Camboaters Update

12 March 2007

Labour councillors have been monotoring closely the negotiations between city council officers and Camboaters, which have ended in a climbdown by the council on proposals to charge VAT on mooring charges.

Abbey Ward Labour councillor Miriam Lynn, who represents boat owners living in her ward, and is a member of the Cam Conservators, said:

'Lib Dem councillors have once again put officers in the firing line for their unpopular decisions. The current mooring policy was poorly conceived by Lib Dem council leaders who buckled under pressure from Market Ward residents to impose a scheme on boat dwellers. The scheme that was imposed never addressed the full range of issues for boat dwellers, such as those whose boats are moored along Riverside.

The policy now appears to have been poorly executed as well. It was supposed to give some benefits and improved services to boat owners, which they say they have not received. It was supposed to be set at an agreed figure from which the council then proposed additional increases.

The boating community are quite right to object to variations in the agreement; and to insist on fulfilment of the obligations which the council undertook to improve pump out and waste disposal arrangements'.