Essex Waterways Accountability

Essex Waterways Ltd is a trading subsidiary company of The Inland Waterways Association, a registered charity that campaigns for the preservations, conservation, restoration and development of the inland waterways of Great Britain. 

As a private company, Essex Waterways Ltd is bound by the requirements of the Companies Acts, although it also tries to act in the best interests of the waterway and for the benefit of the public.  Any surplus funds that are made at the end of each year's trading are passed to The Inland Waterways Association, and are placed in a Restricted Fund that can only be spent on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, as part of IWA's charitable purpose. 

The Annual Report and Financial Statements of Essex Waterways Ltd are available from Companies House, and also below:

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31st December 2016 
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31st December 2015  
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31st December 2014  
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31st December 2013  
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31st December 2012
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31st December 2011
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31st December 2010   
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31st December 2009 

Essex Waterways Ltd is managed by a board of directors, each appointed for a term of three years (eligible for reappointment), by the trustees of The Inland Waterways Association.  The current directors are:
 - Roy Chandler (chairman) [retired, formerly with a local authority background in planning and architecture]
 - David Carrington [member of IWA's Finance Committee]
 - Colin Edmond [former navigation manager]
 - Neil Edwards [chief executive of The Inland Waterways Association]
 - Craig Holliday [Performance and Process Support Manager with Northumbrian Water]
 - Jim Jenkins [retired, former project manager and engineer with Northumbrian Water]
 - John Pomfret [environmental consultant with Entec UK]
None of the directors receives any remuneration from Essex Waterways Ltd.

Day-to-day management of the Navigation is in the hands of the employees and volunteers, headed by David Smart, the Navigation Manager.

Recent minutes of the board meetings of Essex Waterways Ltd are available below.  These have been edited to remove confidential information relating to commercial matters and personnel.

6th June 2017 and AGM   
2nd March 2017 

1st December 2016
8th September 2016 
6th June 2016 and AGM
9th March 2016 

1st December 2015  
27th August 2015
4th June 2015 and AGM
5th March 2015 

4th December 2014 
5th September 2014    
27th May 2014 and AGM
3rd March 2014  

5th December 2013 
23rd September 2013
3rd June 2013 and AGM
1st March 2013

3rd December 2012 
21st September 2012 
15th June 2012 and AGM   
9th March 2012 

6th December 2011  
12th September 2011  
7th June 2011 and AGM 
10th March 2011

7th December 2010 
2nd September 2010  
8th June 2010 and AGM 
11th March 2010

8th December 2009
24th September 2009
10th June 2009
16th May 2009 and AGM
13th March 2009

Informal meetings are held for users of the Navigation to attend from time to time.  This is a useful forum to exchange views and maintain good communication between those concerned with the waterway.  Notes of the most recent meetings are available. 

There is also a quarterly Boaters Newsletter, mailed direct to all boaters on the Navigation.  

The Company's Health & Safety Policy and Roles and Responsibilities within that policy are also available here.