Letter: It’s Sad That So Many Seem Ready To Criticise Effingham’s Volunteers

Published on: 4 Aug, 2017
Updated on: 4 Aug, 2017

The EVRT committee at their AGM

From Liz Hogger

Effingham Village Recreational Trust (EVRT) trustee, Effingham parish councillor and Lib Dem borough councillor for Effingham

In response to: Dragon Report Captured Well Unhappy Atmosphere of AGM

As an EVRT trustee, I would like to respond to Mr King’s points. I should make clear these are my own personal comments and I am not speaking on behalf of the EVRT Board of Trustees.

It’s sad that so many seem ready to criticise volunteers but very few are prepared to put in the hours needed to keep a great facility like Effingham’s KGV in a sustainable place.

I mentioned in my previous letter the positive things missed out from the first report on the AGM, but wish to respond further to the numbered points raised by Mr King.

1. The plans for the KGV rebuild were done by Effingham Parish Council, not EVRT. However as I made clear at the AGM, the rebuild is not dependent on the planning appeal being allowed. Indeed the joint working group between the Parish Council and EVRT continues to meet and is investigating fund-raising options and reviewing the plans in the light of users’ comments (including the rugby club) and the results of the survey.

2. Certainly we would hope to publish the results of the survey in due course, once we have had time to analyse them and to work out a business plan for how we can deliver the improvements people want. The KGV charity needs to have sustainable finances (that’s one of the reasons being a trustee is hard work). We have a small reserve for small projects, but anything major requires external grant-funding.

3. Trustee Chris Iles pointed out at the AGM that trustees and parish councillors had met with the rugby club at the earliest opportunity. That dialogue continues, involving not only the rugby club but all other users in the review of the plans.

4. It can be hard to balance the best interests of the village and KGV community against the potential nuisance to neighbours. We have limited Loolabells’ evening opening hours (and received much criticism for that) to try and lessen the impact on neighbours.

5. The Trustees have been in constant dialogue with EPFA (Effingham Playing Fields Association) for the last two years. The formal letter followed several meetings and email exchanges and was intended to draw a line and explain to the club that we expected them to comply with the terms of their licence, for example, to avoid damage to fire alarms. As I said at the AGM, the trustees are pleased things have improved greatly since that letter was sent and we hope to be able to work constructively with the club in the future.

6. EPFA did not receive a ‘comprehensive response’ because all the issues they raised have already been discussed thoroughly with them, and we can’t keep going round and round the same arguments. As secretary to the trust, I can confirm that we do respond to all correspondence received.

7. Chairman Gill Bowerman did her utmost to allow the audience to have their say while ensuring the charity got through the business we are obliged to conduct at a formal AGM. To describe her efforts as ‘shambolic’ is an insult to a hard working-volunteer. It wasn’t the formal reports which delayed things, it was the fact that Gill allowed residents to speak from the very beginning.

8. As Mr King surely knows, a few people in both EPFA and the rugby club feel aggrieved because the trustees have obliged both clubs to have a formal licence agreement in place rather than the previous undocumented arrangements. This was done to ensure the trust is run in accordance with charity law and to make sure both clubs pay a fair ‘rent’ without needing subsidy from council tax payers through the parish council precept. It inevitably takes time for such formal agreements to be accepted by all; I feel the new arrangements are working well for the benefit of the whole Effingham community, including the club members.

9. Gill Bowerman had told the Board of Trustees before the AGM that she wished to step down from the chair due to her full-time work commitments. She has led the trust very ably through some extremely difficult times for the last four years and deserves a break now. We are pleased Gill is staying on as a trustee, and that Chris Iles has agreed to take over as chair.

It’s a huge shame Mr King regards my comments as “spin’.” I’ve been in public life in Effingham for over 20 years and have always tried to be honest, transparent and accountable to the public I attempt to serve. As someone who has faced the ballot box and invited public comment, I can’t complain if people view me with cynicism, as sadly that is the fate of politicians at all levels these days. However, such a cynical attitude becomes seriously harmful when it is extended to other volunteers merely trying to serve their community in a generally thankless task.

Ed: The Guildford Dragon NEWS apologises for the delayed publication of this letter which was submitted on July 16 2017 but was unfortunately overlooked.

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