ST PETER PORT’S former junior constable is seeking a return to the role just weeks after resigning, in a three-way election due to take place next week.
Ken Acott, who stepped down at the end of September after almost two years in the position, will face serving douzeniers Rosie Henderson and Chris Nicolle in the deferred election on Wednesday 18 November.
Mr Acott told parishioners at Wednesday’s meeting that he had reconsidered his decision after receiving encouragement from members of the community. He said he had originally taken on the position at a time when the douzaine was facing significant difficulties, including a three-year backlog of accounts not filed and concerns over the involvement of douzeniers in parish affairs.
‘While we have made considerable headway, I’ve been increasingly frustrated by the structure and organisation in which I was operating,’ he said.
‘With regret, I was unable to drive the full level of improvement I believe the parish should be making.’
However, he said the response to his resignation had persuaded him to stand again.
‘I can assure you, I have not lost my commitment to the parish of St Peter Port.’
Mrs Henderson, who has served as a douzenier for 10 of the past 11 years, also acknowledged that there had been disagreements within the parish, but said she was confident these could be overcome. She had met with senior constable Diane Mitchell to discuss her concerns and had been reassured they could work together constructively.
Mrs Mitchell, meanwhile, praised the progress made by the parish in recent years, paying tribute to its staff, douzeniers and volunteers.
‘We were in a difficult place a few years ago, and I think we’ve made huge leaps and bounds in the parish, and we should be very, very proud of where we are,’ she told the meeting.
She thanked the two douzeniers who retired from their roles this term – Denyse McGahy and Rachael McCutcheon – and highlighted the expansion of the parish office team, the dedication of grounds staff and the success of the parish’s award-winning floral displays.
Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Mitchell said tensions between candidates were not unusual during elections, but the focus should remain on serving parishioners.
‘Our responsibility in the parish is to serve the parishioners, and we need to ensure that the processes we have in place deliver for parishioners,’ she said.
‘It’s not about who gets on with whom. It’s about how we serve.’
Eight douzeniers were elected unopposed at the meeting, including Mrs Henderson, who will serve another four-year term.
The others were Barrie Duerden, Christopher Hudson, Mary McDermott and Philip Smith – all for a four-year term, John Gollop for two years, and Farrukh Zeeshan and Fiona Naftel for one year.
Polling stations will be open from 10am to 8pm for the deferred constables election. Parish officials appealed for volunteers to help staff them.
Other matters raised at the meeting included concerns about overgrown hedges and the appearance of the bus garage, while parishioners praised the installation of traditional swan-neck street lamps and historical articles published on the parish’s Facebook page – with one request for such articles to be made into a book.
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