Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (BW 47a)
BW ACTION ON
COMMERCIAL FREEDOMS
1. BW has been in discussions with Defra
over its desire for commercial freedoms which could provide it
with greater flexibility and future commercial income, namely
— Wider development powers so as to
undertake regeneration and development in the vicinity of other
waterways.
— Freedom to borrow commercially. Treasury
rules prevent this at present.
— Land dowry to manage as per London
Docklands and Liverpool Waterfront.
2. BW has not yet come forward with firm
proposals for necessary action to secure the commercial freedoms
it would like. Officials met with BW and agreed a way forward
at a meeting on 14 November 2006. Barry Gardiner subsequently
asked BW to come forward with clear proposals including any legal
changes that would free them up a meeting on 27 November. Officials
have reminded BW, last time on 6 April.
3. It is disappointing that BW has been
in contact with others about these commercial freedoms it would
like, as evidenced by the following:
— BW/IWA made proposals to Economic
Secretary, Ed Balls, at a meeting on 3 November (ie before meeting
with Defra) in his constituency for greater powers for BW. This
led to the attached exchange of Emails between Defra and Treasury
(Annex A).
— Tony Hales wrote to the Speaker on
22 November claiming that Defra unwilling to support/help secure
commercial freedoms (Annex B).
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
April 2007
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