WILL THERE BE INTERESTING TIMES FOR TEP?

The Chinese curse “May you live in interesting times!” has been much on my mind in recent weeks.  The oriental origins of this saying may be spurious (apparently it has not been found in Chinese literature) but the sentiments are spot on.  These are indeed interesting times for everyone except those who would prefer a quiet life.  International disturbances – economic, political, social and environmental – dominate the news.  Those big winds of change have significant local consequences.  Learning how to do even more with even less is just one of them.  Steering a small charity like Thames Estuary Partnership through such stormy waters is a challenge for all of us on the management team.  I thought you might like a progress report from the Bridge!

Promoting sustainable development on and around the Thames is TEP’s mission. Six months into my role as Chair, I am learning fast about this charity’s excellent reputation for delivering lasting improvements for Thames Estuary people and wildlife.  Everything we achieve is done by working alongside others.  The sheer range of activities is impressive and well-illustrated by articles here in “Talk of the Thames”.  For that reason I will not be offering yet another list.  If you want more details why not go to our website at www.thamesweb.com.  Our challenge now is to create a sustainable TEP that can continue making the Thames Estuary a better place.

The essential boring stuff has been scrutinising TEP’s business plan line by line.  We now have a much clearer view of the financial and staffing pinch points.  Actions to tackle these are complete or underway.  Once again, the detail is on our website. We have moved quickly to reinforce administration and communications so as to release more of Jill’s time and energy for partnership working.  There is no point in having an exceptionally talented Executive Director who is buried in routine paperwork.

The more exciting tasks that put a spring in the step of this aged Chair have been meeting our management team colleagues, sponsors and key partners.  I count myself very fortunate to have joined such able and supportive colleagues.  I will spare the blushes of the individuals in this roll call. Even so on my visits to senior executives at the Environment Agency, Natural England, Port of London Authority, Thames Water, UCL Environment Institute, Marine Management Organisation and Defra, I have been met everywhere with encouragement and help in cash or in kind.  TEP will need more of both commodities to fulfil everyone’s expectations.  As I mentioned before, the Big Society cannot be delivered as a freebie.  Enthusiastic support from these strong partners gives me confidence that we can succeed.

Ours is a worthwhile mission.  My grandfather was a leading wharfinger at Hay’s Wharf in the 1940’s and 1950’s.  He would not have approved of the Hays Galleria perched on his workplace but he would thank us warmly for improving quality of life on his beloved river.  My hope is that some years from now TEP will earn even warmer thanks from my granddaughter.  That’s what I mean by a sustainable Thames Estuary.

Peter Bye

Chair, Thames Estuary Partnership

May 2011