Still no independent Ombudsman

SOME six months ago, narrowboatworld revealed that Canal & River Trust (CaRT) Waterways Ombudsman Committee had been scrapped (Waterways Ombudsman Committee scrapped), writes Allan Richards.

As was stated at the time, CaRT admitted that the committee, which ensures the independence of the Waterways Ombudsman scheme, was no longer in operation. However, it failed to state why it was abandoned or when.

Trustees wanted committee

It's not as if it was the wish of the Trustees that the committee be scrapped. Indeed, the Trustees wanted the committee to continue:

‘CaRT Board Resolution dated 1 June 2012:

'The Board resolves that as statutory successor to the functions of the British Waterways Board it shall, pending any replacement provision, continue to make available to complainants the Waterways Ombudsman Scheme as adopted and funded by its predecessor and:

(a) that the Waterways Ombudsman Committee as currently constituted shall continue to oversee the scheme in accordance with the Scheme's Rules pending other provisions being made by the Trust;

(b) that Hilary Bainbridge may remain in office till appointment of a successor or until (if earlier) she chooses to resign from that office;

(c) that the current Rules of the Scheme as adopted by British Waterways continue to apply save that:

(i) references to British Waterways or the Board be references to the Trust and the Board of the Trust respectively; and

(ii) in Rule 27 ‘employment' shall extend to any appointment of, or termination of the appointment of any volunteer (whether within any governance structure or otherwise) and there shall be added to the end of that Rule 'nor shall the Ombudsman consider any complaint concerning any donation, legacy or other gift to the Trust'.'

Why Scrapped

So why was it scrapped when the Trustees wanted it to continue and had already altered the rules to make it suitable for a charity?

.... and how could a new Ombudsman be appointed by an independent committee that CaRT insists had not produced any minutes since May 2011 and any annual reports for two years?

The cookie jar

As was said at the time:

‘Like a kid caught with its hand in the cookie jar, CaRT is now saying that the Ombudsman Committee is to be reconstituted'.

.... but is the Trust to be believed?'

Well a couple of things have actually happened. CaRT did advertise for two independent members to serve on the reformed committee (although it is not known if anyone was actually appointed). It has also nominated Deputy Chair Lynn Berry to serve on the committee following the departure of trustee John Bridgeman.

Little progress

.... and that's it! No update on progress from CaRT of course. No announcement that an independent committee has now been formed and who the other members are. No minutes to record that the committee has appointed a new Ombudsman to replace CaRT's puppet Ombudsman, Andrew Walker.

Not really much progress in six months for an organisation purporting to wish to improve its customer service is it?