A summary of some of the key issues and developments that have been discussed at the Swanage Railway Trust Council of Management meetings held between July and September 2011:

At its July meeting the Trust Council was very sorry to have to accept the resignation of our Chairman, Steve Doughty, due to a recent change in his work situation.  It was subsequently agreed that our Deputy Chairman, Liz Sellen, should serve as Acting Chairman until the first Trust Council meeting after the AGM when we traditionally review all officer positions, namely Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.  Whilst sadly Steve was only Trust Chairman for two years, he provided us with excellent leadership and guidance during this time – something we should all be very grateful for.  Of course Steve has served on the Council of Management for close on 20 years now, much of it as Deputy Chairman, and we are delighted to confirm that he remains a Trust Council member.

We continue to be conscious of the demands placed on all our staff – volunteer and paid across all departments - in sustaining what continues to be the most intensive heritage railway operation in the country.  At its July meeting the Trust Council was sorry to receive news of the resignation of Jeremy Weller from the position of volunteer co-ordinator in the Carriage and Wagon department.  Jeremy is one of the Railway’s founding volunteers and, whilst it is pleasing to note that he is committed to remaining a volunteer, a series of departmental staff meetings have recently been chaired by Trust Council member Frank Roberts in order to help ensure that the carriage and wagon department team can successfully move forward with their demanding operational and heritage commitments.

The Trust Council has agreed that Trust funds will be used to fund essential track and drainage works at Swanage this coming winter.  The amount sanctioned will be in two parts – a £50,000 grant to the Swanage Railway Company and a £50,000 long term loan.  This decision was preceded by a long discussion during which a number of concerns were expressed by individual Trust Council members.  Arising from this is a realisation that we need to ensure that our strategic plan becomes more of a ‘living document’ in order that all our current and anticipated financial commitments are taken into full account going forward. 

On the subject of finance we have also agreed that the Finance Review Team (FRT) should be re-launched this autumn.  Please see the separate news item regarding this.

At our September meeting we sanctioned a proposal that will see Maunsell Open Third coach no. 1346 externally restored off-site before returning to the Swanage Railway in spring 2012.  The reason for adopting this plan when we have so many other existing priorities is that the initial restoration will be funded by confirmed new donations, no general Trust funds will be used and the coach will be subject to a 99 year lease to the SRT.  It is our intention that 1323 will now be a key part of our Maunsell push-pull set project alongside brake composite no. 6699.  A grant application to the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to help fund the push-pull project is currently being drawn up.

Prior to our August meeting the SRT’s Returning Officer, Andrew Hext, confirmed that only eight valid nominations had been received for the eight Trust Council vacancies arising at the 2011 AGM.  He had therefore formally declared in writing that there was no requirement to hold a ballot and that the following eight people would commence a two-year term on the CoM following the AGM: David Budd, Paul Clements, Graham Cope, Nick Lloyd, Andrew Moore, Liz, Sellen, Mike Whitwam and Mark Woolley.  The lack of need for a ballot has arisen on occasion in the past, most recently in 2006.  Following a query from a Trust member we have subsequently obtained legal opinion – at no cost to the Railway – of the validity of our electoral process.  This has confirmed that our procedures are not breaching any requirements of the most recent Companies Act and Charities Act.

The tightening financial position on the Railway, and the national economic backdrop, mean that we need to raise the level of our fundraising activities in the coming months.  In addition to the urgent track works referred to earlier a number of capital projects are on-going, including Herston Carriage Shed, Swanage water tower, improvements to Norden and Harmans Cross stations and the upgrading of staff facilities at Swanage engine shed.  We are therefore looking to appoint a volunteer fundraising co-ordinator to help raise the profile and effectiveness of our fundraising.  If any Trust member feels that they may be interested in helping here please get in touch with me c/o Station House, Swanage.  Many thanks.       

Mark Woolley

Trust Secretary

3rd October 2011