8/9/2019 Company Council Minutes March 2010

1/4

1

AgreedSOUTH WEST TRAINS LTD

Memorandum of South West Trains Company Council

Meeting held at Friars Bridge Court on

16th March 2010

Present

Representing SWT Representing the Staffs Side

Christian Neill (Chair) Rickey Goodman

Andrew Fairbank John Walsh

June Pengelly (Secretary) Ian Heritage

Michael Campbell

Dave Henderson (Co-opted)

John Donoghue (Co-opted)

Opening the meeting, Andrew welcomed Christian Neil explaining that future

retail meetings would be chaired by him as acting Head of Stations.

1. General Business Update

Winter Weather

Thank you to all staff involved in providing a service during the winter

weather disruptions. A great achievement and a job really well done.

Southampton Tunnel

Confirmed that alterations in Southampton tunnel resulting in major alterations

to the train service had been completed and had gone well.

Basingstoke Area Re-signalling

Phase three to take place over the Easter period causing significant service

alterations.

Video help points

All now in operation. An eight week review has been held at which minor issues

were highlighted and have since been resolved. Further review to be held at 16

weeks.

National Passenger Survey

Overall passenger satisfaction retained at 86%, higher than the average of

other London and South East train operating companies. Improvement in customersatisfaction in availability and helpfulness of on train staff and car parking

facilities. Reduced satisfaction with regard to train cleaning, need to

understand whether this is down to litter picking or heavier cleaning. Fleet

currently working on problems connected with toilet facilities.

Water Bowser

A new water bowser will shortly enter service at Waterloo to improve our

tanking capability.

Uniform

Recycling scheme for old uniforms now in place located at the uniform centre

Waterloo.

8/9/2019 Company Council Minutes March 2010

2/4

2

SMART Card

The pilot scheme for SMART cards has been extended on to the main line.

Passengers who travel on the lines affected will be written to and advised of

the details of the pilot scheme.

Gold Star

IT currently working on resolving problems.

Sign changes

London area signs will be changed to include zone numbers for PAYG (Pay As You

Go) customers.

2. Smoking on Stations

Staff side said that a number of complaints were being received via passengers

smoking on stations, a lack of signs and announcements made it very difficult

for staff to enforce rules.

Christian Neil responded that where once signage had been overt, now no smoking

had been incorporated into the overall dont poster. Where problems are

encountered at specific stations or groups of stations these should be raised

with local management.

3. Minimum Free Day Payment

It was confirmed that conditions of service agreements relating to minimum free

day payments must be applied.

4. Filling of Vacancies

Staff side complained that a number of gate line vacancies were not being

filled and agency staff were being used on a regular basis. Some agency staff

were not competent in all aspects of the role leading to problems for other

members of staff.

Christian Neil explained that authority to fill posts had been given to the

recruitment centre.

8/9/2019 Company Council Minutes March 2010

3/4

3

5. GPR Establishment Reading/Windsor

Christian Neil said that following the last meeting held on 30th November 2009,

the matter had been considered and there was no requirement for changing the

number of GPR staff as adequate cover was provided by current figures.

Staff side said that the ratio of one 7 should be applied when calculating the

number of relief staff.

Christian Neil responded that it was his view that as far as cover was

concerned, only 0.5 of a post was required to cover a part time position. A

business decision had to be made and there was no case for increasing the

relief cover.

6. Payment of Meal Allowance

An instance where meal allowances claimed in accordance with agreed conditions

of service was discussed. It was confirmed that agreements would be adhered to

and the Area Manager concerned would be contacted.

7. Stage 1/2 paperwork SWT Attendance Procedure

Complaint received from staff side that paper work not always being provided to

representatives since H/R no longer involved in the early stages of the

Attendance Procedure.

Christian Neil to reiterate to managers the importance of providing paperwork

to nominated representatives.

8. Data Protection 52 Week Attendance Procedure

Staff side said that insufficient care was being taken to keep details of 52

week attendance prints confidential as some had been spotted on management and

support clerks desks.

Christian Neil to raise matter with managers to ensure that under no

circumstances should such prints be left where they could be viewed by

unauthorised staff.

9. TVM Security

Staff side said they believed an agreement existed that there must always be

two staff present when cash was being collected from a TVM.

Christian Neil responded that he was not aware of any such agreement. Security

cash regulations stated that two people should carry out the task where

possible but this could not be accommodated at the single staffed stations. In

these cases staff could take additional precautions by requesting that the CCSC

turn camera on them, or carrying panic alarms, however if a member of staff has

a very strong concern they should discuss it with their manager.

10. Revenue Signing on Times

Staff side said that whilst the minute of the meeting held 30th November showed

this item deferred, it was their opinion that it had been a failed to agree andas such should be escalated to the next level of the machinery.

8/9/2019 Company Council Minutes March 2010

4/4

4

Andrew Fairbank said that at the last meeting we did not have all the data for

signing on/off time at individual depots and this needed to be clarified before

the item was escalated. Item deferred to next meeting

11. Station Visits

Dates of the staff side annual station visits to be provided.