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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    The reason for suggesting those questions is that, without in any way questioning either the integrity or competence of any of the current board members, my view is that the extremely small size of the current board is a hinderance in and of itself: firstly because of what must undoubtedly be a very high workload; secondly because such a small board means that there can be no realistic scrutiny and challenge of ideas, since there simply isn't the breadth of experience present.

    (As an aside: while there has been much criticism about the very limited plans for re-opening this year, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that with such a small board, there simply hasn't been the capacity to work through the logistics and options of re-opening along with everything else: in that scenario, quite possible that a degree of groupthink comes in if one person happens to be against a particular course of action. I'm not suggesting that is definitely the cause, simply noting that boardroom capacity is every bit as much a constraint as anything else. You have a railway that was already (i.e. pre-Covid) in an extremely challenging position on several fronts, and then throw in an external factor the size and difficulty of which is unprecedented in 60 years of preservation. Covid alone would be hard enough to deal with if you had a perfect board composition all firing on every cylinder, let alone with only three or four people and most managerial staff furloughed and all the pre-existing financial and other issues on the WSR).

    Tom
     
  2. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    No reason of course why you had to furlough the management team, or of course you could set up a 'reopening' team
     
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  3. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Agreeing for now with @Steve Edge, the railway is where it is, not where it might have been had other decisions been taken. That is a constraint upon what can be planned.

    As for the idea of a “reopening team”, that is excellent. However, I get the impression that not only are the issues @Jamessquared identifies about board size in play, but also the constraints imposed by them both having to set direction (a key function of a board in its leadership role), but also having to get hands dirty doing a lot of the work associated. That would be tough if they were doing the job paid and full time staff, let alone as volunteers with in at least some cases paid employment to accommodate too.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  4. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    The East Somerset Railway intends to blow the cobwebs away from July 18th. Good to see such enthusiasm. <BJ>

    ''THE FRIENDLY STEAM RAILWAY WELCOMES YOU - FROM JULY 18TH''
    ''Come to the lovely village of Cranmore, near Shepton Mallet, Somerset to meet our friendly staff and take a relaxing ride on our heritage steam train.

    The train journey is approximately 40 minutes over our 5 mile round trip and you are welcome to ride as many times as you like on your visit - subject to availability. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and social distancing, pre booking is now essential to guarantee a place on the train of your choice.

    We are one of very few steam railways where you can visit our Engine Shed and Workshop, as well as enjoying our small Museum, Signal Box, Miniature Railway (Signal Box and Miniature Railway open on specific days), Shop and Whistlestop Café

    Please allow at least 2-3 hours for your visit - relax and enjoy your steam train ride through the beautiful Mendip countryside as well as visiting the other parts of the railway. Our friendly staff are always available to assist in any way, if you have any queries or require any help''.
     
  5. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    I could almost sympathise with the Board's difficulties in running the Railway, but -
    (a) whose choice was it to have such a small Board and
    (b) was it a sensible use of limited management resources to serve the S&DRT with Notice to Quit? If this is contested in court, this issue will take up all their time and more.
     
  6. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I quite agree - a more diverse board may have led to greater scrutiny of ideas, and would much more likely have avoided proceeding with the duff ones. Whether you ascribe the continued small size of the board and - consequent lack of scrutiny - as cock up or conspiracy is for others to consider.

    Tom
     
  7. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    You can also take a look at 4110 as she starts her restoration. She has a good future now.
     
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  8. WSR_6960

    WSR_6960 New Member

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    Whilst I understand what you're saying in context I would like to take the opportunity to recognise and congratulate you on running the most professional website/resource relating to the WSR. Even better still, the content is suitable for both enthusiasts and the general public ... I'm often surprised at how many people glean timetable/operational info from your site rather than the clunky and often outdated official one !

    I personally like the fact that WSR.org has remained neutral and only reports the necessary facts. I've also always admired your ability to remain publically impartial when the subject matter can often be controversial to say the least.

    You certainly should not be taking any lectures on how to run your website - thank you for all you do Steve !
     
  9. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

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    Just thinking...

    There is an awful lot of bad feeling directed at 'The Plc' together with the assumption that there is no hope that 'The Plc' will ever change.... Well folks I'm going to say that I think you are wrong.
    I don't think 'The Plc' is at fault. I do think 'The Plc' could easily accept change. It's not 'The Plc' that's the problem, it's the three people sitting in high places within 'The Plc' that are the problem.
    Three people, that's all... replace these with more sympathetic individuals or simply appoint sufficient people to the Board to out vote them and change could start happening overnight.
    Do the new appointees need in depth business qualifications? NO! Not at all, not now. You don't need huge qualifications to scrape through this, just simple common sense about money management in exactly the same way as you'd do at home simply scaled up to the larger size. After all, if you have no money you can't spend it - whether its £10 or £10,000 you are looking to spend.
    Once the ship is saved then 'business professionals' can be recruited - if they are really needed - if the Plc is changing to the operating subsidiary will they need high finance experience simply to run the railway anyway? or will that be within the remit of the overarching charity?
    Simple answer - Sufficient people to overrule the existing three must stand for the Board at the next AGM and everyone who wants change must support them. The "Three month probation for Directors..." suggestion is rubbish. Directors appointed by the members at an AGM take post immediately at the end of the meeting. They assume all legal responsibilities and powers as directors there and then - don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
    So there you are, If you really want change, if you are close enough and able to spare the time, get proposed for the board as soon as nominations open, get elected and use your passion and concern for the railway to make the changes that are so badly needed.
    It's in YOUR hands to do something about this....
     
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  10. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    Could you please point to the posts which lectured Steve on how to run his website? Thanks

    Keith
     
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  11. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    Sorry, but I must disagree with your statement. If "the three people sitting in high paces within the plc" are the problem, then there must be a problem with the plc structure that allowed those three people to get to those high places.

    Keith
     
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  12. Six main line steam opportunities from Taunton over the next five weeks courtesy of Saphos Trains. Particularly looking forward to the Pembroke Coast Express. Plenty of local people spending money to enjoy live steam.
     
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  13. Wriggley

    Wriggley New Member

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    You do have a good point there.
    If enough people were willing to do it, they could get together and form a 'Shadow Board' (bit like a Shadow Cabinet). They could lay out their 'manifesto' and a plan of action, publicise it widely and generate a following.
    Then there is just the small matter of buying shares (if they were not already a shareholder) and getting themselves nominated. Does anybody know how to do this?
    Is there a chance that existing Directors might 'smell a rat' (in their view) and try to block the purchase of shares and/or nominations? How could this be overcome? How else might they be able to block the nominations?
    It would in effect be a shareholder coup.
    I don't know enough about the mechanisms, I am sure somebody out there does though!
    It might even be called.....The Reform Group.....
     
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  14. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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  15. Lineisclear

    Lineisclear Member

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    It would require compliance with the PLC's Articles of Association and Company Law which specifies the procedural requirements. No resolution can be tabled for a decision at an EGM or AGM unless due notice has been given to shareholders. You can't simply propose something on the day of the meeting. The period of notice is normally specified in a company's Articles. There are also minimum shareholding requirements before being able to table a resolution including the holding of at least five per cent of the issued shares. If the resolution is tabled in time to be circulated with the routine notice of the AGM no costs to the proposers are involved. In all other cases they would need to pay for the costs of printing and distributing the resolution.
    It's likely that there will be a limit in the Articles on the number of directors that can be proposed for appointment on any one resolution.
    Of course the Directors are entitled to advise shareholders to vote against any shareholder proposed resolution, whether for appointment of directors or otherwise, and to secure proxy votes that are normally more than enough to defeat shareholder intervention. This is especially so for any resolution seeking to remove an incumbent director where the Companies Act specifies that a 75% majority is required.
    As the Articles of a company will normally confirm, and Company Law recognises, the business of a company is managed by its directors not its shareholders. Unless there are large shareholding blocks the practical opportunity to exercise shareholder power is very limited.
     
  16. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    My earlier request to quote and correct any misinformation has not been picked up so perhaps I can start the ball rolling......

    The WSRA board were alleged to have been fully informed and supportive of JJP approaching SCC for the purchase of the freehold. This was dismissed as complete fantasy by the former WSRA chairman.

    The SDRT were alleged to have presided over a safety incident that had the full attention of the ORR. This was dismissed by both the SDRT and the ORR who probably took a very dim view of being named in a baseless allegation. I hope for the plc's sake that they have not repeatedly referred to the ORR out of turn.

    Then there's the £300k profit which could be true if you ignore financial technicalities and the disregard of other contractual financial obligations.

    Please correct any of the above if it comes under "misinformation".
     
  17. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    Steve asked questions, some of us tried to give answers - not always the best - but they were answers not lectures. No one is being critical of Steve or his web site: it is indubitably the best WSR web site.
     
  18. 60044

    60044 Member

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    Food for thought for all those advocating a structure where the Plcx is owned by a charity - it still doesn't guarantee that the PLcC has to do as the Trust wishes!
     
  19. mdewell

    mdewell Well-Known Member Friend

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    Some aspects of WSR that might be counted as part of the crisis are largely self inflicted and I have little sympathy with regard to those, but . . .
    . . . If by 'current situation' you mean the Covid-19 crisis, then I expect they are not the only railway board to be out of their depth.
     
  20. Lineisclear

    Lineisclear Member

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    Unless it's set up, as the report recommends, in a way where all the voting shares in the PLC are held by the Charity. The Articles of the PLC can also easily provide that all appointments to the Board of the subsidiary PLC have to be approved by its parent charity. In those circumstances the Charity can exercise effective control over its subsidiary and its directors.
     

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