RNLI lifeboat charges

JimpsEd said:
Signed the petition. But everyone ranting and raving at the government and Ofcom - why? They're not picking out the RNLI and saying "You have to pay this!" - it is just a tariff increase, that the RNLI is subject too like everyone else.
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Well, technically they are, because they are removing the discount the RNLI used to recieve for providing a valuable service. It's not a simple tariff increase.
 
pretty disgusting really, I do a fair bit of yacht racing and cruising and i do contribute to the RNLI, they do a fantastic job, touch wood that i've never needed their services.
 
jr1104 said:
Why does the government not run the RNLI? Or at least put some more money into it, since it seems ridiculous that we have to rely on a charity to provide an essential national service. The same goes for the air ambulances throughout the country.
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My other half and I joined the RNLI at the Southampton Boat Show this year. She's a keen sailor (competes in the Fastnet every year and delivers yachts to owners pretty much all over northern hemisphere).

I did ask the RNLI lady why the Government don't provide money. I was told that they have offered financial support in the past but the RNLI turned it down. They did this because they did not want the Government controlling how money was spent, but especially that they did not want them to introduce targets and other performance measurement criteria that the NHS and other Government bodies suffer from.

I understand exactly where they are coming from. Some things should be beyond the meddling of politiuans and this is one. Arguably, the NHS, Fire Brigade, Police, Ambulance Service and Armed Forces are others.
 
a1ex2001 said:
When I first read this I thought it was harsh then I saw the RNLI current vaccancies list
https://jobs.rnli.org.uk/wd/plsql/w...=2464&p_function=map&p_title=All current jobs
They might not pay the people that go out in the boats but they seem to have plenty of cash and cars floating about for hangers on, if they can afford a 50k sales manager they can afford a license.
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£55k for a national head of sales is low, it's much lower than an equivilent position in a private company. Given that there would also be high expectations, and high demands to ensure the cash to keep operating continues to come in, it's going to be a job that people don't do for the money...
 
romperstomper said:
RNLI and new Ofcom charges


The background: (From the Telegraph..)

LIFEBOAT crews fear being scuppered by crippling new charges for using their radios from Ofcom, the communications regulator. The RNLI could see the price of using its VHF emergency frequencies rise to £250,000 under plans to charge the full commercial rate.

The charity, which saves hundreds of lives every year currently pays an annual £48,000 at a discounted rate of 50 per cent. It relies on donations and fears the move will have a disastrous impact on fundraising. Peter Bradley, RNLI operations staff officer, said: 'It's a lot of money when you think in terms of lifeboat days and little old ladies collecting pound coins.'

'We could buy several inshore lifeboats for the same amount.'

'The Government rely on us to provide this search-and-rescue service, at a cost of £124 million a year, but they want to charge us for doing it!'

Ofcom has set out plans to bring 'market forces' into maritime and civil aviation communications in a policy it calls Administered Incentive Pricing.

£250,000 represents an awful lot of charity collections, even more so in the current economic climate so, if like me you feel strongly enough about this, please sign the petition below.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/RNLI-RF-licences/

Please forward to anyone you think might help by signing the petition.
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How can something like this not be a pulblic service:eek::eek:
 
The Mad Rapper said:
My other half and I joined the RNLI at the Southampton Boat Show this year. She's a keen sailor (competes in the Fastnet every year and delivers yachts to owners pretty much all over northern hemisphere).

I did ask the RNLI lady why the Government don't provide money. I was told that they have offered financial support in the past but the RNLI turned it down. They did this because they did not want the Government controlling how money was spent, but especially that they did not want them to introduce targets and other performance measurement criteria that the NHS and other Government bodies suffer from.

I understand exactly where they are coming from. Some things should be beyond the meddling of politiuans and this is one. Arguably, the NHS, Fire Brigade, Police, Ambulance Service and Armed Forces are others.
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That's exactly what my Godfather used to say, along with the point that their operating and capital expenses would increase if they were government funded due to companies being less concerned about offering them a good deal and supporting them in their work.
 
Ex-RoNiN said:
How can something like this not be a pulblic service:eek::eek:
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Because, simply, they run it far better than the government ever could, and have made a point of resisting government involvement because it will provide no tangible benefits and a lot of additional hassle. The best thing the government could do (as I said earlier in the thread) is to not take advantage of the things they need by demanding huge licensing and taxation costs.
 
Dolph said:
That's exactly what my Godfather used to say, along with the point that their operating and capital expenses would increase if they were government funded due to companies being less concerned about offering them a good deal and supporting them in their work.
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Do you know if the RNLI is to be exempt from the changes in red diesel prices? If not, then that will have massive cost implications.

I may be a little biased, but I believe the least the Government should do is to allow the RNLI to have their fuel completely tax free and waive any charges for anything else which would ordinarily return to the Treasury.
 
I really, really don't have time for anyone who critiscizes the RNLI in any way whatsoever.



I'm a coastguard, and the service they provide is absolutely invaluable. They save so many lives, rescues i've seen with my own eyes. They have a budget of something like £130million a year, but to see the infrastructure they have and need, every little bit is needed
 
RNLI media relations manager Danielle Rush is quoted on Walesonline as saying:

“The RNLI currently pays £40,000 in licence fees annually to Ofcom for the use of radio channels in our station/boathouse radios, lifeguard radios, launching vehicles and pager system”

According to the Ofcom website: “The RNLI may see its charges fall as a result of our proposal to offer a single, lower cost licence for multiple users... ...We estimate that, based on the RNLI's usage, its fee under the new arrangements would be less than £20,000.”


I spoke to Meleri Thomas at Ofcom, who stated:


“Search and rescue teams will not be affected by the proposals for new fees.”

The only agency that could be affected by a change in fees is the MCA, and it is unlikely that they would set a new precedent and impose any charges on search and rescue teams such as MRT's. The reasoning behind Ofcom's change of pricing is to try and limit spectrum use (and possibly increase revenue) in the maritime and aeronautical sectors, of which the mountain rescue is a tiny fraction.


Whilst mountain rescue teams do face many difficulties, both with funding and with real dangers on the hillside, increased radio charges are, according to Ofcom, not one of them.
 
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