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Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by 50044 Exeter, Dec 25, 2009.

  1. MartinBall

    MartinBall Guest

    I doubt anyone will explain all this...!
     
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  2. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    It all seems very strange and, as I e mailed in return:-
    "I have received the latest information relating to the AGM and election of trustees. Obviously as a recent and distant EA (and L & B) supporter I have no direct knowledge of the situation or people involved, but can I express the hope that an amicable solution is being sought to, what appears to be, a contentious situation. Could Mr Duffell be Co -opted onto the board in some way, as his skill set would appear to be very useful - and it would be a shame to lose it at this time, I would have thought??"

    Let us hope that calm thoughts prevail.....
     
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  3. RailWest

    RailWest Part of the furniture

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    According to the 'News Briefing' distributed with the latest Magazine, the nomination was "..received after the required press date..." for the AGM paperwork. Given that (a) the nomination would appear to have been received within the specified AGM timescale and (b) has now been included in the revised Ballot Paper, then one may assume that the nomination has been accepted as valid. In which case, then it would appear IMHO that either (a) the timescale for the AGM process needs to be reviewed as modified as necessary before next year's AGM and/or (b) the Trust needs to source a printer who can work at shorter notice (if that is possible).

    What I have NOT seen yet is a revised Agenda for the AGM. Apart from the fact that the election (or not) of CD is now Agenda Item 6, on both the original and the revised Ballot Forms the Agenda Items quoted for the three other Trustee re-elections still do not match the original Agenda Items ! It would appear that proof-reading has gone a little astray... :-(
     
  4. H Cloutt

    H Cloutt Member

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    My replacement voting form [the green one] had the same address as the earlier [blue] one - it did not give a name - I used the address on the form.
     
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  5. H Cloutt

    H Cloutt Member

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    Those were my thoughts.
     
  6. Old Kent Biker

    Old Kent Biker Member

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    See also the current batch of Edmondson tickets - labelled "LYNTON & BARNSTABLE RLY" :(
     
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  7. 34015

    34015 New Member

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    IMG_1548.jpg
     
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  8. Meatman

    Meatman Member

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    the white 'news briefing' accompanying the revised ballot paper/proxy form clearly states 'postal votes or proxy votes have to be received by Tony Nicholson before 23rd september'.
    On the top of the voting forms it says that they should be sent to the company secretary, who just happens to be Tony Nicholson
     
  9. MartinBall

    MartinBall Guest

    Is that even legal?
     
  10. H Cloutt

    H Cloutt Member

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    I'm sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong, but it is fairly normal practice to address documents to 'The Company Secretary' - it doesn't necessarily mean that it is this individual who personally opens and deals with the correspondence.

    I am pleased that someone other than the existing trustees has been nominated - my experience with voluntary organisations is that it is often difficult to get people to stand for committees.

    Trust members have had an opportunity to read the nominations and to cast their votes - I look forward to the report of the AGM in due course.
     
  11. Tobbes

    Tobbes Member

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    I'm new to the L&B and EA family, having been spurred into joining as a result of the Bratton Fleming station appeal, so I have no knowledge of any previous 'politics', nor, frankly, any particular interest beyond doing what I can to help the L&B extend and prosper.

    However, in my work life, I do know a bit about corporate governance and good practice, and I pretty unimpressed by what could be mistaken for an attempted stitch up in favour of three candidates who were not named Duffell; I sincerely hope this this impression is wrong. I should stress that I don't know any of the gentlemen concerned, and given Mr Duffell's involvement with the preparation of the TWAO application, I would hope that he could be co-opted anyway. A happy railway pulling together is more likely to be a successful one!
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2021
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  12. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

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    Couldn't agree more. An expanding railway will surely need more than three trustees, and Mr Duffell's experience and expertise cannot afford to be wasted, with what lies ahead. Normally, I wouldn't have bothered voting, however cometh the hour, etc.
    I hope sincerely that this matter can be resolved without recourse to ill-will. There is no room for any more in that part of the world, as I'm sure the new GM would testify.
     
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  13. Old Kent Biker

    Old Kent Biker Member

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    The L&BR Trust does in fact have nine trustees, each elected for a three-year term, with one third normally elected each year.
     
  14. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

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    Ah. That "pay attention at the back!" must have been directed at me, then. :Facepalm:
     
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  15. Meatman

    Meatman Member

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    what concerns me is 4c and 4d,on receipt of the updated ballot form the three retiring trustees resumes have not only been enhanced but have been given a footnote to be recommended for re-election by the other trustees whilst Mr.Duffell's resume has been definitely been edited(the original has been posted on one of the L&BR facebook pages) and no footnote has been added about the sterling work he has been doing for the TWAO,i personally think this has created a bias impression and would also question whether nominees resumes can be altered at will
     
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  16. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    I suspect that, for many years, these AGMs have been routine affairs with the same timescales, formats and people rotating in turn. However the pace and size of the operation is steadily - and soon dramatically, increasing and "new blood" will be needed. True the election this year looks to be a mess, with the appearance of a potential new Trustee. But he is obviously well known and well qualified to help the Railway, so I do hope that, behind the scenes in all probability, an amicable solution is being found. Then we can all see the re-building of the L & B continue.
     
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  17. weltrol

    weltrol Part of the furniture Friend

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    Shades of the Gauge O Guild election last year where the management told us who we had to vote for, and it was not the new nominees....
     
  18. H Cloutt

    H Cloutt Member

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    I agree about the AGMs - most voluntary organisations have a job to 'persuade' members to join committees. I think that it is quite likely that no additional nominations were expected and hence the paperwork was prepared on this basis. I hope that an amicable solution can be found - this is an important time for the Trust with the extension plans coming together nicely. Clearly the existing trustees have achieved a lot over recent years. There is probably more to this story than we need to know at present and we will just need to wait and see the result of the AGM.
     
  19. ConRod1

    ConRod1 New Member

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    It seems that the more I look it this, it appears more and more likely the alleged democratic outcome of the AGM voting process was decided long before any ballot papers were printed and sent out to voters. As for the ‘vote by poxy’ function, anybody with an ounce of intelligence would note that the current trustees will clearly take the proxy vote for themselves. If one cannot pick who to vote for then that vote should be forfeited not passed to those seeking to remain in post to make the decision. It’s a no brainier in my view. Only an armchair enthusiast would fall for this mockery or is it a case of fear of the apple cart taking a good tipping? Which is probably what’s needed if anyone truly wants to travel further than Killington Lane.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  20. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    A somewhat emotive post from ConRod1.....many members on here do have more than an ounce of intelligence and realise that a "proxy" vote is indeed one given to be cast with the intentions of the recipient, in this case the chairman. However you can instruct the chairman to cast your proxy vote as you direct. There is the option to cast your votes how you like....so hardly "alleged" democracy in action I would have thought?
     
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