The biggest annual mutual grooming exercise in local government gets underway today with the start of the  three-day Local Government Association conference – and fear not, good burghers of Boston, your humble borough council will be there representing you.
In previous years, attendance for this bash has been given an advance mention in council agendas – so that members at least have a chance to raise an eyebrow and if they wish, question the value for money of going to it.
But we are told that this year, councillors were only informed of the event last week -  at the same time they were told that Boston Borough Council’ delegates would be the leader, Peter Bedford, his deputy, Michael Brookes, and the spokesman for the next largest group – who this time around is Independent Councillor Richard Leggott.
With such a fait accompli, it has not been possible for anyone to ask if it’s worth it.
But one councillor told Boston Eye: “I was shocked by what I consider to be a massively expensive jolly. How can we quantify the value that this will return to the people of Boston, and indeed across this cash strapped land, whilst jobs are lost and living costs are spiralling?”
Tickets for this dog hanging are £495 each – and that’s the discounted rate for LGA members - which excludes accommodation, and travel costs, or meals.
We estimate the cost of our three delegates won’t leave much change from £2,500.
The conference is claimed to be “one of the biggest political conferences of the year” and “attracts” more than 1,100 delegates and keynote speakers from central and local government.
To receive the discount, councils pay to be a member of the LGA.
Last year, English Democrat Councillor David Owns published the cost of this on his blog.
In 2007/08 membership cost £16,250, in 2008/09 it was £13,485, for 2009/10 the bill was £10,000, followed in 2010/11 by a fee of £8,180 and for 2011/12 £6,825.
The grand total - £54,740.
Although the costs are declining, it would be interesting to know what Boston Borough Council actually gets from its membership.
And what does a small, insignificant and unimportant district council  - whose leaders have no money and no plans - expect to get from their three days in Birmingham.
Obviously there is the chance to rub shoulders with the rest of the great and the good - although how many have much time for or interest in Boston is anyone’s guess.
You can get a feel for the event by looking at some of the subjects under discussion.
WARNING: You may need a  to wear a mackinTOSH for protection.
 “Creative Councils – the Discipline of Innovation” … What are your employees worth? The changing face of pay bargaining in local government” (we are sure that the staff will love that one) … “Improvement science: understanding the opportunity, increasing the pace and injecting the necessary capacity to enable effective delivery” (work that one out for yourself, because we can’t) … “Can we learn from the private sector? How do we reduce workforce costs and still drive innovation?”  (that sounds like another one that will be popular with the staff!)  - and how about “The family silver – to polish or to sell (to support growth?)”
Betwixt and between are  sessions with organisations such  EoN,  pushing cheap electricity, and Ernst and Young  with ideas on how to flog off the family silver.
An irony is that a lot of the session speakers could be heard much closer to home than in Birmingham.
They include Councillor Gary Porter, Leader of South Holland District Council, and Terry Huggins, Joint Chief Executive of South Holland and Breckland, and a talk from South Holland and Deepings MP John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education.
Also during the conference, Boston delegates can hear the “leader” of the “independents” on Lincolnshire County Council, Marianne Overton, chair one session on the implications of the Localism Bill, another on the Local Government Challenge and contributing to yet a third on councillors as talent spotters, whilst Tony McArdle, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council is participating in a session called “troubled families.”
Frankly, many of the sessions are well about Boston’s pay grade – being more the province of high spending county and metropolitan councils who are responsible for providing real services..
Certainly we could see nothing about how to install a fountain in a park on the agenda – although Boston might have found something like that helpful.
The conference ends on Thursday afternoon with a 30-minute rallying cry from Eric Pickles, Secretary for Communities and Local Government.
It officially closes at 4pm – but is followed by the “Local Government Challenge award and reception.”
However, we suspect that the Boston delegates will have cut and run by then.
In case it’s slipped their minds, they need to be back in Worst Street for the “special” council meeting to rubber stamp the “innovative” plan to fill a financial black hole by charging disabled drivers to park – whilst still enjoying free parking for borough staff and councillors.
In recent nears several councils have decided that membership of the LGA is not worth the money and can constitute a saving in its own right.

Perhaps Boston could consider joining them.

 You can write to us at boston.eye@googlemail.com  Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.

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