At the Annual Meeting BW gave every indication of having been sensitised to
accusations of lack of consultation. Certainly we have made our views well known,
both in communications to BW themselves and DEFRA. Carole delivered a very searching
question in the Questions session, as one of 4 from NABO, and in response it
appeared that BW have asked John Bridgeman, one the non-executive members of
the Board to look into the whole consultation issue. John is an former Director
General of Fair Trading and member of the Mergers and Monopolies Commision,
as just part of an impressive CV.
I suspect BW is also sensitive to the publicity associated with the resignation
of its External Relations Manager.
There is a lot of work ahead: a national users (Boating and Corridor) meeting
on the 24th, BWAF on the 7th of November and an intended stakeholder meeting
with the Waterways Minister this autumn.
BW's chairman started the meeting with praise for his staff dealing with the
summer floods. I think we must echo that. We all await the effects of the Government
Spending Review in which DEFRA will be getting a small increase, some of which
has to tackle flooding. BW promises that whatever the outcome it will 'fudge
and mudge' rather than close waterways.
The Government response to the EFRA Committee report was published on Wednesday.
To view:-
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmenvfru/1059/1059.pdf