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Jubilee plans

We often wonder why  Boston Borough Council  takes such a laid back approach to business as the lengthy Christmas break extends into January – with meeting cancellations due to “lack of business.”
Obviously, things slow down at this time of year – but should January almost be written off in business terms?
It seems to us that a fallow month in the calendar could be an excellent time to get ahead of the jobs that need doing, rather than just taking it easy.
However, one meeting that has been brought forward, is that of the Boston Town Area Committee.
On January 24th BTAC meets with just one item on the agenda – “To consider proposals for an event to celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, with discussion to be led by the Chairman.”
This gives a mere four and a half months to cobble something together, and so far all that seems to have happened is a lot of talk and little else.
According to the borough council, “Plans are being hatched for Boston to be a blaze of red, white and blue for this summer’s Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations” … and  “It is hoped the big event will also include a special one-day event to be staged in the town’s Central Park.”
Now, it seems it is down to the meeting on the 24th to put some flesh on these very bony ambitions.
Things might have got underway a little sooner, had not other plans by Independent Councillor Carol Taylor been thwarted.
She had assembled an organising committee, and applied to book the town’s Central Park for June 4th for an event.
To say that the idea was cold-shouldered by key Tory figures on the council would be a huge understatement, but Councillor Taylor was still pressing ahead when she was abruptly informed that – by an amazing and hitherto unknown co-incidence – the date she wanted had already been booked!
So, it now seems down to the lacklustre BTAC - which could well find itself in something of a dilemma as one thing it cannot do is to fund a Jubilee celebration.
BTAC is what is name says; it is the Boston TOWN area Committee – a parish council for the town wards – comprising 16 members with seats in town wards.
Under the rules, the only things on which it can legally spend money must be exclusively or mainly for the benefit of town residents.
As a Jubilee celebration will draw visitors from across the borough – and beyond –any BTAC funding would be questionable.
The announcement has also been made that Boston Business Improvement District - the BID - will lend “a helping hand” - and if it took the form of money, it could solve  BTAC’s dilemma.
Already, two portfolio holders  - with responsibilities for leisure services and the town centre  - have gone on record ahead of the BTAC meeting.
Councillor Yvonne Gunter wants to see the town “a blaze of patriotic red, white and blue,” with “all areas of the town pulling together to make this a really special time for Boston.”
Councillor Derek Richmond has been less specific, content at this stage hat we should “make it a right royal ‘borough’ in 2012.”
However, one thing that is emerging is that the council looks like it will be doing little apart from getting others to take on the organisation and sponsorship of any celebrations.
As well as appealing for sponsorship, it has announced a “competition” for householders in Boston, with prizes for the best frontage displays of red, white and blue.
The event in Central Park – the date of which has not been confirmed, despite what Councillor Taylor was told – will also include the launch of a Victorian garden and the official unveiling of its central water fountain, “dedicated” to the Queen.
A Victorian garden to mark Queen  Elizabeth’s Jubilee - that’s Boston Borough Council for you!
And the Olympics get “into the mix” with a special Olympic rings flower display in Central Park - which we recall will involve the use of inspirationally painted tractor tyres.
The other thing that baffles us is the idea of concentrating the Jubilee celebration on Central Park.
The date will be around the time of the re-opening of the  "restored" Market Place  – and what better opportunity to tell the world than to include it in the Jubilee plans?
All around the country, people will be flocking to town and city squares to celebrate – but not, apparently, in Boston.
We’re off to the park and an event organised by .... who knows? ... and when?
Why are we dedicating a fountain in the park to the Queen – when with a little imagination, we could incorporate a feature into the Market Place as it is reborn in the Jubilee year?
And we don’t mean renaming the proposed Five Lamps bus stop as the  “Lizzie lights!”
Sadly, once again, it seems that no-one really seems to know what they are doing to mark the jubilee - nor do they care very much.
Noises are being made, and that is about all.
We wonder whether Boston Borough Council is the right organisation to be dealing with this – surely, a combined citizen/council committee would be a better way forward?
It could also be an excellent testing ground for the “town team” so favoured by Mary Portas and council officers.

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