Over the past 30 years there have been significant changes in the use of our 2,000-mile canal network in the UK, managed by the Canal & River Trust. Below are answers to questions you may have about the Commission.
What is a Commission?
A Commission is a group of people who have been formally chosen to discover information about a subject or examine the reasons why an issue exists.
Why are you looking into this now?
It has been 30 years since the British Waterways Act 1995 was passed and, in that time, there have been many changes to the canal network and how it is managed, the number of boats licensed on our waterways, and the way people are choosing to use their boats. We believe it’s a sensible time to take a fresh look at how we licence boats on our waters and help us consider whether it would be sensible to consider possible changes that better reflect the use of the network, today and in the future.
What will the Commission cover?
The Commission will want to understand what licensing issues exist or can be predicted, evaluate options for mitigating them, and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees of the Canal & River Trust. More details can be found in the Terms of Reference, which were ratified at the Commission’s first meeting in January.
Will the Commission decide on future licence prices?
No, the Trust decides annual licence prices. We have already set out our plans for licence price changes up to 2028, and these won't change. All decisions on proposals for change coming out from the work of the Commission will remain with the Board of Trustees of the Canal & River Trust.
Who are the members of the Commission?
We have appointed three people to the commission. It will be chaired by Andrew Cowan, a former senior partner at Devonshires law firm; Penelope Barber, one of the elected boating representatives on the Trust’s Council; and trustee Sir Chris Kelly, a former senior civil servant and former boat owner.
When will the Commission run?
The Commission started its review in January and is expected to run until September 2025.
How will boaters be able to submit their views to the Commission?
The Commission intends to engage actively with boaters and other stakeholders, ensuring their views are considered. More details will be provided shortly.
Who will the Commission report to?
The Commission’s report will be submitted to our Board of Trustees who will consider the recommendations and decide whether, and if so, on how to take them forward. While it operates, the Commission will be overseen by the newly constituted Boating Sub-Committee of the Board, chaired by David Orr CBE, our chair.
You can read the meeting minutes from 14 Jan 2025 here.
