The Broadfield branch of the Labour party had its AGM tonight.  I stood down as Chair – I think two years (or is it three?) is long enough, and now I can concentrate more on  Horsham.  That is the good news. The even better news is that one of our newer, younger members has been persuaded to take over.

I always have mixed feelings about trying to involve newer members in too much, too soon.  There are undoubted benefits in having someone younger with more energy and with fresh ideas and a different perspective taking on a position within the party, and it also helps to stop newer members drifting off if you can chain them to some officer post.  On the other hand you do not want to scare them off by making them feel pressurised into taking on more than they can handle.

That is not to say that our new Chair can’t handle it.  He is articulate, intelligent and has a family background in the party – his grandfather is a Labour councillor who will give him plenty of advice.  It is just that sometimes we do not always give new officers the support they need while they are finding their feet, so I am going to make sure that he gets a bit of a hand-over and a session with the new secretary so they can agree between them who is going to do what.

One thing is certain: he sounds like he intends to keep the Broadfield branch operating with the friendly, welcoming atmosphere we have been cultivating. I’m looking forward to taking more of a back seat in the branch where I can, with any luck, watch Kieran make the breakthrough in increasing membership that always eluded me.