Boating politics - ugh? Nominations and elections

Tuesday, 13 December 2011 10:31

I am not a political animal, but I do care about our inland waterways system - not least because we live on it in our narrowboat Epiphany. We are continuous cruisers who move all year around, weather permitting, and we have seen the system begin to deteriorate over the last few years. However, it is important that all boaters become involved in "politics" at this crucial time on our unique system.

Where canal meets river, but where is it?

The Canal and River Trust is holding elections and there are people to vote for .....

The Canal and River Trust takes over from BW in April 2012 and like all organisations it has a structure. The nominations for the Council opened yesterday and close on 18th January 2012. Voting will take place between the 8th February and 9th March. There are to be four members who are boaters. Let the hustings begin .....

"The Council is the guardian of the long-term values and purposes of the Canal & River Trust", responsible to the Board of Trustees who "are responsible for determining policy and strategy". The Council will "have an important role in helping to shape policy, raising and debating issues, and providing guidance, perspective and a sounding board for the trustees. It will also have the power to appoint or dismiss trustees."

Trustee Vice Chair Lynne Berry answering question at the NABO AGM with Jim Shead and David Fletcher (NABO Chair)

The existing executive staff and other employees will be transferred under TUPE rules, and the executive will be answerable to the Board of Trustees. 

So who can vote? Anyone who is a 12 month BW licence holder on the 18th January 2012

BW Gold licence on Epiphany

So who to vote for? Nominees must have 10 sponsors who all hold the above qualification of a licence. Individual boaters can stand, organisations might support one of their members to stand or clubs might forward a nominee.

It is worth finding out if the boating organisation you belong to has a candidate. The national organisations (eg NABO, RBOA, IWA) have been working with and meeting with BW and the Trustees since the inception of the idea of a charity to run our waterways, so have the knowledge and expertise to give dynamic support to boaters' representatives on the Council. Much of their work goes unlauded and many boaters are ignorant of what they have achieved. Perhaps now is the time to join one of them so you have a say in the future? 

Do you want more of this? 

Or more of this?

Now - can you tell me where the above are?

It is not my place to promote a particular nominee. As a boater, it is your responsibility to find out who you think will best represent your views. But do ACT, otherwise you cannot grumble about the outcome and the state of the waterways, the lack of understanding of waterways and boating and those huge pay awards!

Make it your business to be involved.