Memorandum submitted by the Local Government
Association (LGA) (BW 99)
INTRODUCTION
1. The Local Government Association (LGA)
represents almost 500 local authorities in England and Wales.
They in turn represent over 50 million people and spend over £78
billion each year on local services.
2. The LGA welcomes this opportunity to
respond to the EFRA Sub-Committee enquiry into British Waterways
and to comment on the relationship between British Waterways and
local government.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
BRITISH WATERWAYS
AND LOCAL
AUTHORITIES
3. British Waterways is responsible for
the management and enhancement of an extensive network of canals
and rivers which pass through a large number of local authority
areas. It is therefore crucial that British Waterways works closely
and constructively with Councils to deliver benefits of the waterway
network to local communities.
4. It is important to emphasise that the
benefits to be had from canal and river usage go far beyond transport
or boat users. Well-managed and cared for waterways are an efficient
driver for economic development and regeneration and the housing,
employment, leisure and tourism opportunities that they bring.
They can also contribute substantially to the health and social
inclusion agendas, for example by encouraging walking and cycling.
5. There is a need for local leadership
to make connections across the numerous potential benefits and
activities which have an impact on waterways. Local authorities
are uniquely placed to facilitate partnerships and strategy, and
make the links to other related local issues. This supports the
approach put forward by the Local Government White Paper and the
Lyons Review to the place shaping role of local government.
6. As local partners, British Waterways
(BW) need to engage with local authorities in relation to their
roles as / in:
— local leaders—leading partnerships
and shared strategies—in particular BW will need to engage
with Local Strategic Partnerships and Local Area Agreements
— stakeholder liaison & facilitation
/ community liaison role
— local planning authorities
— local transport authorities
— inland navigation authorities
— providing information to landowners
— green space management role
— using and promoting good practice
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
BRITISH WATERWAYS
AND THE
LGA
7. The LGA would be keen to develop a stronger
relationship with British Waterways to:
— establish areas of common interest
and a shared approach to influencing and responding to relevant
government policy;
— promote good practice and closer
working with individual local authorities; and to
— ensure that issues relating to the
management of waterways are factored into the LGA's key interventions
and cross cutting work on areas such as planning and shaping safer
sustainable communities.
8. Stronger links between the organisations
would fit with the recommendations of the recent report from the
Independent Commission looking at the LGA's relationships with
government, its members and partners. The report emphasised the
value of strategic alliances and joint working with other organisations
in pursuit of its lobbying and campaigning work.
LGA NETWORKS AND
ADVISORS
9. The LGA is increasingly using groups
of advisors drawn from member authorities and from existing networks
to consolidate and strengthen the LGA's advisory resource across
the local government sector. These networks provide an invaluable
extension to our internal policy resource and mean that we have
access to specialist knowledge and an "on the ground"
view. Making use of the relevant groups, such as the Local Transport
Planning Network and the LGA's Environment Advisory Panel could
provide a useful mechanism to establish closer links on detailed
policy issues relating to waterways.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH
USERS OF
THE WATERWAY
NETWORK
10. In considering British Waterways relationships
with users of the waterway network, it is important to note that
this extends beyond boat users. The number of visits to waterway
network by walkers, fishermen, cyclists and other recreational
purposes vastly exceed visits by boat users. Close relationships
with Local Authorities will be essential in understanding the
needs of these users and communicating with them.
FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK
AND CHANGES
IN DEFRA'S
BUDGET
11. Central Government investment in maintenance
of the waterway network is important as it levers in additional
funding from other sources such as Europe, Heritage Lottery Fund
and private developers. Cuts in central government funding for
British Waterways will lead to cuts to maintenance programmes
and undermined confidence of other potential investors.
The Local Government Association
April 2007
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