In another breathtaking piece of disregard for public opinion, Boston Assembly Rooms have been sold – with councillors being denied the chance to debate the issue.

The decision was taken in secret at last week’s Cabinet meeting – and we hear that the Mayor has agreed that it should be exempt from the Call In procedure.

This means that the decision cannot be referred to the council for discussion, and cannot therefore be reversed.

As you know, the Cabinet comprises a less-than-magnificent seven members – some of whom seriously believe that they capable of taking decisions such as these without any recourse to openness and wider discussion.

We hear that despite what looked like a full agenda - with five major items for discussion – including the member learning and development strategy, the council’s improvement plan, and discussion on the town’s designated public place order – the cabinet stormed through the business, then ejected the public and press and clinched the Assembly Rooms deal just half an hour or so after the meeting opened at 10am.

The role of the Mayor in the decision is causing much concern in some areas.

The Mayor is theoretically above party politics during his year of office – which has prompted speculation as to what choice he was given in granting this exemption from challenge and debate.

Apparently, the description of the way in which the building might be used suggests a slightly more up market development that a mere conversion to a night club.

But  a rose by any other name would smell as much, and it still seems the most likely use – especially as the last time the building was considered for disposal, use as night club was ruled out ... with the result that no interest was shown. 

That said, the building has been a function room for almost two centuries – i.e. a place where people eat, drink and be merry.

What does concern us, though, is that if the building is to be used as a night club, it extends the boundary for premises of this kind from behind the public frontage to the heart of the town – which unless properly controlled and managed, may not be a good thing.

But then what do we know, compared with the Cabinet, which doesn’t even think that their other colleagues on the council should be allowed a vote.

Ironically, the Mayor is reported to have commented that he wouldn’t vote in favour of this deal if he had a vote. 

It seems to have escaped his notice that apart from the political brigands in the cabinet, no-one will be given a vote on the matter.

Although the issue of whether it is appropriate for a night club to be allowed in the heart of the town, we expect that another issue will be the one that will make the headlines.

There is a rumour that if the sale goes through, the public conveniences – which form part of the building - may not stay open.

Cue howls of protest and letters galore to the editors of the town’s local newspapers - as there is nothing Bostonians seem to hate more than a disruption to their bodily functions.

The great sadness in all of this is that the Assembly Rooms might have remained in public ownership had successive councils been more prudent, and allocated reasonable sums towards maintenance and upkeep on an annual basis.

Instead, they have let the Assembly Rooms decay until they now require an unaffordable amount to decorate and restore to an acceptable internal standard.

Imagine the uproar if similar neglect had threatened monuments in places more important than Boston.

The fact is that  - not for the first time - Boston Borough Council has connived in the denigration of its heritage whilst remaining  ignorant of the cost.

The Assembly Rooms were on the market for £445,000.

Next on the agenda is the disposal of the Haven Gallery – which cost a couple of million or so to build, and has been a white elephant since its inception.

Which reminds us -  we are still pumping money into the Princess Royal Sports Arena.

And if you think we are treating the Cabinet harshly, then stick around.

We have some interesting insights for you over the coming days which will show the level of contempt the members  have for us - the public - and the high regard in which some of them hold themselves.

  

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Our former blog is archived at: http://bostoneyelincolnshire.blogspot.com