| | The Council of Management is the Trust's Board and is concerned more with strategy and fundraising with operational matters devolved to the trading subsidiary, the Swanage Railway Company. These notes provide an overview of some of the matters discussed this month when Steve Doughty was in the Chair as Bill Trite was on holiday. - CoM meetings now start at 2:00 p.m. An open forum for Members and Volunteers is held prior to the start of formal business. One Member attended this forum.
- The CoM have been considering ways of improving the quality of the Mk. III sleeping coach facility and have asked the General Manager to oversee the introduction of a reliable management system.
- This year’s Grand Draw has made a net profit in excess of £10,000 and a similar Draw will therefore be held in 2006.
- Operational assets are due to be transferred from the SRT to the Swanage Railway Company with effect from 1st January. This will allow the Trust to concentrate on its core heritage, educational and fundraising activities.
- Restoration of Bulleid brake coach no. 4365 is proceeding off-site at Ramparts. It is anticipated that its will return to the Railway in a watertight condition in early Spring 2006 for painting and fitting out. Final restoration will include authentic Bournemouth line
‘skirts’. An update will be issued to Members in the new year. - Following the approval at the AGM of the new positions of Patrons and Fellows, the Trust’s Memorandum and Articles of Association will be formally updated.
- The £2 per month donation scheme will be updated and re-launched.
- Future publication months for Swanage Railway Magazine with be March, July and November.
- Car parking charges are due to be introduced at Norden car park in 2006. The CoM confirmed that season tickets will be issued to working members and staff free of charge and to PLMs for a £1 administration charge.
- It was noted that a quote of £120,000 had been received to overhaul the Class 08 diesel D3591(!) A further quotation would be sought from the Hastings Diesel Group.
- A proposal for the introduction of Gift Aid relief on ticket sales was discussed and it was agreed that the Trust’s auditors be consulted and the implementation of a pilot exercise be considered.
- It was noted that the eBay internet auction site now allows individuals to donate proceeds from the sale of goods directly to charities, e.g. the Swanage Railway Trust. We will inform the membership accordingly.
- High level discussions in respect of the Furzebrook facility are continuing. An approach has also been made to Imerys in respect of the clay siding and associated buildings
The CoM also updated and reaffirmed it’s Statement of Principles covering the context of future negotiations for the provision of infrastructure services by Swanage Railway Company Limited to the Purbeck Rail Partnership and all Train Operating Companies running
services on Swanage Railway infrastructure: - Swanage Railway (SR) needs at all times to be in a position whereby, whatever franchised or other Train Operating Company (TOC) services are operated on the Swanage Branch, or whatever physical changes are made to infrastructure or property, it can continue to function as a heritage steam/diesel railway operating
under a Light Railway Order. - SR needs at all times to be in a position whereby, whatever franchised or other TOC services are operated on the Swanage Branch, it is financially no worse off than it would have been, within each successive year, had TOC services not been contracted or run within that year.
- SR needs to be in a position whereby, on cessation of franchised or other TOC services along the Swanage Branch, its own operations can continue.
- The length of trackbed between Swanage and Motala, owned by Dorset County Council and Swanage Town Council and leased by SR, is to remain outside Network Rail ownership. Guarantees of access will be given by SR on a matching basis with any access agreement involving Network Rail track leading to the Swanage branch, subject to agreement on terms and conditions in such access agreement which are to be in accordance with this Statement of Principles.
- SR train services are not to be incorporated into the rail franchising process. The continuity of non-SR train services is to be guaranteed by the Franchise Agreement of the TOCs concerned or other appropriate legal framework covering an agreed number of paths.
- SR and Network Rail will need to reach prior agreement on all interface issues to produce a safe and seamless infrastructure between Swanage and Wareham.
- In order to accommodate additional services on the branch and specifically in the bay platform at Swanage, the SR needs to be successful in its plans to acquire suitable locations for the provision of alternative berthing, storage and maintenance of its rolling stock and for its catering facilities.
The next CoM meeting will take place at Saturday 14th January 2006. |