EA to carry out Boat Registration checks in Penton Hook Marina.

[thames cruiser]

The EA are stuck with the system which has currently been in place for many years. The TWO Order has now given them the option to introduce rolling year registration but that doesn't mean it can be easily implemented. In any case, it will not solve many of the problems created by boats being sold and registrations needing to be transferred etc. Even basic administration at this level requires manpower and other resources which are simply not available at this time.
The system is what it is and boat owners are required to comply. I am painfully aware of how much resource time is being taken up dealing with these contentious issues and that costs all of us that do pay in resources being tied up that could be better employed.

I think the last point about cost of administering transfers is actually very easy to fix, and so not a good excuse at all. The EA could simply introduce an admin fee, such fee being set at the realistic average cost of implementing a transfer. In fact, one could reasonably argue that they could charge the same for re-issuing new licence discs after a boat name change, something that I think is currently free.

Bottom line, just how complicated can all this be?! The current fixed annual calendar licence fee, with all boats (in the water) starting 1st January, forces the EA to suffer an admin load peak at the turn of each year. As well as being unfair in some circumstances, it is also a problem of their own making - and I would suggest (embarrassment aside) well within their powers to fix.

 

[boatone]

Bottom line, just how complicated can all this be?! The current fixed annual calendar licence fee, with all boats (in the water) starting 1st January, forces the EA to suffer an admin load peak at the turn of each year. As well as being unfair in some circumstances, it is also a problem of their own making - and I would suggest (embarrassment aside) well within their powers to fix.

Identifying possible solutions is not difficult but actually agreeing and implementing them is extremely difficult. There are two major obstacles - 1. Legislative constraints which severely limit the EA's independent courses of action and
2. Availability of funding and manpower to carry out the work. Just sending a letter needs manpower and money. The EA - at least as far as Thames is concerned - simply do not have enough of either and government are intent on reducing both even further than they have done already.
Existing management and IT systems are, in my opinion, not fit for for purpose - easy to say, but getting them fixed is a whole different ball game.

As to things being "unfair", when did that ever have anything to do with life as we know it? Is it fair that some of us should pay our dues whilst others try to evade them? Is it fair that a significant amount of the money collected is being wasted on enforcement efforts - money which, for instance, could be allocated to lock side services?

 

[alan-w]

Anywhere they moor at Penton Hook is now a live aboard area. I walked around there last thursday night and the car parks were all full, even though it was cold andout of season !

 

[alan-w]

Quite right, a rolling year registration system would eventually smooth out their cash flow and workload, making it easier for them to manage their resources.

 

[oldgit]

Anywhere they moor at Penton Hook is now a live aboard area. I walked around there last thursday night and the car parks were all full, even though it was cold andout of season !

Suspect your observations are true for the majority of marinas,especially in the southeast.
It is not just people unable to afford a house in the locality, folks do sometimes rent out their homes and then livaboard.

 

[Flynnbarr]

Will we shortly be seeing a thread on council tax evasion
Ssshhh the council might be listening,they are always looking for revenue streams
Used to be a no no in Thames marinas,sign of the times imho

 

[boatone]

Quite right, a rolling year registration system would eventually smooth out their cash flow and workload, making it easier for them to manage their resources.

Doesn't work like that. EA doesn't have "cash flow" issues like a normal business - government collects all the money and books are balanced at year end. Also, registration charges are managed by central facility in Rotherham (look at your reg documents) providing the service, not by the Thames management team. However, the Thames team do carry out all the enforcement work and that includes both detection and follow up case preparation which is extremely time consuming - just identifying an unregistered craft is the relatively easy bit, although it gets difficult when the boat doesn't have a name or identification marks which is often the case !