Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

One wonders why the nomination for the extra trustee was received only four days before the closing date - it would seem that the trust was unaware of his intention to stand.[/QUOTE]

One wonders why trains don’t leave early, surely leaving 4 minutes early won’t mess up anyone’s day???


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Surely those using a proxy vote, can specify who/what they want to vote for if they wish. If you cannot attend in person, then a proxy vote has got to be better than simply not responding at all.
On the other hand . . . If you trust your proxy then nothing wrong with allowing them to use your vote whichever way they like.

 

To any who don't, I'd suggest you should have thought harder about who you chose!

 

I don't have a form to hand, but at Didcot, I'm pretty sure that while the default proxy is the chairman, the form has a provision allowing the voter to nominate someone else. However in practice, if you do use the chairman as your proxy, then your vote isn't counted unless there's a tie in the room. For what it's worth, the L&B form only lists the chairman as a proxy, although I hasten to add that I'm not trying to imply any impropriety with L&B proxy voting.

Buuuut... signing off AGM paperwork and voting forms, before the nomination period for new trustees has even opened? Personally, I don't consider that to be an 'oopsie, lessons will be learnt' kind of scenario.

 

I have followed the proxy thread with mild interest. Proxy voting is a fact of life. However, the time-line calling for trustee nominations followed by voting papers distribution and then giving sufficient time for a reply is frankly too compressed, particularly so for me and others of like ilk, given that I reside in Australia. Incidentally I posted some letters recently from Australia to England which took almost eight weeks to arrive...

I wonder whether any thought has been given to electronic voting now that we are well into the twenty-first century? Regardless, the whole issue needs careful consideration by the L&BR Trust with appropriate remediation to prevent any future cock-ups. (I don't believe in conspiracy theories.)

 

i totally agree here,unless i missed some information in a newsletter or something (which i very well could have)the first notification i received of these trustees seats coming up for re-election(likewise with the CIC) was when i received the ballot paper itself,does the Trust inform its members of the seats coming up for re-election in plenty of time so that if they wish,they could put their names forward when the nominee window opens !

 

The 'constitution' (or whatever it is called officially) defines the percentage of Trustees who have to retire by rota at each AGM, so it is de facto that a certain number of seat will always be 'up for grabs' each year anyway. And of course there can always be more nominations than actual vacancies.

 

I recently took part in a heritage railway society AGM which provided for prior completion of a proxy vote online. Even without that 'sophistication', there should be no reason IMHO why a 'distant' member should not be able to complete the proxy vote form, sign it, scan it, then e-mail a PDF to the Company Secretary - I've done that also recently.

 

While it’s true that the assiduous observer should know there will always be a certain number of vacancies falling due by rotation each year, I think it is useful for members considering standing to know who those specific named people are, rather than just that there will be eg three vacancies. That helps if you feel you have specific skills to choose the year to stand when the incumbent with similar skills is standing (or indeed maybe choosing not to stand again).

The mechanics will play out regardless, but I don’t see any harm in an organisation making a statement some months in advance along the lines “at the AGM in n months time, the following trustees will be standing down by rotation. Any member wishing to stand should look out for nominations which open on …” etc etc. Given copy deadlines and so on for membership magazines, that might mean giving some months informal advance warning of what the formal electoral business of the AGM will inevitably consist of.

Tom

 

It would be interesting to see on this forum a posting from a Trust representative clearing up how all this happened. However, the Trust prides itself on ignoring social media most of the time (especially Nat Pres) so I doubt we will see a post from them...

 

I feel sure that members will be made aware in due course - either in the newsletter or on the members pages. I can understand the reluctance to put something on a publically available forum. Not everybody who is a member of NatPres is an enthusiast - I saw posts on another thread from an arch-opposer of another railway - trying to generate a response.

It seems to me that the there is a problem with the timetable in getting paperwork ready for the AGM(s) which needs to be addressed. I am involved with a couple of other voluntary groups where we have problems getting people to volunteer to stand for committees. It would be good to get enough nominees to fill the committee let alone have an election. So I can understand the reasons why the paperwork was prepared early.

I suppose the silence makes it difficult to decide how to cast one's vote - but I don't think an open forum is the place to discuss this. One must draw one's own conclusions about the situation and vote accordingly.

 

I will be attending the gala on Sunday 26th - happy to say hello to any other NatPres attendees.

 

Thinking more about the actual election process.....

There are now 4 candidates for 3 vacancies. In theory therefore votes should be cast for all 4 candidates as a single Agenda Item and the one with the lowest score will not get elected.

However the Agenda actually lists each candidate's vote as a separate Agenda Item in sequential order, which would mean that - taking each Item in turn - once the first three candidates have had their votes cast and counted, and provided that each one has more votes in favour than against, then 3 candidates will be approved and so there will be no vacancy left for the 4th candidate.

 

That strongly suggests cock-up rather than conspiracy - if deliberate, then it would be so obviously biased as to fail the "will it work" test.

I just hope that all the effort going into the extension isn't leaving a gap on some basic internal organisational hygeine.

 

I hope the L & B Sept Gala goes well and that the AGM is positive, there is so much support around the country - and from even further away, for this line's re-instatement. I also hope that there is some explanation given for this unexpected voting "situation", that will get posted on here.

 

ConRod1's stirring went well, eventually ... Not bad for a new account, entirely anonymous, only posting about one thing.

David

 

Just as a courtesy, no matter what you think of someone's motivations, if you're going to refer to someone by name, and not quote their post, it's good practice to mention them by typing '@' and then their username… eg @ConRod1 … that way they are notified and can respond to your comment if they're not routinely checking into the forum.

Simon

 

If you are referring to @ConRod1 s initial post then I think you will find it is a time line of how things were actually done, if mistakes are being made or corners cut then why shouldn't he/she be able to highlight this or share their concerns, it seems criticism of some heritage lines shouldn't be allowed according to some, now I wouldn't say there is any comparison with the L&BR but we only have to look to the other side of Exmoor to see what happens when people get complacent with the actions of those in charge

 

Having spent the last few Sundays up at Chelfham devising and installing a non 'trip hazard' cable route with one of the regular volunteers for the up-starter signal I have just been informed that one of the signal guys has joined everything up and it is now working from the lever, hopefully everything will hold out OK as I can imagine that it will see a lot of use over the weekend

 

I bet it will! Who could resist?
I saw from the latest mag, that the down starter is also up and looking resplendent. Has the up home been placed yet?
I'm dying to get down there for a visit. It really is a slice of heaven at Chelfham.