Parking mad! ... will call to reconsider disabled charges do anything?

It's unlikely - as greedy Tories will probably win the day ... because they can!

 Tomorrow sees what we expect to be a largely pointless political exercise – but one which our council "leaders" can claim as an example of democracy in action.

Well, they need one from time to time.

The meeting of Boston Borough Council’s Environment and Performance Committee will consider a “call-in” of the cabinet decision on car parking strategy.
The committee has three options on - to reject the call-in request; refer the matter back to the cabinet for further discussion, or to the full council for debate.
We’re not given to betting here at Boston Eye – but if we were, we’d put our money on option one – especially given that six of the eleven committee members are Conservatives and therefore unlikely to rough up their own cabinet.
The request for the call-in  was made by the borough’s three Labour councillors – Paul Kenny, Paul Goodale and Paul Gleeson - along with Independent Councillor Carol Taylor.
They argue that disabled people were not properly consulted in the process,  because consultations were still going on when the decision was taken.
They also say that the draft strategy was not reconsidered by members of the council, and that there was not enough information on costings and consideration of alternatives.
Even if all this is true, it wouldn’t be the first time that our "leaders" have run roughshod over their council colleagues and the electorate -  and we are sure that the Tory leopard is unlikely to change its spots this time around.
The parking strategy report reads something like a fairy story – so if you’re sitting comfortably, boys and girls, then we’ll begin …
Did you know that:-
“Car parking is one of the many functions that contribute towards the success of a town centre. It does this by supporting the local economy by providing access for residents and visitors to local businesses and town centre facilities.
“Car parking also provides access for the employees of town centre businesses.
“A well managed supply of safe, secure and easily accessible car parks will add to the experience of all groups visiting Boston town centre."
The strategy has seven objectives:  to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion; increase availability of parking in areas of highest demand; support access for everyone to local businesses and amenities; protect and improve the environment; provide safe, good quality parking; provide competitive charges for car park customers that protect the council’s income - and provide a service that embraces the use of technology.
It all sounds very comforting, doesn’t it?
But what it somehow fails to mention is the bottom line - that car parking charges make a fortune for the council – and without them it could have trouble making ends meet.
This aspect is sneaked in as the penultimate “objective” - using the entertaining words to “protect” the council’s income.
The contentious decision to charge disabled blue badge holders to park will not only protect that income – it is expected to boost it by £80,000 a year – so we can understand why the powers that be prefer the word “protect” to the word “profit.”
We hope that opponents of these unfair charges will win the day at tomorrow’s meeting – because if nothing else, it would be nice to  refer the issue back for debate, so that we be assured that it has been thoroughly aired and discussed and that the council as a whole supports the charges …  and not just an unrepresentative, self appointed gang of seven Tories  in a 32 member council where the Conservatives have a majority of just four.
And while they’re about it – how about a rethink of the shabby rule that uniquely now exempts council staff and members from paying to park  –  which costs the ratepayers more than £100,000 a year in lost revenue.

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