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The meeting approved the proposed subscription increases
without dissent and cleared other formal business promptly to allow good time
for a speech from the national chairman, John Fletcher.
Whilst covering events and activities during 2005 and the
year to date, the speech focussed on the impending crisis faced by British
Waterways, in particular, following the announcement of substantial cuts to its
grant-in-aid, following financial difficulties being faced within the
Department of Environment Food & Rural Affairs. IWA members and supporters
are encouraged to lobby their local MPs (using the briefing in the September
edition of Head Office Bulletin), and in particular to focus on possible
effects in their area and to ask MPs to make specific enquiries on relevant
ministers within the Department. Letters sent direct to ministers are likely
just to be answered by civil servants with a standard text, and go unseen by
those in a position to make a difference, whereas parliamentary protocol
demands that correspondence from MPs to ministers has to be seen and signed off
by a minister personally.
The meeting heard that that the Association's Council is
prepared to spend up to £40,000 on a sustained campaign to get government
to change its mind, and improve funding for navigation authorities. Further
briefings are to be issued shortly. The meeting resolutely supported the
approach being taken by the Association in voicing the strongest objections to
the proposed budget cuts.
As reported in
IWA Head Office Bulletin, October 2006 |
