You know how these things work. It was a good idea at the time, until the reality kicked in. “You should write a blog” they said. What they meant was, “you do lots of stuff but you need to get better at shouting about it.” Well, they did ask.

What makes us so special? Well, we’re not special but we are also not the Council. We are an independent company, funded through the business rates system, which has a five-year mandate to run your town centre, albeit outside of any statutory responsibilities.

We are the closest thing you will ever get to a democratically elected private body running your town. We are a regulated, notfor- profit, Business Improvement District (BID) company, one of more than 160 across the country.

Ok, enough with the formalities. You probably don’t care what structure we have. It’s about what happens out on the street. Let’s start by recapping last month.

October was the first month of our second year in operation. This meant that the Board really needed to sign-off the annual business plan. They did, but it took three separate meetings.

Someone was overheard recently to say that they thought town centres just ran themselves. If only!

We get involved in just about everything that could possible happen within a town centre.

This month we organised the Christmas Light Switch-On event for November, spent ten hours overnight with national assessors studying our night-time economy, installed a new security radio system, launched a new website, developed a new training programme for local businesses and revised our business model in order to recruit a new member of staff.

And that was just the headlines.

So what? Well, this Christmas you will see more lights, we will offer you food, we’ve gone childfriendly for a celebratory switch-on and a big Santa’s Grotto with real reindeer and we have the new BMW i3 in town. Happy kids, happy parents, humbug to the haters!

Our overnight assessment hopefully means that we will retain our Purple Flag status, making us one of only forty-two towns and cities in the UK to offer a recognised safe and varied night-time offer.

This means better promotion for businesses and increased safety for those of you out-and-about.

Our new security radio system means that we are stepping up the fight against crime in the town and will now also link to Marlow. Crime figures are already down but those who offend could now be banned from both towns.

Our mobile-friendly website means that you have an easy one-stop-shop to what goes on in the town centre and what is on offer for local businesses. You should be following us on social media anyway!

Find our website at www.hwbidco.co.uk Our training courses will provide better skills for local employees. One in particular, that addresses lone-working away from the business, is pertinent considering the death of a take-away delivery driver last week.

Our recruitment drive to find a Town Ranger is underway. We are looking to have someone outand- about all the time talking to businesses and the public, and sorting out issues in the town.

A highly visible presence in town will leave you no excuses for not getting involved. Looking for a career change? Check out our job advert on the website.

Phew, enough already. Not much opinion or debate this time but it is important to set the scene.

Our monthly updates will be just that, updates. However, in-between we will provide opinion and challenge to the issues and activities in town – starting with Christmas. Be warned!