Trust Council of Management summary – November 2009

Notes from the Trust Council meeting held in Swanage on Saturday 21st November:

A detailed internal communications strategy is being prepared which will be implemented early in 2010. Priority number one will be to ensure that, going forward, staff (paid & volunteer) and active Members are better notified of what is going on at a strategic and operational level on the Railway.

A feasibility study of future uses for the facility we rent from the Methodist Church at 103 High Street, Swanage, is taking place. At present we use the rooms there for printing leaflets and flyers and for storage.

A print cartridge recycling facility is to be provided by a company called Empty Cartridge Ltd. Pre-paid envelopes will be provided and sent with Swanage Railway Magazine to all Trust members. Commission will be paid to the SRT.

The model shop 'Harries and Wilson' in Swanage High Street has offered to sell items on the eBay auction website on behalf of the Trust. No commission payments will be due.

The annual draw, which took place on 1st November, raised a net profit of £8169. The Trust Council is very grateful to everyone who contributed to this and who helped sell tickets. We have agreed that the proceeds should be used to improve volunteer facilities at Swanage - notably the new shower\toilet block which is being installed on the former site of the Ops office adjacent to the coal dock.

The restoration of Bulleid CK coach no. 5761 is progressing well at off-site restoration company Rampart. A fresh appeal will be sent to all previous donors and an article is also being prepared for the national heritage railway press. The Trust Council hopes that two Bulleid coaches (4365 and 5761) will be available to use prior to the 2010 steam gala - a vast improvement on using a DMU set in the shuttle service!

The 2010 Members' Weekend will take place on 13th-14th March.

We have adopted an updated Memorial Policy and it is intended that the names of volunteers and members who are sadly no longer with us will be published in a commemorative on-line facility in the near future. A formal book of remembrance will also be introduced.

As part of the ongoing process of improving the Trust's internet site we intend to clone the unofficial 71b.co.uk website and incorporate it into the official SRT site. The popular forum facility will remain a key feature.

The use of contractors to build the proposed eight coach carriage shed at Herston South is no longer considered to be cost effective and the Trust Council has agreed in principle that the work should be carried out in-house directly by the Swanage Railway. Additional temporary paid staff could be hired and utilised if required. The principal objective during the January\February shutdown will be to carry out track renewals. Outstanding excavation work will then take place take place during weekdays before daily running commences. A detailed work plan is being evaluated by the General Manager with the intention of a full project plan being presented to the Board and Trust Council meetings on 9th January 2010.

We agreed in principle to the sale Metropolitan Cammell Pullman coach no. 347. The replacement SO coach is due back from Butterley following overhaul during February 2010.

B van S259S is to be sent to Cranmore for bodywork repairs. When returned to the Railway it will become the base for the Sygnets at Corfe Castle station..

We intend to progress the restoration of the diesel shunter 'May' during 2010. Any help here will be gratefully received.

The Trust Council has agreed that the OO gauge model railway layout located in Swanage station booking office can be loaned out but should not be sold but and must therefore remain a Trust asset.

A new Trust policy has been agreed which, in exceptional circumstances, will enable decisions to be made by e-mail or telephone between Trust Council meetings.

Full Trust Council meetings during 2010 will take place on the following dates: 9th January, 27th February, 24th April, 26th June, 21st August, 30th October.

The Trust Council wishes to thank everyone who has made 2009 a record breaking year for the Swanage Railway. We look forward to working with you in making 2010 an equally successful year.

Mark Woolley,

Trust Secretary