Where is all the licence money going

[joffmiester]

More than one-and-a-quarter million anglers in England paying £22 million a year for fishing rod licences are being short changed because the money is not being spent to maintain and develop freshwater fisheries, as the law requires. Gareth a good friend thinks this should be brought to the attenion of licence payers

Where is all your licence money going?

More than one-and-a-quarter million anglers in England paying £22 million a year for fishing rod licences are being short changed because the money is not being spent to maintain and develop freshwater fisheries, as the law requires.

The Environment Agency has cut the number of qualified employees in its fisheries service, according to the president of the Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM) Peter Spillett.

Without skilled professionals the agency was unlikely, he said, to be able to make decisions enabling it to conduct its duties competently. It needed to “to demonstrate to anglers that they are getting the service for which they are paying.”

In a letter to David Jordan, the agency’s operations director, Dr. Spillett warns against the agency “reviewing its corporate ambitions and rapidly restructuring itself” without awaiting the results of its internal Fisheries Refresh project which had already identified concerns.

“The lack of a separate fisheries function at operational level…means that the limited opportunities for skills development and career progression will be further restricted.”

Staff, he said, should be encouraged to improve their skills.

Much expertise had already been lost and more would be if regional fisheries specialists were removed “as seems likely in the new structure of the agency.”

Replying Mr. Jordan said the agency shared the IFM’s “determination to secure the best deal for fisheries.” Issues reflecting the institute’s concerns had been identified and he was confident it would “deliver the best options we can achieve.”

The agency’s aim, he said, was to simplify how it worked, reduce bureaucracy, have the right people in the right place with the right skills and learn from experience outside the organisation, including the IFM, the Angling Trust and associated bodies.

Dr. Spillett said the agency should show how its fishing licence income was spent. Clearly a very large slice funded its head office, only about 40 per cent going to its regions and areas to spend on fisheries.

Because the agency was required to spend its licence income on fisheries the work ought to be unaffected by cuts in Government grant-in-aid.

Dr. Spillett said much fisheries work appeared to be directed at “mitigating and preventing” damage caused by others, including other agency functions such as flood defence.

[Josh1337]

22quid a year? I pay 27 through the post office???

[MrV]

22quid a year

Josh it says "22 MILLION" quid of license money....NOT £22 a license

[me]

just another way he angler is being ripped off.

[Josh1337]

22quid a year

Josh it says "22 MILLION" quid of license money....NOT £22 a license 

Oops

[daskin]

Thanks for the reminder-I get mine by direct debit and have not received it yet--will get onto them tomorrow.

[big_cup]

I paid for mine weeks ago at the post office ( £27 not £22 though ) and yet to receive it. Rang them last Tuesday, she said there has been a problem sir and I will personally send yours out first class today. Have I got it yet?? Have a man balls, everything they touch is a pile of crappity smack sh!t

[CHOPWORM HERO]

Yep, not received mine yet, in fact I had forgot about it until this thread.

[joffmiester]

From what i gather there are hundreds in the same boat choppy

[MrV]

Did mine online as always. Just make a note of the reference number until the license arrives. Having said that, the license arrived 3 days after I ordered it

[joffmiester]

blimey that's quick but i've just been in the local post office and done mine
he's a funny i looked at my driving licence last monday as i'm driving to Holland it was out of date well have you ever tried to call a human at the DVLA so i was told by a customer to try the post office my local post office didn't do them but the next village Birstall did and i must say what a great service they took a photo renewed the paperwork and sent it off . they did say it might take 10 working days but just take the the post office receipt with you if it doesn't come back in time low and behold it arrived yesterday
Its great talking to humans

[abuman]

mine came yesturday morning no probs

[bill yards]

Bought mine last year

[joffmiester]

::) ::) ::) Bill do you still need one at your age