Cost of managing the non tidal Thames

[boatone]

In another thread a question was asked as to whether the EA spends more or less on the Thames than it receives in registration fees.
The following information is reasonably accurate and has been gleaned from the various reports issued over the last couple of years.

In the year ended March 2015 income from craft registration fees was approximately £4million of which private powered craft accounted for about £3million.
A further £1.3million of external income came from gold licences, overnight mooring, accommodations, Thames Conservancy Act charges etc giving total revenue income of around £5.3million.

Total cost of running the waterway in 2014/15 was just under £11million, approximately half of which was funded by public purse money (government) which included £2.5million for capital maintenance (lock repairs etc).

The budget for capital maintenance in 2015/16 has been cut to £1.8 million (£3million last year) - this is substantially less than the £3million a year indicated some years ago as needed to maintain the waterway capital assets.

There will be no significant increase in registration income this year as there has been no increase in registration fees and the number of craft registered is static at best.

Further reductions in government funding are expected for the coming years as a result of the spending review and registration fees are effectively frozen pro team pending the outcome of an EA wide review of charges..

Happy New Year !

 

[byron]

Where do fishing licences enter the equations? I'm not trying to be clever or contentious, Anglers contribute a very hefty amount of money. . . who gets it? This is a genuine query.

 

[Actionmat]

What about water abstraction licences? Does that go to the EA or straight to the Treasury?

 

[boatone]

Where do fishing licences enter the equations? I'm not trying to be clever or contentious, Anglers contribute a very hefty amount of money. . . who gets it? This is a genuine query.

Rod licences are managed nationally and not by EA Thames. I believe there is some apportioned contribution but do not have any detailed information.
EA Thames do issue Lock and Weir fishing permits which may make some minor contribution.

What about water abstraction licences? Does that go to the EA or straight to the Treasury?

There is an element of contribution insofar as Thames Conservancy Act provisions apply. No detailed figures but I believe less than £1million directly reaches the river budget, either directly as revenue income or as a contribution via the public purse.
In the past I have suggested that a contribution from Thames Water of £1 p.a. per customer would yield £14 million per annum, which would solve the funding problems in one swoop, but it will come as no surprise that the EA are reluctant to take on big business !

The annual profits of Thames Water, the UK’s biggest water company, have jumped by almost a third, as it again pays no corporation tax for the year and prepares to raise household bills. The utility, which serves about 14 million customers in and around London, said it would increase average bills by £12, or 3.3%, over the five-year period to 2020.
It said the increase was necessary to fund the £4.2bn Thames Tideway tunnel, a 15-mile sewer running from west to east London. Construction is expected to start next year and be completed by 2023.
The group posted a 29.5% rise in pre-tax profits to £335.8m in the year to the end of March, which it said was due to stable weather conditions, reduced financing costs and operating efficiencies.

 

[thames cruiser]

.

In the year ended March 2015 income from craft registration fees was approximately £4million of which private powered craft accounted for about £3million. .

Are there any figures to further break down the Craft Registration contributions? I.e. Total numbers of craft by category as well as total centring toon by craft category? I know the answer, and maybe even the question(!), will be possibly be contentious, but I ask with a genuine interest...

 

[boatone]

Are there any figures to further break down the Craft Registration contributions? I.e. Total numbers of craft by category as well as total centring toon by craft category? I know the answer, and maybe even the question(!), will be possibly be contentious, but I ask with a genuine interest...

"centring toon" ? It will probably be obvious when you tell me!

 

[Actionmat]

"centring toon" ? It will probably be obvious when you tell me!

I think it's Geordie , for "in the centre of town"

 

[thames cruiser]

"centring toon" ? It will probably be obvious when you tell me!

Oops. iPad operation with thumbs! Should read "contribution".

 

[boatone]

Oops. iPad operation with thumbs! Should read "contribution".

Did wonder if that might be it. Depends what you mean by "categories" ?
I do have some self calculated estimates of divisions by boat length that I arrived at a couple of years ago and don't suppose it will have changed that much. Of roughly 9000 private powered craft over 6000 were 30 feet or less (2000 less than 16 feet). Almost 70% of revenue came from boats under 36 feet and average registration fee was about £335 p.a.

 

[No Regrets]

None of this actually matters of course. :roll eyes:

If you can afford boat ownership, then fine. If you can't either sell the Boat, or change Rivers.

There is fun everywhere, for most budgets :encouragement:

EA licence costs are such a tiny proportion of running a boat (Moorings, Depreciation, Insurance, Maintenance, Alcohol/Food, Entertainment & Subscriptions) that it barely touches my Radar.

Why anybody would want to sully their short lives bothering with any of this is quite beyond me...Go out and enjoy yourselves within the limitations of your budget. Let others worry

 

[capnfishy]

Boating time: 95% maintenance and scrubbing, 5% breaking down. But we love it anyway!