No charity for the Broads

THE government has decided that the Broads Authority will retain current governance arrangements, and will not be turned into a charity like British Waterways.

It will retain its current membership and procedures for appointment following a government review of the governance of national park authorities.

Existing system remains

In an announcement, the minister, Richard Benyon MP, has indicated that the existing system will remain in the Broads.

The Chairman of the Broads Authority, Stephen Johnson, explained:

"Local responses to the government's recent consultation did not give wholehearted support to the idea of local elections, and questioned their practicality and cost. The government has clearly taken this on board. "

Members

The Broads Authority currently has 21 members, nine appointed by the eight local authorities within the Authority's executive area,10 are Secretary of State appointees and two are appointed from the Navigation Committee.

There has been conjecture that the Broads will follow British Waterways, and also become a charity, but this decision will put that speculation to rest.