Politics and stuff

[boatone]

The next government spending review is scheduled for 2014/15

The next General Election will be held on 7 May 2015 (except in the event of a collapse of government or a two-thirds majority of MPs voting for an early election)

The government review affects the Thames and possible transfer to the C&RT.

I have asked the following question:

When do you think you may be able to publish some preliminary thoughts on what a transfer of navigation functions to the C&RT might include?

I am particularly referring to how the various functions currently carried out by the EA might be split and which would transfer.

Many of us are having some difficulty recognising how certain functions might be divided. Without some clear indicators there is likely to be "presumption fuelled by ignorance" which would, I think, be unhelpful.

I have received the following reply:

The project which DEFRA will lead hasn’t started yet and it’s not certain yet when it will start in earnest. We’re gathering information to help prepare for the review which will, in time, involve understanding in detail the implications of various options for transfer (which have not yet been defined/agreed).
..... the issue about what could transfer and the implications for managing it well in future will be at the heart of the project and there will be consultation with the public.

So there you have it. Will the spending review be completed and implemented before the election? Who will win the election and what are the implications of a change of government?

Just to add a little further interest to the issue of funding the Thames, a little bird tells me that some barge owners are kicking up and demanding a capped licence fee because the present system is unfair as they have to pay more because their boats are so big ! Whats even worse, is that it would appear that the "authorities" are listening to them and may be inclined to offer them some sort of capping arrangement!

 

[oldgit]

Always fancied one of those vast american motorhomes with the big block V8 presume I can ask for a cap on any possible increases in road fund licence,or do I have to accept the fact I bought a %^&*ing great lump and pay up accordingly ?
Feel sure that people in large houses will also appreciate a guarantee that their rates will remain static while the rest of us in our two up to downs will cough up each and every increase . .

 

[dash300]

I have received the following reply:

Quote:
The project which DEFRA will lead hasn’t started yet and it’s not certain yet when it will start in earnest. We’re gathering information to help prepare for the review which will, in time, involve understanding in detail the implications of various options for transfer (which have not yet been defined/agreed).
..... the issue about what could transfer and the implications for managing it well in future will be at the heart of the project and there will be consultation with the public.


Sir Humphrey is still alive and well then

 

[TrueBlue]

I have received the following reply:

Quote:
The project which DEFRA will lead hasn’t started yet and it’s not certain yet when it will start in earnest. We’re gathering information to help prepare for the review which will, in time, involve understanding in detail the implications of various options for transfer (which have not yet been defined/agreed).
..... the issue about what could transfer and the implications for managing it well in future will be at the heart of the project and there will be consultation with the public.


Sir Humphrey is still alive and well then

Which doubtless will be well hidden with whatever minimal statutory notice is required - as happened with the TWO details.

Of course a vast list of organizations will be sent details, none of which has any contact with the vast majority of fee paying Thames boaters......

 

[boatone]

New Broads tolls have long term aim to encourage boating

A bit of blue sky thinking on the Broads - Boating Business Story

The EA licensing form for 2013 arrived last weekend and the 4.6% rise will push the fee for my CLB ( 27 feet) above £400.

The EA claim that

the increase means that the registration fee for a medium-sized powered boat on the non-tidal Thames (of between £200 and £300) will go up by £10- £14.

Well. I have just finished analysing the size of powered boats on the non tidal and I can tell them - and you - that the average license fee this year was £334 so next year it will be around £350 - an increase of around £16.

So, that average is lower than my little CLB 27 footer so how do you perceive an average sized boat?

 

[Gumpy]

Just to add a little further interest to the issue of funding the Thames, a little bird tells me that some barge owners are kicking up and demanding a capped licence fee because the present system is unfair as they have to pay more because their boats are so big ! Whats even worse, is that it would appear that the "authorities" are listening to them and may be inclined to offer them some sort of capping arrangement!

This has been going on since before the last licence review, DBA/EA were very close to agreement but the EA dropped the idea at the last review. It has since been revived and you are correct its close to coming to fruition.

 

[boatone]

This has been going on since before the last licence review, DBA/EA were very close to agreement but the EA dropped the idea at the last review. It has since been revived and you are correct its close to coming to fruition.

I now understand that a cap for larger vessels with a square metreage of over 80sqm will apply from 1st January - in fact, surpise, surprise, this information is already included in the 2013 registration document

Calculating the annual registration charge
Registration charges for all powered boats are calculated on the area of your boat in square metres. Multiply the length by the beam (width) of your boat to get the chargeable area.
The charge per square metre for 2013 is £17.42, with a minimum charge of five square metres.
For example, a boat five metres long and two metres beam has a chargeable area of 10 square metres. Multiplied by £17.42, the registration charge is £174.20. For a boat between one and five square metres, the minimum charge is £87.10.

This means a saving for the excess sqm over 80sqm of £7.42 per sqm.

Now, I have no problem querying the fairness of the square metrage formula for charging licence fees but I fail to understand why one specific group should be handed relief when there should be a level playing field for all.

My 8.3 metre boat has a beam of 2.9metres - chargeable area 24sqm = £418.08 for 2013. By comparison, an 8.3 metre narrow beam boat would pay £303 - over £100 pounds less.

I don't know who these Thames ReAction Group people are, but they appear to be a disenchanted splinter group of DBA members. Given the rough ride the TMBA have experienced trying to gain formal recognition as user representatives I am astonished that they appear to have won this concession at a time when every pound counts and when all the rest of us motor boaters, including the majority of DBA Thames based colleagues, are paying more.

As a personal view - not TMBA policy (yet?) - I believe there is a strong case for a complete review of licence fee strategy. In recent times the commercial operators have been given a freeze on rates until 2014, rowing and canoeing organisations receive significant discounts on already low fees by way of national agreements and now the 'biggies' get a concession without most of us even being aware of what was being proposed.

Those of you that belong to ATYC clubs may care to ponder on whether or not the Treasurer has a conflict of interest as he is also the Chairman of the DBA

 

[Gumpy]

Not a splinter group but a representation group within the DBA, there are a few depending on the waterway I used to be the one for BW when I was a member.
Hence their ability to get into the hallowed portals as they are part of an already recognised group.

See here
http://www.barges.org/homepage/representation-uk

 

[boatone]

Not a splinter group but a representation group within the DBA, there are a few depending on the waterway I used to be the one for BW when I was a member.
Hence their ability to get into the hallowed portals as they are part of an already recognised group.

See here
http://www.barges.org/homepage/representation-uk

Thanks - I did find that page in my trawl.

However, if that is the case, why are they being clearly identified as the representative body when they are already represented by DBA which should either be agreeing or rejecting their stance?

 

[Gumpy]

Thanks - I did find that page in my trawl.

However, if that is the case, why are they being clearly identified as the representative body when they are already represented by DBA which should either be agreeing or rejecting their stance?

Cant answer that one as I am no longer a member, in my time the cap was DBA policy.

Guess you will have to ask mr conflict of interest

 

[Wavey]

So, having at one stage considered increasing licence fees for larger boats (as per the Broads), presumably to either discourage them or raise additional revenue or both, EA have now decided to do the complete opposite. What sort of argument was put forward to support the case for capping charges for larger boats (specifically barges)? I can't think of one.

I begin to wonder why barges are viewed differently by some people. Earlier this year we moored at Hampton Court behind a 60ft barge. Later I helped a 25ft Birchwood squeeze in the gap behind my boat. Chatting to the couple on board the Birchwood they expressed the view (nicely I may add) that our boat was really too big for the river and didn't the two of us find it too much of a handful. Later they chatted to the barge owner and said what a beautiful boat it was and that they hoped one day to have something like it on the Thames

 

[Relax.A]

Why on earth should a big barge not pay the going rate? They take up more room on moorings or in locks so should pay for space used . MY steel cruiser takes up more room than a shetland and I pay more proportionately fairs fair. Or maybe I should Paint the hull black hang a few tyres off the side and claim barge asylum

 

[dash300]

Of course the DBA have some big hitters amongst their ranks - Poirot for one, who I believe might just have something to do with the CRT by strange coincidence

 

[No Regrets]

I hate barges, other than the fact they are pretty good for living on, by Boat standards.

As 'Boats' they fail, just like NB's.

 

[dash300]

Why on earth should a big barge not pay the going rate? They take up more room on moorings or in locks so should pay for space used . MY steel cruiser takes up more room than a shetland and I pay more proportionately fairs fair. Or maybe I should Paint the hull black hang a few tyres off the side and claim barge asylum

If they set the cap at say the largest hotel barge on the Thames eg. Magna Carta then I might be persuaded.