Hugh Meares, the Mayor of Runnymede and Borough Councillor for Englefield Green West has written an ‘End of Year Review’, reflecting upon the Borough’s high and low points over the past twelve months.
I thought, with 2007 drawing rapidly to a close, that I would share a few of Hugh’s observations with you.
“The most striking and saddest moment of the year with the outbreak of Foot and Mouth in Runnymede was that no one was quite sure what strange link of wind, water or passage chose to connect us with the original outbreak at Pirbright. Some 2,250 cattle were culled in Runnymede and the total cost of the two outbreaks has been estimated at up to £600m to the British economy”
“We all know that this year has been one of intense combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and I think that we are all disturbed by the fact that former Chiefs of Staff have felt it necessary to state publicly that they feel that our armed forces are getting insufficient support. In Runnymede we support our troops and are proud of their combat record. Territorial soldiers from 886 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Troop, in Chertsey have been deployed in active combat zones in Afghanistan, and in Baghdad”
“Runnymede is very fortunate to be a debt free authority with reserves of £7m. In Runnymede, the Council Tax this year for a Band D property has been £1,301, with £120 going to the Borough and the rest mostly paying for county-wide services. This was the lowest district council tax in Surrey. Against this, we spend £160 per head on services - one of the highest in Surrey – because we commit to such discretionary services as day centres, Dial-A-Ride and community safety”
“To balance our books we really need to raise our part of the tax by about £50, which would place us close to the Surrey average. We can’t do this, partly because we are capped [and as a result] the Council has had to embark on a sharp program of savings. You will be pleased to recall, however, that 18 months ago Runnymede agreed to continue providing grant funding to community and voluntary organisations for five years at the same level”
“[We have] redevelopment plans for the Council Land at the centre of Egham, to be a 30,000 sq ft supermarket and a hotel plus more parking, which significantly revitalise the town centre”
“There was one other rather strange happening in the year and that was that Runnymede was officially announced equal top in a survey of national drinking. Relatively few people of enduring distinction have lived in the Borough and our two most famous past residents are Charles James Fox and Abraham Cowley. I don’t want to excuse him - it was after all the age of reason and enlightenment - but Charles Fox was a legendary drinker, while his great rival, William Pitt was documented as drinking three bottles of port a day during his premiership! Our other great resident was the great restoration poet, Abraham Cowley, who lived in Chertsey near the top of Guildford Street. He died one night going home with his friends, when he was so drunk that he fell into a ditch; they were too drunk to pull him out; and, unfortunately, he was dead when they found him in the morning. His finest poem – and I suspect some of you may have already anticipated this – is a short poem entitled “Drinking””
On a personal note, I have hugely enjoyed the privilege of being one of Englefield Green’s three councillors for the past eight months and look forward to the year ahead.
All the best to you and your family for 2008!
