Agenda item

To receive a briefing from Fiona Shipp, Canal Manager, and James Taylor, Strategic Manager, on the work of the Basingstoke Canal Authority.

Fiona Shipp, Canal Manager, and James Taylor, Strategic Manager, gave a presentation in respect of the work of the Basingstoke Canal Authority.

The Basingstoke Canal Authority had responsibility for maintaining and enhancing the 37 miles long Canal which ran from the River Wey Navigation at New Haw down towards Basingstoke.  32 of the Canal’s 37 miles were now navigable and the Canal had 29 locks, 1 dry-dock, 3 aqueducts and 2 tunnels.  A team of six rangers oversaw the Canal’s upkeep and were in call for 24 hours a day every day of the year.  A new management team had been brought in in 2010.

65% of the Authority’s £750,000 a year revenue budget was raised from grants provided by town, parish, borough and county council’s bordering the canal.  The remaining 35% was raised through income generation from a range of activities including campsite fees, angling licences and mooring fees.  Increases in mooring fees to bring them in line with national averages had resulted in a significant rise in income and with further improvements to the canal and an increased number of moorings being made available in the coming years it was expected that this income stream would increase further.

The Authority’s work was supported and enhanced by the Basingstoke Canal Society.  As a registered charity, the Society took the lead on fundraising activities and proactively identified and approached grant funding schemes for support.  The Society’s volunteers played a key role in enhancing visitor experiences through a range of activities including conservation work, running the visitor centre and organising and running regular boat trips for the public along the Canal including its immensely popular Children’s Father Christmas Cruises.  A leaflet detailing the range of volunteering activities had been developed to raise awareness of the Society and to encourage people to get involved in their work and the Society had taken on responsibility for raising the canal’s profile across a number of social media platforms.  Volunteers had also played a key role in carrying out boat audits along the length of the canal a project that had resulted in the removal of a number of derelict boats from the canal and identified boat owners who had been avoiding paying mooring fees.

The Committee thanked Fiona Shipp and James Taylor for their update.

RESOLVED that the use of Council communication channels to raise awareness of the Basingstoke Canal be explored.