Navigation charges for 2024/25
On Friday 24 November 2023, Broads Authority members voted to increase navigation charges by 8.5% for the 2024/25 financial year.
We ran a tolls workshop in October with all members of our Navigation Committee to discuss the challenges* and options faced by the Authority when setting navigation charges for the forthcoming year. Three options were costed up and amounted to a 6.9%, 8.5% or 10.2% increase with varying impacts on the Authority, with some options resulting in a reduction in Ranger numbers or contributions to our earmarked reserves.
These options were again discussed at Navigation Committee in early November, where 6 Members voted in favour of a 6.9% increase, and 4 against.
On 24 November, the full Broads Authority met to discuss the recommendations of the Navigation Committee and make a decision on the options. 8.5% was deemed to be the most appropriate option by members, which would support the same levels of maintenance and improvement works in the Broads waterways but would not contribute to earmarked reserves** (see below for more information). This means that navigation charges will increase by 8.5% across the board from April 2024.
For full details of the options presented to Members and more background information you can read the November 24 Committee paper here (PDF).
We appreciate that any tolls increase will be unwelcome. However, with sharply rising costs of managing the waterways (which for the Broads Authority is over the rate of inflation), Members have been required to consider how the Authority can continue to deliver the same standard of front-line services such as Ranger patrols, water plant cutting and dredging without cutting our levels of activity. Unlike other major inland waterways the Broads Authority receives no Government funding to support its Navigation responsibilities and they have to be fulfilled using revenue generated through tolls.
In addition to the increase in navigation charges, we are reducing our expenditure where possible and next year we will be shrinking our office space at Yare House by 60%. The work will be funded from the additional National Park Grant received right at the end of the financial year and the on-going costs to the Navigation budget will be reduced as a result.
Example charges for private vessels in 2024/25
Type of vessel | Current charge (2023/24) | Increase in charge for 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|
5 m2 Private sailing craft | £52.00 | + £4.40 |
11 m2 Private sailing craft | £114.40 | + £9.68 |
5 m2 Private motor boat | £85.10 | + £7.25 |
15 m2 Private motor boat | £255.30 | + £21.75 |
22 m2 Private motor boat | £374.44 | + £31.90 |
38 m2 Private motor boat | £646.76 | +£55.10 |
Rowing and paddle craft | £42.69 | +£3.63 |
Most of the boats on the Broads are small. Nearly 70% of all private craft are 20m2 or less. Just 530 (5%) are over 40m2. The charges for a large private motorboat (40m2) have increased by a larger amount compared to smaller vessels, sailing dinghies and paddle craft.
For more information please see the tolls section of our website.
If you have any queries or would like to speak to us directly please use our contact form.
* Unlike other major inland waterways the Broads Authority receives no Government funding to support its Navigation responsibilities and they have to be fulfilled using revenue generated through tolls.
** The National Park capital grant from Defra has paid for the purchase of equipment and asset improvements to improve biodiversity that are usually funded by building up earmarked reserves. The annual contributions to these reserves are paused for a year under the 8.5% option.
Friday 1 December 2023