CRT backtracks on business boat licence fee changes

Plans to increase licence fees for commercial craft have been scrapped, after hire firms said they might put them and other canal traders out of business.

Canal & River Trust (CRT) chief executive Richard Parry announced the long-awaited outcome of CRT’s consultation on business boat licences in his speech to members of the Association of Pleasure Craft Operators (APCO) at its 60^th Anniversary AGM in Chester on 22 November.

He stated that changes have been made as a result of listening to feedback from 113 respondents representing every kind of boating business from holiday hire sector to those running charity boats. See our previous news article August 21st – CRT Increases may close some hire firms.

The main changes – which take effect from 1 April 2014 – are that for holiday hire boats (substantially amended) the current structure will be largely retained for 2014.  The part of the fee that equates to the length of the boat has been increased by 2.8% in line with the increase for private boat licences, whilst the remainder will be frozen. The result is increases of typically 1.5%.

Day hire boats will retain a length-based licence fee and – following discussions during the post-consultation period – rates will be set at a rate just above the cost of a private boat licence.

For skippered passenger boats, the proposed carrying capacity-based proposals will be adopted, with the key change that, as the effect on the boats carrying larger passenger numbers is quite significant in some cases, increases will be phased in by 2017. The pricing structure has also been simplified by presenting it in clear price-bands.

Wholesale changes for community and charity boats will not be implemented and fees will simply increase by 2.8% as for private licence holders. CRT will carry out further detailed work to address its wider relationships with charitable and community organisations with a view to developing proposals for April 2015 by next autumn.

Roving traders will simply have a single category, priced at the lower of the two price lists previously published for the proposed two new categories

The 75% ‘without locks’ discount and the 25% Disconnected Waterway Discount will both be phased out in even steps by 2018 and – other than the changes given above – there will be no additional annual business boating licence fee increases in April 2014.

Richard Parry, said – “We’ve taken the time to listen to our customers and have significantly changed our proposals in light of this.  The result is a revised set of prices with proposed changes to community boat fees shelved and holiday hire fee proposals substantially amended.  I hope this decision will help support our valued community and business boating partners in the year ahead.”

APCO chairman Tim Parker welcomed the news and said – “APCO is delighted that CRT has listened to the comments and suggestions put forward by pleasure boat operators and made significant changes to the proposals put out for consultation. This demonstrates the value of the boating industry and navigation authorities working together more closely, especially in these challenging economic times.”

A full report on the outcomes of the consultation can be viewed on the CRT website.

Thanks to Harry Arnold and Waterway Images for this report and image.