BW charity status « Kennet and Avon Boating Community Website

Posts Tagged ‘BW charity status’

Benyon says sorry in writing for FOI blunder

Friday, October 28th, 2011

We can bring you the full text of Waterways Minister Richard Benyon’s written statement of apology to the House of Commons for pre-empting the results of DEFRA’s second consultation on the new waterways charity, which includes the issue of whether the Canal and River Trust will be subject to FOI. Mr Benyon wrote:

Waterways Minister apologises for wrong FOI answer

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Waterways Minister Richard Benyon today apologised to MP Duncan Hames for giving him an incorrect answer to his question about whether the new Canal and River Trust would be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The Minister had said that the charity would be subject to the FOI Act in the same way as BW is now.

Waterways Minister says new waterways charity will be subject to FOI

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

In response to a question on 13 October from Duncan Hames, the MP for Chippenham, Waterways Minister Richard Benyon stated in the House of Commons that the new waterways charity would still be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Make sure you have a postal address before waterways charity elections!

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

We have had this message from Becks on Pilgrim who travelled to London this summer for work. She found some gorgeous spots along the K and A and enjoyed the Thames, with the lock keepers and big white plastic boats hurtling past. She spent time in a marina in north west London and travelled through the Lee Valley where she found the boating community there welcoming and friendly. She says

BW Charity gets CR name

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

The name of the new waterways charity has been announced. It will be called the Canal and River Trust. You can read one residential boater’s take on the new name on Simon Robbins’ Liveaboard Forum blog http://liveaboard-forum.blogspot.com

Tags: BW charity status, liveaboards
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BW in Private Eye spotlight again

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

BW came under the scrutiny of Private Eye again on 6 September with another article detailing threats of homelessness and harassment of liveaboard boaters. Here is a copy of the article ‘Barged Aside’ in which BW is accused of being “totally uncharitable”.

BW AGM 13th October – book your place now!

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

The BW Annual General Meeting is on Thursday October 13th at The Bond Company, 180 -182 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5SE at 10.30am to 3.30pm. BW is a public body and members of the public are entitled to go. You don’t have to be a representative of an organisation. This year’s meeting will be an opportunity to ask the Transition Trustees questions, for example how the new waterways charity proposes to safeguard the rights of liveaboard boaters and protect them from unlawful enforcement, summary eviction and homelessness.

Another opportunity to lobby MPs about the Public Bodies Bill

Monday, September 26th, 2011

The Public Bill Committee is not likely to consider the transfer of British Waterways to charity status until after 10th October when it will examine Schedule 5 of the Public Bodies Bill and BW’s amendment (99A) to the Bill. This means there is another opportunity to lobby the Committee etc. Here are four things you can do.

1. Write to your MP.
2. Write to the 19 MPs on the Public Bill Committee – members have already considered letters they have had on other issues.
3. Submit written evidence to the Committee – members of the public can do this, and some of us have done so already.
4. See your MP at one of their surgeries.

An example letter, contact details for the Committee members, guidance on submitting evidence and how to find MPs surgeries are below.

Example response to second consultation on BW charity

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Here is an example response to the second DEFRA consultation on transferring BW to charity status. Despite complaints, the deadline is still 24th October. It’s always best to put responses in your own words, if possible. The example response contains an introductory statement, replies to the questions about England and Wales, and replies to the questions about Scotland. If you answer the questions about Scotland there’s a separate email address for the replies. Please take the time to respond if you can – it’s important that DEFRA is aware of our concerns.

Important second consultation on BW transfer to charity

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

DEFRA and BW have announced a second consultation on certain aspects of the order which will transfer BW to charity status. This will take place between 12th September and 24th October. In particular the consultation covers whether the new waterways charity should be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Please respond to the consultation – there have been a lot of them recently but this is also important!

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