Autumn Strategy

On 16th August, IWA announced a further development in its campaign strategy following the appointment of the new waterways minister at the end of June, and the release of the House of Commons Select Committee report on British Waterways at the end of July.  As anticipated by IWA, the House of Commons Select Committee report echoed all the major concerns that the Association had about the funding of British Waterways and recognised the consequences for the inland waterways.  IWA maintains that many of the points raised by the Select Committee also apply to the funding of the navigations controlled by the Environment Agency.

IWA understands that the new Minister is to respond to the Select Committee by the end of September.  IWA also recognises that there is a new relationship developing between British Waterways and the new Minister, in which a public commitment has been made to them working together to attempt to resolve the problems identified by the Committee.  IWA additionally notes that there is recognition within many parts of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as the Select Committee, of the value of the inland waterways and of the wide number of government agendas to which the waterways make a contribution.

IWA has warned however, that it is now clear that there is no funding from the Treasury to reinstate the previous levels of support for the navigation authorities.  It is IWA’s analysis that, as predicted by British Waterways during its evidence to the Select Committee, the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement to British Waterways for the next three years is likely to be of the order of “flat cash minus [up to] 5%”.  This would leave British Waterways significantly and increasingly under-funded.  There is a possibility of a modest allocation of funds from a separate capital budget, which would partly diminish the impact of ever-increasing cuts.

In November 2006, IWA put a number of proposals to the Treasury, to allow British Waterways to use its assets more effectively.  British Waterways has also explored similar options with the Department, but these have been limited owing to the relationship with the previous minister.  The Department appears to be indicating a willingness to do “everything within its power” to assist British Waterways to make what funds it can generate itself, and to support it with what it can get from H M Treasury.

IWA considers that the time is now right for it to adopt a pragmatic approach to the next phase of its campaign, and should concentrate on what is achievable. However unfair, past misjudgements by ministers and senior civil servants are going to have a long term impact and IWA recognises that there is very little chance of any campaigning overturning this situation in the near future.  Whilst former ministers and civil servants have moved on, IWA believes that there is little value in personally targeting their successors, who are proving to be much more understanding of the waterways agenda and this suggests that IWA needs to engage the new administration in a wholly constructive manner.

IWA believes that inappropriate strident campaigning at this moment could jeopardise this new and developing relationship that could allow IWA to influence the ways in which new opportunities could be explored, and it is the “new opportunities” that IWA believes will present the greatest chance of minimising the deteriorative effects of budget reductions.

IWA sees that there are other areas where it is possible to capitalise on the contribution of British Waterways – such as its work in minimising effects of the recent floods, and promoting awareness of the extra cost of the floods on navigation authorities, and British Waterways in particular.  IWA will also remind those in power that the independent navigation authorities, including IWA’s own subsidiary Essex Waterways Ltd, receive no Government funding despite their vital role in flood alleviation and control, and in addition to delivering other important contributions to the Government’s agenda.

IWA’s strategy is therefore to:

• Attempt to work constructively with both British Waterways, the Environment Agency and with Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs to develop the most versatile funding opportunities possible.
  
• Forcibly identify where pressures on British Waterways and the Agency are creating unwelcome consequences.
  
• Continue to campaign against specific elements that arise from the present funding situation (such as BW’s mooring auction and developments inappropriate to heritage etc.)
  
• Maintain and build on the relationships made with MPs who have been supportive in the past twelve months.
  
• Avoid inappropriate confrontational campaigning about “cuts”, trying instead to find the most pragmatic way forward through the current financial pressures.
  
• Work with the Environment Agency to capitalise on its key position in flood control and try and assist it in deriving the best outcomes for navigation based on this.