Plc Board Meeting - Friday 21st August 2015

At our most recent board meeting, it was agreed that I should post a summary of each meeting on the Boardroom Blog. This is a continuing part of our effort to try and ensure that you all have as much information as possible about what is happening. You will appreciate that there are certain things relating to individuals or to commercial contracts, which have to remain confidential.

The board is constituted on the basis that each director has a specific area of responsibility. Each director is required to submit a written report before each meeting, explaining what issues he has dealt with since the last meeting, and what issues require consideration and a decision.

This is a summary of the last meeting:

It was agreed that our Chairman Alan Bielby would set up a programme of quarterly meetings with our Safety Manager Chris Webb, to keep this very important aspect of our operation under review.

Detailed plans for the forthcoming OVA award were presented to us, and were approved. The Lord Lieutenant will arrive at Winchcombe, where she will inspect and then formally unveil a plaque to open the Discovery Coach. All guests will then travel to Toddington, where after refreshments and a visit to the Loco Department she will make the award from the footplate of P&O.

The GWRT has a number of artifacts which have been donated to the railway, and it has been suggested that we should crate a museum in a coach at Toddington for them to be displayed. It was agreed to put the plan on hold, pending discussions with RATS as to how that would interrelate with their current displays.

We continued to consider what is required for the proposed opening to Broadway. We agreed not to proceed further at this stage with the idea of eight coach trains. We approved  a plan to obtain professional assistance with the clearance of the remaining trackbed. This will allow us to understand what damage there is to the formation, and what repairs may be necessary. Arrangements are in hand to take advice upon the damage to the embankment between Evesham Road and Childswickham Road, so that detailed plans for the proposed car park can be drawn up.

The reviewed our current financial position. (Chris Bristow has already posted details on the blog). Passenger numbers so far this year are good, and we are on course to exceed our planned profit this year, although there have been some unplanned expenditures. We agreed to pursue the suggestion that TTI's should be able to sell tickets on trains, to try and avoid delays at stations when intending passengers arrive at the last minute. Discussions with the Guards Department are planned to progress this.

We reviewed the proposed new share issue planned for next year, to raise sufficient funds to get us to Broadway. There is a very considerable amount to be done to get it all together, and work is well under way. We need a snappy title; something like, "Broadway - the last mile".

We received the sad news of the death of Ron Brislin, and arranged for a letter of condolence to be sent to Cynthia. Arrangements have been made to cover his position in the interim until a permanent appointment can be made in due course. It was confirmed to us that plans remain in hand for the roadway at Winchcombe to be repaired before the winter, and that work should start soon.

Lee Alibone advised that the culvert at Bishops Cleeve is in a poor condition, and that remedial works will probably be necessary during the winter shut down. This will necessitate lifting a part of the welded track section. This work will be added to the busy schedule that P/way already have planned for that period.

We agreed to a suggestion to reconstitute the group that had previously considered a future plan for the Winchcombe site, but with a smaller number, to give greater focus. There will be no funds of any great significance available until after we open to Broadway, but it may well be possible for smaller projects to be undertaken there.

It was agreed that we should hold another Volunteers Meeting, and the next one will be at 2.30pm on Saturday 7th November at Toddington Village Hall.

I hope that this summary has given an indication of the matters we are currently dealing with. Our next meeting is in early October.

Richard Johnson
Company Secretary & Director