REGULATIONS AS TO METHOD OF OPERATION

 

  1. In order that information is made available to the members quickly and clearly, a list of available machinery with a guide price list will be circulated annually or more often as the need arises.
  2. When a member requires work to be done (a demander), he should contact the Ring Manager as soon as possible.  Once he has received a request from a demander, it is the responsibility of the Ring Manager, as agent, to match up a member to supply the service (a supplier) and to notify him of his commitment.
  3. All members who intend to carry out work for the Machinery Ring should contact their Insurance Company to ensure that they are covered for contracting within the Ring and that they are fully insured to cover public liability.
  4. It is the responsibility of the supplier to ensure that equipment is mechanically sound and fit for its purpose and that it is fully guarded to comply with the rules of the Health and Safety legislation in force at that time.
  5. The demander should have full public liability insurance cover when work is being done on his farm.
  6. The Ring Manager must be notified immediately of any breakdowns on farm.  The operator will be given a reasonable length of time to have the machine operational again.  If for any reason the repair is going to take longer then the Ring Manager may appoint another member to complete the work.  The member will get paid for that part of the work which he had completed.
  7. The demander will be responsible for damage to the supplier’s machinery if caused by the demander’s neglect.
  8. All complaints regarding transactions between members should be made to the Ring Manager in the first instance.  If no satisfactory settlement can be arranged it is the member’s right to present his complaint at the next meeting of the Machinery Ring Management Committee, whose decision will be final.

    All complaints as to the general management of the Ring business should be made to either the Chairman or Vice-Chairman in the first instance.  If no satisfactory settlement can be arranged, a written statement should be sent to the Chairman with all relevant information for discussion at the next meeting of the Machinery Ring Management Committee, whose decision will be final.
  9. It is the supplier’s responsibility to return one copy of the signed work completion schedule to the Ring Manager.  In the event of the supplier not obtaining a signature from the demander because of his unavailability, the demander’s copy of the work completion schedule will be forwarded to the Ring office and he will have 7 days to make amendments.
  10. Members should have a current account:  at a bank together with authorisation for the Ring Manager to use this account as regards payment for work done among the members, by variable direct debit and credit.
  11. The supplier will normally be paid within twenty-eight (28) days of rendering the work completion schedule to the Ring Manager.
  12. The Machinery Ring will charge a levy on work done by members for members.  The charge will be set annually by the Machinery Ring Management Committee.  Half the levy will be paid by the demander and half by the supplier.
  13. The Machinery Ring is not responsible for any default in payment by any demander.
  14. All work is undertaken at rates as detailed in the recommended Guide Price List in force at the time.  Alterations in price due to operating conditions, quantity of work or any other circumstances may be negotiated, and the Ring Manager informed before work is started.
  15. Members are obliged to offer their spare machinery capacity through the Machinery Ring and to cover their own additional demand for machines from the Machinery Ring.

    If an arrangement through the Machinery Ring is not possible the member is free to offer and seek machine capacities outwith the Machinery Ring, after first informing the Ring Manager.
  16. All transactions in connection with the Machinery Ring must be made through the Ring Manager who is responsible to the Machinery Ring Management Committee.
  17. Members can use the Machinery Ring as a source of sub-contracting for work to non-Ring Members.  The member will collect his own bill through his normal invoicing system and the Ring Member who is the sub-contractor will be paid through the Machinery Ring system.
  18. Members carrying out work for non-Ring Members should not charge less than their rate for Machinery Ring Members for that particular service.
  19. Arranging contracts between demander and supplier members, the Machinery Ring acts at all times as an agent and not as principal.  Invoice documentation should clearly state that the Machinery Ring acts as an agent for its members.  The Machinery Ring cannot be held liable for any damage or loss caused by any arrangement made by the Ring Manager.
  20. Each individual member, farming partnership or Company which is a member shall pay such annual subscription, to the Machinery Ring as shall be decided by the Ring Management Committee.
  21. In the event of the Machinery Ring accepting a grant or loan from anybody, the members of the Machinery Ring bind themselves to accept the rules and/or conditions attached to the grant or loan.