Electing Canal & River Trust council members

BEING one of the Canal & River Trust Transition Trustees, maybe I can help with the matter of who can vote in the elections for Canal & River Trust National Council members, writes John Dodwell.

Four boat owning representatives will be elected directly by individual licence holders. Two boat trade representatives will be elected directly by boat trade people who have a direct business relationship with British Waterways.

Biggest grouping

Canoeists will have someone nominated by the British Canoe Union. These seven will be the biggest grouping out of the 35 total—20%. 13 of the others will be chairs of the waterway partnerships—people interested in the waterways, some of whom may also turn out to be boat owners.

The rest will also have an interest in the waterways. By chance, 20% is roughly the percentage that boats provided of  British Waterways' total income. In 2010/11, gross income from boats, including moorings, was £30m out of a total £150m. By another measure, the 35,000 boat licence holders can be compared with the 13 million walkers, dog walkers, joggers, anglers, cyclists etc who also use the waterways.

Waterways need boats

A major reason they do so is to see boats and to see waterways in a condition fit for boats—not in dereliction. Waterways need boats as much as boats need waterways.

So readers can see the boating representatives will not be selected, as you fear—they will be elected by their fellow licence holders (that is anyone who has a valid 12 month licence on 18 January 2012. It's not a question of having had to hold the licence over the last 12 months, as you feared). I had my first canal holiday in the 60s and as I am is a licence holder (I own an old BCN tug 51ft long and drawing 3 ft), I'll be voting.

300 replies

Anyone can debate if the make-up of the Council is right. There have been such debates since the Government's consultation paper was issued last spring; there were over 300 replies, including from many national boat organisations. Readers wanting to know more about the Council can look at the Transition Trustees' 6th October announcement at www.britishwaterways.co.uk/media/documents/Trustee-Announcement-The-Canal-and-River-Trust.pdf

Bear in mind that it makes sense to use these two groups of electors as they already exist. Over time, further groups of electors may emerge. As you know, the idea is to move to 50% being elected and there is to be a review of everything after three years in the light of how it is working.