We have written a short version of the NBTA Guidance for completing the CRT Licence Review Commission survey which we publish below. You can also download it as a Word document here NBTA_Guidance_for_filling_in_CRT_Licence_Review_commission_survey_Short_version(1)
For the longer version of our guidance for completing the survey, see https://bargee-traveller.org.uk/nbta-publishes-guidance-for-completing-the-crt-licence-review-commission-survey/
Shorter Guidance from NBTA for completing the CRT Licence Review Commission survey
NBTA encourages you to complete the survey but recommends that you engage with it cautiously. CRT has falsely represented itinerant boaters and licensing legislation in this Licence Review – see details in the Licence Review Terms of Reference. Before answering any questions, ask yourself, “Can my response be used against the itinerant boating community?”
In order to maximise effectiveness, we recommend focusing on three primary issues that impact the boating community as a whole:
- CRT’s lack of accountability and oversight
- CRT mismanaging waterways and facilities – and blaming itinerant boaters
- CRT’s discriminatory policies against itinerant boaters
We have added some suggestions below, but identical survey responses may be treated as a single submission. We suggest selecting issues that relate to you, and expanding on them in your own words.
While there are many individual concerns, like dumping of rubbish on the towpath, these grievances could be used against us to justify damaging and restrictive policies. To protect our community, we urge boaters to avoid divisive issues and stay focused on these three priorities.
The survey is online here https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CandRTrust/
Here is some guidance on how to complete this allegedly “independent” survey:
- Question – Describe the primary nature of your relationship with the Canal & River Trust, or interest in this engagement:
If applicable, we suggest that you write down that you are a boater and include other user groups you are a part of, for example “towpath user (pedestrian/ cyclist)”.
- Question – Which part of the canal and river network are you most engaged with? This could be via use, or proximity to where you live. Please tick all that apply.
We suggest you include as many waterways as you visit, or the Whole Trust Network, if applicable.
- Question – What kind of licence do you have?
Most of us will have a “leisure” licence (either with or without a home mooring) as the other licence types are business and commercial.
- Question – Please indicate how many issues you would like to tell us about – required.
Click 1-3 issues, depending on how many you want to address, Here are our suggestions on issues you could raise:
Issue 1 – CRT Lacks Accountability:
Question – What is the issue?
CRT Lacks Accountability.
The Charity Commission, Waterways Ombudsman, local authorities, and DEFRA all lack the power to influence CRT’s policies.
MPs report an inability to affect CRT’s executive decisions.
The Waterways Ombudsman, funded by CRT, cannot be considered truly independent.
Question – Why is it an issue?
There is no effective or formal accountability of CRT and its use of public assets.
Question – Whom does it affect?
All users and taxpayers.
Question – What changes do you think could be made to help resolve the issue you have identified? – Select ‘Other (please specify)’
An independent Ombudsman, free from CRT funding and influence.
A government department with operational oversight of CRT.
Improved representation of stakeholders, particularly itinerant boat dwellers.
A full public inquiry into CRT’s governance, policies, and use of public funds – to restore public trust in CRT.
Question – Please add a comment to explain your response more, if you would like.
Write extra if you want.
Issue 2 – Running down of facilities and waterways infrastructure.
Question – What is the issue?
CRT’s running down of facilities and waterways infrastructure.
CRT has been negligent in maintaining critical waterway infrastructure. This includes towpath and canal-lock infrastructure, and a lack of fundamental infrastructure maintenance like dredging.
These issues are due to CRT negligence – but CRT are blaming their negligence on itinerant boaters.
Question – Why is it an issue?
CRT’s mismanagement.
Question – Whom does it affect?
Boaters and other people who use the waterways.
Question – What changes do you think could be made to help resolve the issue you have identified? – Select ‘Other’ (please specify)
Better management of the waterways.
Stop selling off assets, and wasting money persecuting itinerant boaters.
Question – Please add a comment to explain your response more, if you would like:
Write extra if you want
Issue 3 – CRT’s anti-itinerant boat dweller policies
Question – What is the issue?
CRT’s anti-itinerant boat dweller policies.
Aggressive enforcement against boaters without a home mooring.
Discriminatory policies like the ‘Continuous Cruiser’ surcharge, financially exclusive chargeable towpath moorings, and this review of itinerant boater licensing.
Unwarranted threats to itinerant boaters, including the threatened seizure of their homes.
Increasingly discriminatory cruising range and cruising pattern policies that make the livelihoods of people living on boats increasingly difficult.
Question – Why is it an issue?
These policies make itinerant boating unaffordable.
These policies also make itinerant boating increasingly impossible for many.
These policies and this review aim to restrict itinerant boating to a small minority – making itinerant boating exclusive, and impossible for the majority of people, including people in work, families, and many disabled boaters.
Question – Whom does it affect?
Up to 15,000 boaters who own the 7,300 boats without a home mooring
Boaters who have been forced by CRT’s aggressive enforcement into taking moorings they cannot afford, or are not allowed to live on.
Other families, people in employment, and disabled people who may want to cruise itinerantly in the future, but would be prevented by CRT’s restrictive itinerant boating policies.
Question – What changes do you think could be made to help resolve the issue you have identified? – select ‘Other (please specify)’:
End these anti-itinerant boat dweller policies.
Stop wasting money on an aggressive, discriminatory enforcement policy.
Accept the diverse itinerant-boating community, and legislation designed to protect itinerant boating in its many forms.
Question – Please add a comment to explain your response more, if you would like:
CRT are misusing licensing legislation. This legislation was made to allow for many different types of boat dwellers who had different circumstances, including employment and children attending school.
Itinerant boat dwellers should have rights to a secure home. Itinerant boating shouldn’t only be available to a minority.
Any further restrictions to itinerant boating will cause widespread homelessness.
- Question – The future of boat licensing: additional comments – Are there any issues you haven’t been able to cover? [this is at the end of the survey]
CRT’s aggressive attitude towards itinerant boat dwellers is causing many to suffer poor mental health. People are constantly worried about threats to their homes and lives. The non-renewal of a licence for the full 12 months could mean the eventual loss of home.
CRT is a charity claiming that “Life is Better by Water”, but its behaviour means the exact opposite.
- Question – The Terms of Reference for the Commission set out that it should seek to apply the following principles in considering improvements and outcomes:
Fairness
Clarity
Sustainability
Effectiveness
Are these the right principles for evaluating the impact of any changes that result from this engagement?
We suggest clicking ‘Strongly disagree’ to all 4 of the above principles, as they are meaningless without context – and the context is provided by CRT’s bias Review Terms of Reference document.
We also suggest you explain why and add some suggestions in the ‘Other Outcome’ box. Here are our suggestions:
The four principles above are meaningless without context. The only context provided is CRT’s biased Terms of Reference which unfairly misrepresents itinerant boaters. Therefore I strongly disagree with all four principles.
The outcomes I want are real stakeholder engagement and transparency.
I want broader social and economic impacts on the itinerant boating community to be fundamental considerations in this review.
I want CRT to value and support the itinerant boating community, and respect the many forms of itinerant boaters that are deliberately protected by licensing legislation.
Principles that do not prioritise the well-being of individuals and the boating community should not be used in this survey.
Other questions
At the end of the survey there are some Equality and Diversity questions, these are optional.