Partnerships raised just £25,000 in three years

THE Canal and River Trust (CaRT) Waterways Partnerships, some of which were formed three years ago, have raised just £25,000 towards the work of the Trust, writes Allan Richards.

Asked to provide examples of where Waterway Partnerships had made a positive financial contribution to the Waterways, the Trust's Head of Customer Services, Dean Davis, could only provide a single example—the Atherstone ‘stop and shop' moorings.

Only one example

The Central Shires Waterways Partnership has successfully negotiated for Warwickshire County Council to provide £25,000 which has financed the provision of moorings to encourage boaters to stop and shop at Atherstone. However, no other examples could be provided for any of the 13 Waterways Partnerships making a positive financial contribution.

Furthermore, a member of the Central Shires Waterways Partnership posted on facebook ‘As a member of the Central Shires Waterway Partnership, I can assure you that the idea of the Partnerships being self-funding is not a big deal'.

Big deal?

CaRT spent £1.4m last financial year on governance. CaRT say that the 13 Waterways Partnerships of 160 people form the bulk of its governance structure and have suggested to government that these Partnerships may contribute over £5m a year towards the work of the Trust.

Government has been more cautious and twice suggested that Partnerships should be self funding by the end of 2014 and thereafter make a positive contribution.

So it is a big deal when all that can be shown for three years effort is just £25,000?

Partnerships in operation

As an example of a Partnership in operation, here are the minutes of a meeting of one of them chosen because no less than three of its members are also members of CaRT's council.

Is that a Partnership actually trying to make a positive financial contribution to the Trust?