest of their health and social welfare;

2.2 to protect and conserve for public benefit sites, objects and buildings of archaeological, architectural, engineering or historic interest on, in the vicinity of, or otherwise associated with Inland Waterways;

2.3 to further for the public benefit the conservation protection and improvement of the natural environment and landscape of Inland Waterways;

2.4 to promote, facilitate, undertake and assist in, for public benefit, the restoration and improvement of Inland Waterways;

2.5 to promote and facilitate for public benefit awareness, learning and education about Inland Waterways, their history, development, use, operation and cultural heritage by all appropriate means including the provision of museums;

2.6 to promote sustainable development in the vicinity of any Inland Waterway for the benefit of the public, in particular by:

2.6.1 the improvement of the conditions of life in socially and economically disadvantaged communities in such vicinity; and

2.6.2 the promotion of sustainable means of achieving economic growth and regeneration and the prudent use of natural resources;

and

2.7 to further any purpose which is exclusively charitable under the law of England and Wales connected with Inland Waterways; provided that in each case where the Trust undertakes work in relation to property which it does not own or hold in trust, any private benefit to the owner of the property is merely incidental.

(It was noted at the time of their first drafting and submission to Government that any form of words relating to boaters and boating, beyond the initial 'navigation', was lacking.)