Council Report - 3 March 2007

The March Council meeting was the first since David Leech’s retirement as Traffic Manager and it seemed strange for him not to be there. Council took the opportunity to record its thanks for his work for the TR in both a voluntary and a paid capacity over a period of more than 40 years (and we may not have seen the last of him). We also welcomed our new General Manager, Larry Bridges, to his second Council meeting.

Council’s attention was drawn to the Railway’s rising energy bill which is now running at the rate of £20K a year, having doubled over the last two years mainly as a result of price rises and the new building at Wharf, which we always anticipated would increase our energy requirements (for example, the Museum, as well as being open for more days, is now heated to improve the environment for conserving the exhibits as well as for the comfort of attendants and visitors). It behoves both staff and volunteers to minimise the use of energy by, for example, not leaving lights on when they are not required. On the other hand there has been a slight reduction in the cost of insurance because of a lack of claims. We would like to keep it that way, so please try to avoid incidents which might cause us to have to make insurance claims (of course, there are other good reasons for avoiding incidents).
This led on to a discussion of whether the Railway could become “greener” through, for example, encouraging recycling - watch for possible future initiatives in this area.

New legislation is coming into force in Wales on 2 April prohibiting smoking in business premises, which covers not only factories and offices, but also vehicles, restaurants and pubs. It will even extend to partially open shelters, such as the station buildings at our minor stations. We are required to display no smoking signs meeting prescribed criteria and hope we can do so without detracting too much from the historic ambience of the Railway. Local authorities have been granted additional resources for enforcement so we must ask all members to co-operate with the restrictions.

When we reached the Engineering Report, the Engineering Manager held up a computer power lead which had no fuse and complied with no British Standard. Before you use any “personal” items of equipment on the Railway, it is essential that you obtain the agreement of the Engineering Department - electrical items must be PAT tested before use.
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The Board and Council have agreed that the Railway will participate in a case study by Aberystwyth University of structures and decision making in a mixed commercial/voluntary organisation. This might even prove of help to the Strategic Planning Group in their consideration of the future structure of the Talyllyn organisation. Whilst on structures and organisation, Council agreed that the way forward in the “Commercial” area would be to replace the former Shop & Catering Committee with Council Liaison Officers and two working groups to provide practical assistance for each activity; we hope that this structure will prove more appropriate for the present day professional approach to these activities.

The Stations & Lineside Committee recommended that we keep the traditional red telephone box which used to grace Wharf Station platform before redevelopment, to house the leaflets for other visitor attractions currently in Wharf booking hall, where changes are planned to the displays to give more emphasis to the TR. A majority of Council doubted whether retention of the box was appropriate to the ambience of the station and also cited maintenance and other problems. Stations & Lineside Committee has therefore been tasked with finding another location for these leaflets (the ground floor lift lobby has been suggested). Meanwhile, would anyone like a telephone box? Council also agreed by majority vote that proposals to provide a members’ bar at Wharf should be further developed, and to further work on developing proposals to fully equip and furnish the Slater Room at Wharf so it can fulfil its intended functions as an education and meeting room.

The Society’s Films Officer (Ed Lund) holds a number of TR films, and on his recommendation following consultation with a local member who is an expert in the subject, Council agreed to their transfer to The National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales at Aberystwyth where they will be well cared for and available for those who need to use historic material in television programmes, etc.

Almost at the end of the meeting locomotive liveries came up. Council did not accept a proposal to return No 6 Douglas/Duncan to its RAF livery for its 90th anniversary next year (though this is on the cards for its centenary in 2018!), put No. 1 Talyllyn’s livery on the agenda for the June meeting, but agreed a proposal from the volunteer rebuilding Ruston diesel No. 5 Midlander that it should be painted in Ruston & Hornsby’s 1940’s style.
.Philip Sayers 5 March 2007