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LET VOTING COMMENCE!
THE CRT COUNCIL ELECTION GETS UNDERWAY by Stephen Peters (NABO and TBA preferred candidate in the CRT elections)
The election for the Boaters' Representatives on the Canal & River Trust Council will take another step forward on 8 February 2012, when the ballot process commences. Eligible voters (i.e. one person for each boat that has a 12-month canal or river licence) will have the opportunity to cast their votes by post, email or SMS for this first Council election. Please read the instructions carefully and peruse the individual election statements from the 33(?) candidates. Yes, as I predicted, there are dozens to choose from to fill the 4 vacancies on Council. Voting closes at noon on 9 March with election results being made available on 12 March and the first Council meeting planned for 28 March 2012.
I am grateful to NABO and TBA for their co-sponsorship and support and I hope that members of both august associations will place a "1" against my name on the ballot paper, or at the very least include me in your preferences.
You will see from my election address and articles on the NABO website that I have many years' experience as a boat owner and an extensive knowledge of the inland waterways and the political nuances that are a feature of dealing with BW (soon to metamorphose into the CRT).
Some candidates have a narrower focus or a particular axe to grind but I suspect that they will find it difficult to truly represent the broad spectrum of boaters who use the navigations. Some people have stated that they will not vote for a candidate who "represents" one of the major user bodies, such as IWA or NABO, and to them I would say this – I am standing for election to be the voice of the individual boat owner, not to be a delegate for any one body to which I may belong. Anyone who thinks I am going to be a NABO "puppet" clearly doesn't know me! I may share their views on many subjects, but I will keep an independent mind, and if elected I shall strive to represent all boaters in general, irrespective of allegiances. I respect the individual views of all boaters and I know from experience that particular issues or interests can often have resonance throughout the boating world and affect our pastime more broadly than might at first appear.
Some candidates have been criticised because they have not clearly set out their personal goals for serving on Council. It is difficult to make firm promises when we don't know precisely how Council will function (it is supposed to meet only twice a year) and until it finds its feet the members will not know what can be achieved. One assumes that there will be sub-committees concentrating on specialist areas but Council will not be making operational decisions. That is the role of the Trustees.
I have been asked if I support The Boaters' Manifesto and I have answered honestly that I do indeed endorse its major points. It is difficult to disagree with its sentiments, although I might put more emphasis on certain aspects and some of the aspirations are more easily realisable than others. Someone has commented that they would not support a candidate who says he agrees 100 per cent with the manifesto, so I can't win that argument!
In conclusion, I would say carefully weigh up the candidates and consider their credentials. Some may have hidden agendas but I can truthfully state that I have revealed everything that is relevant to this appointment. I don't have any undeclared personal interests and I am not a member of IWA or a political party or Common Purpose or some other subversive pressure group. The successful candidates will represent us for the next 4 years and they will be in the privileged position of being members of the CRT at a time when public membership is not yet possible. They will have a vote at the AGM and have powers to appoint or dismiss trustees. They will also be empowered to co-opt other persons to Council to bring their specialised input or skills. This is a role that only the very best candidates should be entrusted with.
First call for boaters to stand for election for Canal & River Trust Council
TBA & NABO are sponsoring Stephen Richard Peters as our Joint Candidate.
"Boat owner since 1989 with a Seamaster 30 motor cruiser "Nattajack" based on the River Severn. Council member of National Association of Boat Owners (NABO) for the past 18 years - currently Hon Treasurer and Rivers Secretary.
Member of RYA, Avon Navigation Trust, RNLI (Governor), Railway & Canal Historical Society, Cruising Association and Seamaster Club.
Experience of canal restoration– Hon Secretary of Droitwich Canals Trust in 1980's;
local government- elected district councillor for 12 years, currently Independent county councillor and parish councillor representing home area.
I intend to represent the interests of ALL boaters, irrespective of lifestyle, including broad beam and river users. My knowledge of waterway legislation, byelaws, Acts of Parliament, technical issues, Boat Safety Scheme and local planning should be of value to the CRT Council and I will strive to ensure that the Trust makes sound decisions in the interests of all who navigate the waterways."
You will see that I have been on the Council of NABO since its early days – I could have said longer than anyone else, but that makes me feel old!
I want to give boat owners a real choice in this election. No one organisation should have a monopoly of representation on the new Council. The views of NABO members and independent boat owners who belong to no specific association are all worthy of a seat on Council. However, it is important to vote for a candidate who has links with the broad spectrum of boating rather than someone pursuing a narrow, personal agenda. I am grateful to my colleagues for endorsing my candidacy to enable me to speak up for all of you. I am also grateful to The Boating Association (TBA) for their support and co-sponsorship with NABO.
My chosen boat is a river cruiser and if elected I will always ensure that broad beam boats and river users are not neglected by the CRT. At the same time, I intend to fairly represent the wide range of other boaters who are customers of CRT. This will include narrow boat owners, continuous cruisers, charity and community boats and people whose boats are their homes – including those who are eligible to vote in this election and those who find themselves excluded by the rules. Each have their own problems and concerns which must be taken into account by the CRT Council and Trustees.
Over the years I have witnessed the launch of a host of policy initiatives and public consultations from British Waterways. The same issues have arisen time and again, often without any final resolution and in many cases without addressing the ongoing concerns of boat owners. This cannot be allowed to continue and the new CRT must not be the existing BW in the guise of a charity. I support the Boaters' Manifesto and endorse its key points.
Make no mistake, waterways issues and their solutions ultimately require political (with a small "p") decisions. The CRT Council will be a broad church comprising a number of vested and competing interests. A successful Council will need members who can represent their own constituencies with vigour and strong argument, whilst recognising diversity and the reality that compromise and co-operation will sometimes be necessary if the CRT is to succeed. And it must succeed – this is the "only show in town" and it demands our full support and involvement. The future of our pastime depends upon its success.
I am standing for election solely to represent the interests of private boat owners & navigation – not businesses or ramblers or anglers or nature conservationists. They will all have their own representatives on Council and they will undoubtedly campaign for their own sectors. But I am not insensitive to the needs and concerns of other users. If the waterways are to survive and flourish all interest groups need to work together and respect each others' views.
The ultimate success and indeed survival of the CRT depends on its securing adequate new sources of finance to supplement funding from central government and the income from property and boat licences. In the current economic environment this is not going to be easy but it is incumbent on every elected Council member to act responsibly and to promote the wider interests of the CRT whilst safeguarding the investments and lifestyles of those who have elected them. The incorporation of The Waterways Trust into CRT must not be result in the diversion of much-needed funds away from maintaining the waterway network.
The CRT is not perfect and it will require much improvement in future years. The existing management will need to adopt a new mind-set in the post-nationalisation era. This election is not perfect and many boat owners have been excluded from participating due to the strictures regarding possession of 12-month licences. The election process will need to be revised for the future and if EA navigations are eventually incorporated the representation quota for boaters will have to be increased considerably. The precise role of the CRT Council is unclear but the Private Boater members must be prepared to speak out in support of boating and navigation.
I am pleased that DEFRA has decided that the CRT will be required to be open and transparent in its dealings with the public and must comply with disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. NABO took that view during the consultation process unlike another national association and the CRT itself. It is the right decision and I support it having personally successfully persisted in obtaining licensing information from the EA and Broads Authority despite their reluctance and the intervention of the Information Commissioner. I am all for openness and accountability and I will keep a close eye on such matters if elected to the CRT Council.
During the passage of the BW Act 1995 I personally lobbied Parliament to object to certain clauses which I felt were contrary to the interests of boat owners, particularly the ill-considered Boat Safety aspects. I subsequently played a major role in persuading the BSS to carry out a major review of the scheme which benefited all boat owners. I intend to pursue similar campaigns where I consider boaters are not receiving a fair deal.
If I am successful at this election, I will be available to listen to the views of other boat owners and take up issues where appropriate. You will not find me airing my views on public websites, social networks, blogs or chatrooms – that is not my style. Rather, I prefer to speak to people, listen to what they say and then take stock before acting. I will not pursue a personal, narrow agenda but will try to represent all private boat owners. Years of experience of waterways and local government have convinced me that this is the best way to achieve success. I have a wealth of knowledge and an extensive archive of canal-related documents, Acts of Parliament, byelaws, legal opinions, etc to help me to represent all boaters. Please give me your vote by placing a number "1" against my name on the ballot paper and I promise to do my best on your behalf.
Stephen Peters
Boaters are being asked to stand for election for the Canal & River Trust Council and get involved in shaping the future of Britain's waterways. With the new charitable trust taking over the responsibilities of British Waterways in April 2012, the nominations for boaters' positions on the Council open on 12 December 2011.
Seven positions on the 35-strong council are to be filled by boaters or boating businesses. Four positions are to be elected by boat licence holders and two positions elected by boating businesses. The British Canoe Union, which holds a collective licence for around 60,000 individual and club members, will be asked to nominate a person to fill a further position representing all those who use the waterways for waterborne sport and recreation without holding individual licences. A Canal & River Trust employee will also be elected by all employees at this time to serve on the Council.
The Council is the guardian of the long-term values and purposes of the Canal & River Trust. While the trustees 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.
Members of the Canal & River Trust Council will
be expected to bring the experience and perspective of the constituency they
represent and to provide a voice for their interests. In exercising this role
they will have to at all time act in the interests of the charitable purposes
of the Trust. Members will serve for a term of four years.
Tony Hales, chair of the Canal & River Trust, said: "The boating community has a wealth of hands-on experience of the waterways, and having boaters on board is essential to the success of the Canal & River Trust. I am writing to all licence holders and I encourage them to put themselves forward and add their voices to those shaping the Canal & River Trust's future."
Boaters wanting to stand for election in any of these groups will need to complete a simple nomination form which will be available for downloading from www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/councilnomination from 12 December 2011 until 18 January 2012. To be eligible to stand for election and vote in the election, boaters must hold a 12-month boat licence on 18 January 2012. Nominations must be supported by ten sponsors who each also hold a valid 12-month boat licence on this date.
Voting will take place between 8 February and 9 March 2012 via a designated website or by SMS text. Voting by post will also be possible, but only for this first set of Council elections. The election is being managed by Electoral Reform Services.
