Archived decisions

Ref

Activity

Essential

Desirable

Est. cost per annum of activity £

Does this have to be done by BCA ?

Could it be reduced ?

Impact if changed

1

Tree and shrub management, smaller projects of tree felling and emergency tree works

√

2%

£10,134

NO

NO done twice a year Spring and winter

Safety, sustainability and viability issues and risk of breaching and flooding. Have 3 contractors for tree mgt as Rangers cannot do anything above shoulder height for H&S. Could approach tree surgeons for tree survey. Could be provided by contractor for whole length of Canal

2

Bank inspection

√

3%

£15,200

YES

NO

Legal requirement to inspect every 6 weeks. Have to be able to see the bank thus control growth. Integral to safety. Requires professional expertise from BCA

3

Bank protection (soft and hard), hydraulic piling hammer, dredging, trench sheets

√

3%

£15,200

NO

NO

Safety, sustainability and viability issues. High risk of breaching and flooding. Physical ongoing activity (as compared to inspections above) and could be undertaken by contractors.

4

Litter clearance - water floating/toxic or towpath

√

1%

£5,067

NO

YES

Could be undertaken by contractor, local authorities or volunteer groups

5

Cleaning facilities

√

1%

£5,067

NO

YES

Could be undertaken by contractors, local authorities or volunteer groups

6

Graffiti Removal

√

1%

£5,067

NO

YES

Could be undertaken by contractors, local authorities or volunteer groups

7

Tow path maintenance

√

5%

£25,333

NO

NO

Safe usability and aids bank protection in control of growth. Could be undertaken by contractors, local authorities or volunteer groups

8

Destruction of notifiable weeds (legal obligation)

√

FTS

1%

£5,067

NO if find alternative way to do

NO - must do 2/3 X pa

SSSI standards and ecological gain - has to be done 2/3 times a year. Could be done by contractors, local authorities or volunteers

9

Boat monitoring and logging (administrative and legal obl.)

√

2%

£10,134

YES

NO

SSSI standards and ecological gain. Income generation and recording of boat movements, safety requirements.

10

Pest control (legal obl.)

√

1%

£5,067

NO

NO

Could be undertaken by local authorities or contractors - need to confirm this approach

11

Maintaining water levels (legal obl.)

√

2%

£10,134

NO if automate

NO - monitor 2/3 areas only

Safety, sustainability and viability issues - results in reduced risk of breaching and flooding. Could be stopped if it could be replaced by an automatic system for data collection - only need to monitor 2 or 3 areas. Explore the use of telemetry although may not be practical on this canal.

12

Structural maintenance - locks, foot bridges some Contract Design Management (CDM) work

√

5%

£25,333

NO

NO

(YES if reduced navigation)

Safe usability, reduced risk of breaching and flooding and provides for navigation. Mike Dawson to clarify revenue aspect of this as some used for structural maintenance (thus capital).

13

Spot Dredging

√

(1%)

£5,067

NO

NO

IF BCA - Use existing aged dredger but could get to required area quickly. Opportunity cost.

This could possibly be wrapped up in a contract with major dredging if it could be done more cheaply and thus not use Ranger time for this.

14

Major Dredging (assume should be minimum of 1 mile per annum)

√

50,000 (incl. Dredger itself and disposing of spoil)

NO

NO

Require for safe usability, SSSI standards and ecological gain and provides for navigation - should do approx 1 mile per annum. Has not been done for 7 years on the Canal (except one part in Woking 2/3 yrs ago) with resulting silt build up in some areas. Is this capital? Should be recognised as part of running Canal therefore revenue. Main cost is removal of spoil. BCA could dredge and get contractor to remove spoil - spoil removal is only area that needs certifying. Some areas very difficult to access to move spoil. Not likely to be eligible for grant as providers consider as mtce thus not eligible.

15

Major maintenance repair, building and fitting lock gates

√

10%

£50,668

NO

NO

Safe usability and provides for navigation. Could buy in lock gates when needed and not have BCA lock workshop at Deepcut - save Ranger time approx 2 Rangers 5 weeks per annum. However, would need specialist contractor to fit gates.

16

Weir maintenance, seasonal adjustments, emergency arrangements

√

10%

£50,668

YES

NO

Specialised activity relating to statutory obligation and safe operation. Contributes to reduced risk of breaching and flooding and maintains SSSI standards, navigation and ecological gain

17

Standby system - linked into emergency procedures and weir protocols, responding to call out incidents and general public enquiries.

√

12%

£60,801

YES

NO

Specialised activity relating to statutory obligation and safe operation. Contributes to reduced risk of breaching and flooding and maintains SSSI standards, navigation and ecological gain

18

Seasonal maintenance - hedging, towpath clearance and ditching

√

5%

£25,333

NO if alternative provider

NO - twice a year min.

Safe usability, reduced risk of breaching and flooding. Grass cutting is done twice a year for H&S otherwise can't see the locks. Could be provided by contractors, volunteers or riparian partners

19

Weekly routine maintenance - Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) metal working, woodworking, overspills and bypass weirs, brick work, paddle gear and pull rod maintenance, painting, sluice operation.

√

24%

£169,025

YES

NO

Specialised activity relating to statutory obligation and safe operation. Contributes to reduced risk of breaching and flooding and maintains SSSI standards and ecological gain and provides for navigation

20

Infrastructure maintenance: sheds, buildings, yards, signs, car parks and notice boards

√

1%

£5,067

NO

YES

Could be undertaken by contractors, local authorities and or volunteer groups

21

Operational plant and machinery maintenance, includes dredger workboats excavator , tractor, quad bikes, chainsaws, chipper, water pumps, generators, welding plants, woodworking machines, hoist and winches

√

5%

£25,333

NO

NO

Safe usability, reduced risk of breaching and flooding and maintains SSSI standards and ecological gain. Could be provided by contractors

22

Moving boats - meeting and greeting issuing license and assisting boaters

√

2%

£10,134

YES

(NO if find different approach and resolve water supply/retention)

NO

Safe usability, reduced risk of breaching and flooding and maintains SSSI standards and ecological gain and provides for navigation. Need to control boat movements. Issue around need for caulking up afterwards (H&S issue around caulking) - stops erratic boat use thus loss of water in flight areas.

23

Emergency Operational repairs

√

2%

£10,134

YES

NO

Specialised reactive activity relating to statutory obligation and safe operation. Reduced risk of breaching and flooding and maintains SSSI standards and ecological gain and provides for navigation. Damage to Canal by boaters is currently repaired at cost to BCA. Should be on license and paid for by boaters.

24

Education program - school visits and local interest groups - child protection issues

√

1%

£5,067

NO

Could be taken on by a third party - need partnership. Discussions with SWT and possibly others. Pass to Income Generation sub-group to explore.

25

Visitors Centre/Offices

√

√

£55,565

NO with alternative office space

YES

Two aspects: office space and visitors centre/potential income generation through use of facility. Could have office space elsewhere. Pass to Income Generation sub-group to explore

26

Tea room

√

£3,039

NO

YES

Scheduled to terminate BCA operating the function September 06 as making a loss in current form. Could be provided by another contractor/provider to attract visitors - would likely need to tender for a contract (such as HC3S from Hampshire). Note another café exists 800 yds down towpath. Pass to Income Generation sub-group to explore

27

Function room

√

£3,970

NO

Dependant on future use of visitor centre. Need to quantify level of bookings, cost of operating and income level generated. Pass to Income Generation sub-group to explore

28

Campsite

√

£3,970

NO

Dependant on future use of visitor centre. Need to quantify level of bookings, cost of operating and income level generated. Pass to Income Generation sub-group to explore

29

Santa cruises

√

£5,768

NO

Dependant on future use of visitor centre. Need to quantify level of bookings, cost of operating and income level generated. Pass to Income Generation sub-group to explore

30

Children's summer activity days

√

£8,821

NO

Dependant on future use of visitor centre. Need to quantify level of bookings, cost of operating and income level generated. Pass to Income Generation sub-group to explore

Total Operational Costs

£635,233

Less Earned Income

£131,000

Net Trading Cost

£504,233

Less Partner Contributions

£457,200

Net Operating Cost

£47,033