Archive for June, 2020

Landmark judgement confirms Housing Benefit for boat licence fees

Monday, June 29th, 2020

In a landmark judgement issued on 25th June 2020 (AB v London Borough of Camden (HB) [2020] UKUT 158 (AAC)), the Upper Tribunal has confirmed that Housing Benefit is payable for boat licence fees because the boat licence fee if living aboard is rent.

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Leisure and hire boating in England to resume from 4th July as Coronavirus lockdown is eased further

Monday, June 29th, 2020

Following the Government’s announcement of 23rd June that overnight stays away from home will be permitted in England from 4th July 2020, this means that leisure boaters will be able to stay overnight on their boats and hire and hotel boat companies may resume trading.

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BaNES Council re-opens Mead Lane moorings

Sunday, June 7th, 2020

Last week BaNES Council reversed the decision that it made in January and has re-opened the 14-day moorings at Mead Lane, Saltford on the River Avon, until a structural survey of the river bank is carried out and further consultation of interested parties has taken place. The U-turn followed a solicitor’s letter sent to the Council on behalf of boaters. This comes shortly after the BaNES Environmental Health department began taking steps in mid-May 2020 to evict liveaboards who had been moored at Mead Lane due to the suspension of boat movements for the Coronavirus lockdown.

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What if I do not feel safe to resume moving every 14 days?

Sunday, June 7th, 2020

As of 23rd May 2020 CRT resumed enforcement of summer visitor mooring time limits and of the 14 day limit for most boaters without a home mooring. CRT has stated that it expects boaters without a home mooring to move by 6th June 2020 unless they have ‘reasonable adjustments’ under the Equality Act or if it is reasonable for them to stay where they are for longer than 14 days. If you are shielding or self-isolating, are in a ‘high risk’ category or you have other needs, it is clearly reasonable to stay where you are and we would advise you to tell CRT if you have not done so already.

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“I knew we were a supportive bunch, but this was next level!”

Monday, June 1st, 2020

Here is a message from Alice Young of the Julian House Travelling Communities Support Service thanking the many volunteers and businesses who have supported liveaboard boaters during the Coronavirus lockdown:

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K&A Boaters’ Action Group postponed to August

Monday, June 1st, 2020

The next meeting of the K&A Boaters’ Action Group that was due to take place on the second Monday of June 2020 has been postponed to August due to the continuing Coronavirus lockdown as meetings are still restricted.

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K&A volunteers to step down as boat movement resumes

Monday, June 1st, 2020

The volunteer scheme supporting liveaboard boaters on the western K&A through the Coronavirus lockdown is ending when enforcement of boat movement every 14 days resumes this week, because the full volunteering scheme will be too challenging with boats coming and going daily. The red, amber and green signalling system will not be monitored from now on.

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