Welcome Martin Latimer
Board Member
Welcome, Housekeeping Matters & Agenda Items Agenda 10:00am Welcome by Martin Latimer
10.05am Operational overview by Richard Millar, Director of Heritage, Enterprise, Sustainability & Operations
10.30am Overview of Customer Operations by Russell Thomson, Head of Customer Operations
11.10am Communications overview and Pricing Consultation by Josie Saunders, Head of Corporate Affairs
11.20am The Falkirk Wheel and Rotate update by Helena Huws, Architect/Project Manager
11.35am Lowland Canals Association
11.40am LCVG update by Ronnie Rusack
11.45am Q&As
12.30pm Ends - Lowland Canal Association to convene in room after meeting Richard Millar Director of Infrastructure
Operational Overview Actions from October 2016
Action Outcome Feedback received from SCBG by 31.10.16 Customers to make use of extended time to provide comparison which was included in evaluation information for consultation process (until end of October)
Investigate why Scottish Canals is not invoicing customers for electricity Trial of new accounting system complete usage at Bowling & elsewhere and changes in personnel addressed.
Customers emailed 6-8 weeks in advance Communicate revised dates of Boaters’ Surgeries & Customer Forums and again two weeks prior
Customers asked to share information where possible. Customers to note.
Reconcile the Forth Yacht Club contacts with Scottish Canals’ contact list This has been done & communication received back
Customers have approached SC but no Investigate if Scottish Canals property team is looking to purchase boats boats have been purchased and this is not following customer notification of plans to leave a strategy. Revenue split by year
70%
60%
50%
40%
Own Income GIA 30%
20%
10%
0% 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 Total income
Release of capital grant Interest 2% 0%
Commercial income 22%
Grant-in-aid 40%
Retail income 13%
Freight Income 1% Third party contributions Cost recoveries & 20% sundry sales 2% Commercial income
SWD Premiums 4%
Commercial Craft Licences Leisure Moorings 4% 11%
Property Rents 25% Craft Licences 11%
This is the split of Bigg Regeneration the 32% of Own 14% Income that is classed as Utilities Commercial 31% Income
Insurance re-charges 0% Canal income & expenditure
Lowlands Caledonian Crinan
Transit/Short Term 11,816 210,864 189,912 Licences Long Term licences 29,732 29,412 25,678
Mooring Fees 180,459 223,852 85,994
Commercial Income 32,723 161,872 113,128
Total Boating 254,730 626,000 414,712 Income Total Expenditure 3,555,255 2,222,264 1,080,765 Slateford Aqueduct
Leakage onto public footpath Degradation of structure Slateford Aqueduct Slateford Aqueduct Pirleyhill Aqueduct - before Pirleyhill Aqueduct - after Linlithgow Embankment Study Linlithgow Embankment Study Linlithgow Embankment Study Linlithgow Embankment Study Linlithgow Embankment Study Linlithgow Embankment Study Linlithgow Stop Planks & Safety Gates
New stop planks and safety gates on Union Canal at Preston Road, Woodcockdale, Manse Road Basin, Wilcoxhome, and Battockbridge Emergency Preparedness Ness Weir
Due to continued scouring of the weir structure, we are developing a solution to provide a robust weir structure to protect Inverness Ness Weir
Overflow Weir Service Weir Ness Weir Ness Weir
Before After Ness Weir Boroughmuir Embankment Works
• Work undertaken to widen towpath and to provide additional moorings Towpath Upgrades Towpath Upgrades
Before After Towpath Upgrades Applecross Gateway
New access route connecting North Glasgow communities with the city centre Applecross Gateway
Before After
Before After The Falkirk Wheel The Falkirk Wheel The Falkirk Wheel The Falkirk Wheel The Falkirk Wheel The Falkirk Wheel The Falkirk Tunnel The Falkirk Tunnel Canal Artist-in-residence Canal Artist-in-residence Canal Artist-in-residence Bowling Harbour Bowling Harbour Bowling Harbour Bowling Harbour Bridge Bowling Harbour
Harbour wall before Bowling Harbour
Harbour wall after Bonnybridge & Twechar Bridges Top 20 Assets 1 11 Ness Weir Refurbishment Crinan Canal: lock gates 2 Tomnahurich Bridge M&E 12 Upgrade Caledonian Canal: Lock grouting 3 13 Avon Aqueduct 19 Caledonian Canal Leakage Repair 4 Linlithgow Embankments 14 Crinan Canal Leakage Repair Leakage Repair 5 Muirtown Bridge M&E 15 Lowlands Canals Leakage Repair Upgrade 6 16 Ardrishaig Swing Bridge 1 - M&E TFW Site Works repairs 7 17 Kytra & Cullochy Locks, Weir Oich Weir and Reach repairs. 18 Manual Bascule Bridge 8 Ardrishaig Lock 1 - 3 Refurbishment Works 9 19 Twechar Bridge 17 Lowlands Bank Protection Works 10 20 Bonnybridge Bridge 10 Lowlands Canals: lock gates Impact of Scotland’s Canals Russell Thomson Head of Customer Operations
Overview of Customer Operations Scotland-wide
Caledonian
• Clachnaharry Sea Lock Outer gates • Fort Augustus Ram Pits • Refurbishment of pontoons • Replacement fuel tanks at Corpach • Marketing to flotillas (outside the peak)
Crinan • Continuation of Yot Spot Assisted Passage • Refurbishment of pontoons • Crinan Facility Block • Tarbert pontoons to Crinan Rings • Marketing to flotillas Union Canal
Debris removal Linlithgow Access steps at Broxburn Offside veg management Forth & Clyde Canal East
Before Before
After After Forth & Clyde West
Additional water control due to Monkland Pipeline repairs. • Falkirk Flight full • Additional water from Townhead Reservoir and Lock 20 • Impact on west end of the canal • Planned preventative maintenance works have been carried out on the weirs, culverts, ditches and feeders Forth & Clyde West
A new operational building has been erected at Bowling (to the rear of the facility block). This is fitted out with kingspan insulation, fully lined walls and all of the equipment from the site container has been moved into the new building. Monkland Canal (Forth & Clyde West Team)
Extensive weed cutting on the Monkland Canal using the truxor weed cutter with the new implement. Actually rips the weeds out / folds back rather than lifting and cutting. Monkland Canal (Forth & Clyde West Team)
Both open sections of canal have been worked on but the section between Woodhall intake sluices and Cairnhill Weir has been totally opened up. The canal hasn’t been this wide since it was last dredged in the 1980’s. This is the main feed for the Forth & Clyde Canal Customer Operations - Moorings Union Canal Emergency / Overnight stop off points
• 26 so far (14 x new and 12 x existing)
• 15m in length offering 1.1m draft
• Signed and mooring rings Causewayend / Bridge 49 Dredging Programme
• Emergency/Overnight Moorings
• Weed fringe : Bridge 10 – Linlithgow (mindful through Linlithgow)
• Helix & Carron Sea Locks
• Proving and ploughing across the Forth & Clyde Canal
• Summer Programme (inc. 3 high spots on Forth & Clyde Canal West) Customer Engagement Customer Forums Boaters’ Surgeries (7 locations/ c.80 customers)
• Ratho 7th February • Leamington 4th April Lowlands • Auchinstarry: 2nd May th 18 March • TFW 6th June 2017 (Lock 16 & Helix Hub) • Southbank 1st August Crinan • Bowling 5th September 22nd April • Causewayend 3rd October 2017 & Linlithgow Actions Raised 88 Caledonian Closed 45 29th April 2017 Closed (ongoing) 9 Planned 9 Ongoing/regular 4 Ongoing/not yet 21 resolved Lowlands Waterway Office
Southbank Marina
3 days per week, moving to 5
Contact in advance: • Paula Carson 07920802628 • Frances Mimnagh 07795237380 • Email
Laundry – Coin operated Volunteering Volunteering September 2016 – March 2017 Partners Volunteering
Works have included: • Painting locks • Litter Picks • Veg Clearance • Survey work for NGIWMS • Falkirk Wheel • Ratho & Auchinstarry • Lochrin User Operation Josie Saunders Head of Corporate Affairs
Communications Overview Pricing consultation Response published 14th February 2017 2% 4% 8%
32% 14%
40%
• Residential 32% • Leisure 40% • Transit 14% • Groups 8% • Commercial 4% • Other 2% Pricing consultation
Weighted issues and developed response Raised comparable marinas and cost of renting 2 bed flats with Gerald Eve 721 Leisure - Not benchmarked against English marinas issues Residential - 2 bed flat rents reflect market and are not in direct comparison
16 categories Outcomes
• Gerald Eve/GVA’s recommended prices will be adopted
• Mooring costs will not increase by more than £100 per year, plus inflation
• Inflation set by CPI
• Standardised Terms & Conditions
• Monthly/upfront payment – same price
• No mooring transferred with boat sale
• Security of tenure for residential customers = min 1 year agreement
• Five yearly review Outcomes
Changes introduced 1st June 2017 and 1st April thereafter
Full price implemented if £100 or less
Phased price increases limited to £100 pa plus CPI (1.6% in 2016)
20+ years for some customers to reach Gerald Eve’s recommended price Outcomes
Navigation licence remains £195 + CPI
Transit licence cut by 25% on Lowlands
25% discount on transit fees for charities’ non commercial activity
Facilities Charter by Sept 2017
User operations of locks & bridges policy by April 2018
Letters issued in March Communications refresh?
Current position Scotland wide • High level meetings with SCBG/LCA (4 staff days pa) • 4 annual customer forums (16 staff days pa) • 7 Boaters’ Surgeries pa (20 staff days pa) • Quarterly Boaters Newsletter (10 staff days pa) • 12 operational/update emails pa (11 staff days pa) • Cost £60k+ pa
Restrictions • Comms needs to be Scotland-wide • Few staff with other responsibilities • Limited budget
What next? Scrap/replace/evolve? You decide! Dates for your diary 24th June - Glasgow Canal Festival • Community boat trips? • Boating presence? • Fund-raising/volunteer sign-up?
5th July - VIP visit to launch Helix Canal • Flotilla opportunity • Attendance
27th May - The Falkirk Wheel 15th Birthday Party Helena Huws Architect
The Falkirk Wheel Revitalisation & Rotate Project Update 525,000 visitors/ annum 5.5m visitors since 2002
One of Scotland’s top ten visitor attractions The Falkirk Wheel Revitalisation Programme The way forward
• Bullets for categories
Our People
Rotate Technical Assessment - Is it technically possible? - Is it feasible?
- Floating structure - Access solutions
Current Status
• Ongoing assessment of viability • Ongoing refinement of design options/ solutions • Ongoing review of operational timetabling – seasonal considerations, boat longevity, staffing, etc
… assessment will continue over next 6-8 months
Maximising our assets in the area with joined up thinking
Union Inn/ Lock 16 The Falkirk Wheel Rosebank Portdownie
Camelon JFC
Q&A