CoM Summary - May 2008

A summary of proceedings at Council of Management (CoM) meeting held on 31st May 2008:

• Bill Trite announced his resignation from the position of Chairman of the Swanage Railway Trust with immediate effect. Bill declined to give reasons for his decision, which he said were personal, although he noted that having been in the position for 17 years, the time was right for him to step aside. Bill did not however resign from the Council of Management of the Trust. In reluctantly accepting his resignation, the Council thanked Bill for his leadership and commitment over the 17 years, noting that the Railway had undergone a dramatic transformation during that time from a project on the brink of bankruptcy to one of the most successful heritage railways in the UK today. The Council will review the appointment of a new Chairman at its next meeting on 28th June, pending which Deputy Chairman Steve Doughty was appointed Acting Chairman.

• A grant application has been submitted to the local Valentine Trust for the overhaul of the Mk. 1 SK(H) coach for disabled passengers. Over £16,000 had been raised to date as a designated fund. This is the next coach due to go off-site to Ramparts for overhaul.
• It was agreed that we should review the corporate structures on other leading heritage railways, e.g. Bluebell, Severn Valley, North Yorkshire Moors and Great Central Railways, to see if any lessons could be learned.
• The CoM was pleased to note the delivery of former &#8216evon Belle’ Pullman Observation Car no. 14 to Swanage. An official launch ceremony would take place on 22nd June. Prior to then some test running would take place and a risk assessment carried out - primarily to take into account the fact there are only two exit doors on this vehicle.
• A project to replace the wooden platform at Herston Halt with a concrete one recovered from Croydon Tramlink was approved.
• It was agreed that an updated letter should be sent to SRT members concerning the subject of legacies.
• The CoM agreed the formal appointment of Dave Tucker, the DCC Museums Advisor, as the SRT’s Curatorial Advisor.
• The mini fete at Swanage station on Spring Bank Holiday Monday had raised a net total of £619. It was also reported that sales of bric-a-brac on Swanage station had raised £2284 to date.
• A project to relocate items stored in the four containers at Swanage (close the inner home signal) to suitable storage in Herston Works is ongoing.
• A meeting will be held in early June with the Head Of Planning Services at Purbeck District Council in order to discuss future options for the provision of covered accommodation and locomotive\rolling stock servicing facilities along the Railway.
• It was agreed that the closing date for AGM related postal votes would be noon on Monday 6th October. The closing date for CoM election nominations is as previously announced, i.e. Saturday 16th August, with the Trust AGM taking place on 11th October.

Mark Woolley

Trust Secretary