Resignation

Today I resigned from the chairmanship of Eynsford Parish Council, after approaching 8 years as its chairman. I had planned to remain as the chairman until the elections in May. However, after careful thought, I decided that it was better all round were I to go now.

Today, Jan and I also completed the purchase of a house in Elham, near Canterbury, and will be moving there on 9th December. Although this will not make it impossible to chair Eynsford Parish Council, it will make it difficult and, perhaps, not appropriate. Also, on balance, I felt that it would be good to get a new chairman/chairwoman on board before the May elections.

In order to prevent the need to get another councillor on board before the elections, I will be remaining as a councillor until then. If necessary, I will be able to dial into meetings from Elham, rather than travel up. At least it will give me that option, which I would not really have as chairman.

When I complete this term of office, I will have been a parish councillor for twenty years, which at 10 hours a week, will equate to about 10,400 hours of my time. To say that it has been a major part of my life would, therefore, not be an exaggeration. I hope that, in that time, I have been able to contribute positively to life in Eynsford. I have taken a great deal of pleasure from the work, as well as some pain, so there will be a mixed bag of memories.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our current clerks, Holly Ivaldi and Naomi Wolfe, for the great support that they have given me as chairman over the last 8 years, and to wish them well for the future. Also to thank our county councillor, Roger Gough, and our district councillor, Michael Horwood, with whom I have worked very harmoniously over the years. Finally, I would like to thank all councillors and clerks, both past and present, many of whom have come to become good friends. I shall miss them all, and I shall miss Eynsford.

As vice-chairman, Nick Rodway will be in temporary charge until 18th December, when a new chairman/chairwoman will be elected, preferably from someone who intends to re-stand for election in May. Given the temporary nature of Nick's position, it may be that there are no further Chairman's Blogs between now and 18th December.

May I finish by wishing all parishioners a very happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.