A downside of the Integra business having grown and become more successful is that I have had to take the decision to significantly reduce my local community activities.
I have, until recently been giving some 250 volunteer hours a year to local activities, time that I now wish to spend on my business and with my family.
In March I resigned my position on the Parish Council as I felt I couldn’t give this the time that it requires and that, on the basis that I don’t do anything unless I believe I can do it well, it was better to step aside.
The Council comprises 15 committed and well intentioned individuals plus a small dedicated administration team but I must admit to having felt enormous frustration at the ponderous processes involved in decision making, partly as a result of legislative bureaucracy but also due to the lack of “commerciality and business-like approaches” that are desperately needed.
It is true that there are also one or two people who like to dominate the Council and get involved in everything rather than allowing a more delegated structure that allows decisions and actions to occur. I admire theire dedication but not their approach.
I joined the Council to try and bring change and succeeded in driving a few initiatives – the sharing of premises with Chalfont St Giles Parish Council, the launch of a 100 trees for Chalfont St Peter campaign (the first twenty of which will be planted this year), the organisation (with help from Gold Hill Baptist Church) of VE celebrations last year and the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations last month, improved communications with local residents through greater use of social media and the production of a communications policy. However, despite believing that winners never quit and quitters never win, I have taken the decision to step down and get on with my life in other ways.
I have also stood down from the Neighbourhood Action Group where I was Vice Chairman and will be standing down from the Feast Day committee at the end of this year after seven years involved in running the most fabulous Summer and Christmas Events that will have raised well over £80,000 for local good causes.
Feast Day will take place on June 25th this year and another splendid event is planned. Unfortunately, as a victim of its own success, no evening concert will happen this year – safety and security issues need to be hopefully resolved – a lack of volunteers and an increasing burden of “red tape” and people quick to gripe about everything from noise, traffic, parking etc. plus a small number of irresponsible attendees has made the event less enjoyable to organise. I hope we can find a way of resolving the issues so the event can continue.
The same is true of the Christmas Fun Night in December. It is getting harder to organise with the number of “obstacles” being put in the way of the event increasing and the ability to run it on a viable basis decreasing as a result.
Having re-read this column, it would be easy to think that I have fallen “out of love” with Chalfont St Peter and it is true that there are some aspects that have “annoyed the hell out of me” but it is still a wonderful village and I know that there are still a small but had working minority of people locally doing their best to keep the village alive. I shall still do my bit but from the side-lines for the foreseeable future.
Finally I just want to take the opportunity to record the passing of Ken Arton who died last month and whose funeral I recently attended. Ken was a true village champion and was involved in most village community activities including being a founder member of the Chamber of Commerce. A true gentleman, his funeral was attended by a large gathering from within Chalfont St Peter who took the opportunity to give thanks for Ken's life and work. RIP.