WSRA Trustee Election Hustings

As a gross simplification, clubs and societies, whatever their legal form, are not taxed on surpluses arising from dealings with their members, which tends to include membership fees and donations, because they are not trading. However, H M Revenue & Customs are very aware that this could be abused and are very much on the look-out for cases where a commercial business is being carried on by a members organisation with a view to profit. Hence,l the same Company can have exempt income under this system and taxable. The exemption enjoyed by charities is much wider, but charities can still in certain circumstances be liable to tax.

Steven

 

I suspect it will become more than just Teddy Bear crossing once the toys get thrown out of the pram on 19th

Sorry for the levity, but trying to lighten the tone ahead of what may be another long week yet.....

 

ROTFLOLPMP! We needed that. Thank you.

 

ROTFLOLPMP - that implies funnier than ROTFL, presumably. Is it funnier than ROTFLMAO? Totes LOL ...

Tom

 

It suffers in translation from American. P******* my pants (trousers).

 

I had to look it up! Thank you urban dictionary ...

Tom

 

I think it stands for Rolling On The Floor Laughing Out Loud Peeing My Pants.

 

Been at the scrumpy again then ? <G>

 

I wish, lol

 

I am working hard to be positive, but with respect, to say that the slate of four are the ONLY candidates offering an in depth understanding of how to do things in the right order for the WSRA to play a transformed, vigorous and complementary role appears to ignore everything I have said over 19 pages of a thread I started, and on which we have heard virtually nothing directly from them, and absolutely nothing from two (or three?) of them. I have a strong and positive view of Frank C's motivation and skills but nothing from most of the slate directly. Frank is not a candidate this year, and so will not be in any WSRA Trustee meetings after 19 July, whoever gets elected.

kind regards

Robin White

 

All

We are doing well for the evening of 19 July.

We have Robin Fisher and Ben Grellier as DMU Driver and Guard.

Martin Southwood has volunteered for MD or BA Box, and Jason Prole for any box.

I am grateful for Ron Sidewater at Minehead for liaising with their roster clerk to ensure MD in manned, and I am speaking to BL station tomorrow.

We could therefore do with two more signalmen and we are there. (One at a push as I could take on one turn, but it would be good to find two.)

Kind regards

Robin White

 

Robin,


Have you considered that anyone arriving at BL for the meeting by train would be well advised to catch the 1015 MD, and hang around for a couple of hours, unless they leave it until the 1230 and want to run the risk of being unable to get into the hall if predicted numbers attending actually turn up on the day?


It's not unknown for the latter to be a few minutes late, but even if on time would still result in an Olympic sprint to the venue, and possibly no further than the car park.


Bet the sitting tenants are monitoring this one closely and rubbing their hands in anticipation at this not being spotted!


Rodders

(thanks to A.N. Other for pointing this out)

 

Of course Robin you are right but the WSRAMAG has published its consultation document and set out its stall as it were. As you say we have not heard from some candidates and that doesn't just stop at the WSRAMAG. It the very least voting for the four could result in a united opposition. I believe there is at least two existing Trustees who could be viewed as moderates and if they line up with the four WSRAMAG candidates, assuming they were all elected, then they could carry any vote with a 6 to 4 result. Anything less will give the Chairman a casting vote and we all know which way he would hop.
I think there are some significant candidates and I would be happy to vote for any 4 of them, the existing four standing for re-election excepted, as long as they speak with one voice. If any four new Trustees can not agree then any vote will go in the direction of the Chair and just proliferate the stupidity that we currently have.
Having said all that if your plan comes to fruition and the majority of the Trustees resign (please do) then we have a different ball game altogether and will need good Trustee candidates who have good commercial/business skills and the drive, knowledge and keenness to bring about the change.
I always remember be told years ago at the end of every successful re-organisation the people need to be able to say look what we have done. Great interpersonal skills will be much needed (currently sadly lacking).
I would leave you with but just one thought Precision Planning Produces Perfect Performance. Faol

 

Rodney

Many thanks to you and 'A.N. Other' for pointing that out. I hope you will credit me with enough 'nouse' as a Railway operator to have considered the up services before working to provide a 'Down'.

I am pleased to be able to say that virtually all the pieces are now in place for the 1815 DMU, and I expect Colin Howard to be able to confirm that it is running later this morning. You will recognise that this has taken some effort. I cannot be otherwise than disappointed that the present Trustees have not considered this.

Personally, I expect be using the 1015 from Minehead (1114 from Stogumber!) which arrives at 11.33, as a number of folks have asked to speak to me on the morning / before the meeting. (I will be enjoying a cake and a coffee in the Whistlestop Cafe at BL from 11.33 to about 12.30 for those who have asked to talk to me.) I have a number of proxies to make sure have been properly registered and I want to be sure of a reasonable place in the hall, so I intend to head for the village hall about 1pm in advance of the meeting at 2. (Form an orderly line of sleeping bags outside the front door the night before a la Harrods sales!) I think there will be some complexity / time absorbed in getting registered as a proxy holder, so I advise anyone in that circumstance also to be at the hall not long after 1.

Members might also wish to come on the early train, frequent the café and shop, take a turn round the Gauge Museum and look at the initial steps on the Railway's part of the Station Farm development which is now beginning to move. Plenty to do to soak up an hour or so.

For members just bringing themselves along, or with less time, I would have thought the 1230 ex-Minehead (1343 BL arrival) would be quite adequate. However, I allow that seating in the hall might be under pressure by then, as car parking certainly will be. It is not beyond the wit of man to be in touch with someone on the train should it run late. The early parts of the meeting are quite formal, and it will take a little while to get to the first significant 'meat' of the Chairman's Report, which follows the 'hors d'0euvres' of consideration of the 2013 meeting minutes. In any event, it is a pleasant stroll to the Hall in about 8 minutes, so I think your 'Olympic Sprint' is a bit strong.

However, some folks might be assisted by a lift, and given that I have been working to plug the train gap, perhaps WSRA MAG might take on arranging a bus (Quantock Motors or one of our vintage fraternity?) to connect with the 1343 arrival and take folks back for the 1815 DMU departure?

kind regards

Robin White

 

That indeed is not common knowledge. I think folks need to see your proof. I assume you have the documentation to support this statement? If you don't want to upload it here, perhaps you could email it to me?

Steve

 

I had much the same thoughts on transport from the station.As the hall car park is small, with probable pressure on the roadspace on Hithermead nearby. Some attendees will opt to use the station carpark, including those whose mobility is sufficently challenged to inhibit the eight/ten minute walk. An additional run, slightly earlier- say 1.15 could answer this need, and allow time for the elderly to get a seat ! There is of course a 28 bus leaving BL approx 1pm and passing near the hall, though the driver may well be bemused at the request for such a short journey.Ideally, WSRA should have organised all this, but if others are prepared to do so,then I will contribute towards the cost.

 

I'm hoping for some live-tweeting/real-time commentary in this thread as the event unfolds! I'm guessing live-streaming-video is out of the question?



Simon

 

You can ask the PLC just as I did. Incidentally the WSRA did not reply to my request for this information which is quite typical of their desire to keep everyone in the dark like mushrooms. The contract for the dumping of ballast, rail and sleepers is between Network Rail and the PLC with the permission of the WSRA as landowner. Ownership of the rail and sleepers remains with Network rail who allow them to be used exclusively on the WSR. The WSRA are allowed to process and sell such of the ballast that the PLC does not require for their own use. WSRA pay nothing for the ballast but obviously get the proceeds of any sales. So the PLC are effectively subsidising the WSRA ballast sales. This is just one of many symbiotic relationships the PLC has with various support groups. The WSRA Trustees conveniently forget things like this with their constant whining about how much they do for the WSR. For example they moan about the track access fees for the Quantock Belle when these hardly cover the running costs of the loco and PLC staff required to run it.

 

About the only thing I will support the current chair on is arequest all mobiles are turned off. Nothing irritates me more than mobiles ringing during important discussions, or those half conversations distracting all and sundry in the vicinity.

 

So, you could say that the payment the WSRA receive for allowing their land to be used for dumping ballast and other surplus materials is as much unprocessed ballast as they can clean and find a market for? (Incidentially, there is a lot of money is waste disposal these days).

Be very wary of trying to work out all the charges everybody could make to everybody else - that way lies madness! Where Charities are allowing Commercial businesses use of their facilities, it has to be done, even where the business is a subsidiary, to a reasonable degree of accuracy. However, if the WSRA were suitably worded, they may be able to provide facilities to WSRplc as part of their Charitable Aims......

Steven