CART and Freedom of Information Act

I THOUGHT your readers might like some brief information about the Canal & River Trust and the Freedom of Information Act, writes John Dodwell.

Last September the Transitional Trustees publicly said the Trust would publish minutes of meetings.

Queries arose over whether the Trust would be subject to the Act for all its other activities—which would make this Trust unlike other charities and independent navigation authorities.

Consultation exercise

So the Government held a consultation exercise. After that had ended, last December the Government said that, subject to Parliament agreeing to add the Trust to those organisations covered by the Act, the Act would apply to the Trust in respect of those functions and duties transferred from British Waterways.

This means that statutory undertaking functions (e.g. as a navigation authority) will be covered by the Act but that broader charitable functions (e.g. charitable fundraising) will not be covered by the Act but by the Trust's own governance arrangements.

Made a start

In the meantime, technically the Trust will not be covered by the Freedom of Information Act until the transfer of functions from British Waterways takes place. However, the Trustees have not waited until then and have made a start by publishing minutes of their meetings, and people can see them by going to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk and clicking the relevant link..

John Dodwell, Transitional Trustee, Canal & River Trust