West Somerset Railway - Removal of the PLC Chairman and related matters

It would help those WSRA members who wanted to use that channel if the email addresses of the trustees were published on the "Team" page WSRA website. Those for the WSRA staff are already published there.

 

Good point. We have a Trustees meeting tomorrow evening. I will raise it.

Robin

 

Yet another update to the WSR plc directors list today:

https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/corporate-information

Can you spot who has disappeared from the list, presumably resigned?

 

Wasn't there an HR Director in the previous list? Can't remember his name.

 

Companies House not yet updated (as I said yesterday, 14 days to do so), but William Knell was appointed in January and doesn't appear on the link above.

Steven

 

Yes, Bill Knell appears to be the latest plc director to resign. Another board hopper, he served 11 months as a WSRA trustee, then almost 8 months as a WSR plc director, with a 4 month gap in between.

I liked Bill and enjoyed working with him. He was a great supporter of the QB and a regular diner. He sometimes provided me with valuable critique of his dining experience, quick to praise and extremely diplomatic with constructive criticism. I hope he's still involved elsewhere around the Railway.

 

I can't keep up with this.
Is there a real-time 'app' somewhere?

 

I always found him very helpful.

 

Sensible:-
It's a shame they don't do or publish an 'exit interview' for departing Directors - perhaps it might help us all understand why there is such a high turnover.
Silly:-
Have they fitted a revolving door to the Board room yet?
(Well 50/50 is not too bad )

 

Just curious; are volunteers updated on when directors are appointed/resign by email or similar? Not necessarily even a reason given, but just notice of the fact is the very bare minimum I'd expect. Only reason I ask is I've never had to check our website or CompaniesHouse for GWSR, we always get volunteer announcement emails notifying us when directors have resigned, any vacant directorships (all with specific defined roles) are advertised to all volunteers and we're again emailed when co-options are made. Does this kind of thing sound familiar or alien to WSR volunteers?

 

There was an undertaking that there would be no more secretive co-options.

That didn't last long.

 

Surely the starting point has to be advertising that there is a specific vacancy, with a list of the desired experience of the prospective candidate, and then treat it like a job application. That way at least there is clarity about what sort of person is being sought. Otherwise, it is impossible to get away from the fact that people are being appointed for who they are, not how the skills they have match up with the skills needed.

Certainly on the Bluebell, the last few appointments to the PLC board have started with an advertisement, published internally and externally, for a specific directorial role with an outline of the experience required. There has then been a competitive interview process, with the co-option ratified at the following AGM.

Tom

 

It was an aspiration rather than an undertaking, if I correctly understand the Plc chairman's fine words at the AGM. But things move on. And in any case, for some, the hated "secret" co-option process sometimes becomes the best thing since sliced bread, usually depending on a like/dislike of the co-opted person. I'm not meaning you, @Snifter but you may know that even those who speak up against the "secretive" co-option process are not slow to propose themselves for co-option

I have been constantly reminding folks that the WSR Plc is a standalone commercial company and, as it has for years without as much as a murmur on Nat Pres, it can do (more or less) whatever it thinks best for its purpose. Now if it were the commercial arm of a new Trust...

Steve

 

While you are of course technically correct about the WSRplc's freedom to act as it wishes, it is in reality dependent upon the goodwill of a wide range of stakeholders, not least its volunteers. Throughout this sorry affair, consideration of the volunteers, keeping them informed, being as open as commercial possible with them and considering their views seems to an outsiders, to have been veru much lacking.

As I say, that is the impression from more than '200 miles from Minehead' away, and I would be delighted to be contradicted by West Somerset Railway volunteers and supporters.

Steven

 

I always think the comparison with sliced bread is flawed. Personally I hate the stuff unless done by my local craft baker.

 

Twas ever so, @Bean-counter down in West Somerset. The structure has always allowed the Co/Plc to dominate and dictate (as and when it chooses). Some volunteers love it, some don't

Steve

 

A wonderful idea.

Jeff Price

 

What an interesting idea

A Plc that of course has existing shareholder (let's disregard the stakeholders as they don't have a vote) is going to become a commercial arm of a new Trust or charity.
No doubt someone can explain how this could work in practical terms.

Jeff Price

 

Think radical, @Jeff - even if it means the demise of the Plc as we know it

Steve