The navigation committee plays an important scrutiny and advisory role and has traditionally been made up of leading figures from the local boating community. It will now be made up of five authority members and eight people appointed after consultation with a range of user organisations.

Interviews will be carried out in May by a selection panel which will include leaders from the two major boating organisations, the chairman of the government's advisory body on inland navigation and the chairman of the Broads Authority. Members will serve for an initial term of three years.

The authority said that although the existing committee system had produced a group which had made a 'valuable contribution' since the appointments in 2004, many organisations had, last time, proposed the same people from a total of only 10 applicants.

'The authority has been extremely fortunate in the willingness of key figures in the local boating community to give up their time to advise on Broads issues from a navigation perspective. Their advice has been invaluable,' said Chairman Kerry Turner. 'The appointment process used to select the new committee continues to consult national and local user organisations as required in the legislation, meets the standards expected in public appointments and widens the pool of candidates for this important role.'

An application pack can be obtained from the Broads Authority office at 18 Colegate, Norwich, by calling 01603 756003, or by downloading it from the website www.broads-authority.co.uk. Completed applications should be sent to the authority by March 31st, 2008.