Boston Borough Council’s Chief Executive Richard Harbord has been dragged into the debate about a cabinet’s member’s role as a director of Boston Business Improvement District.

His response comes after e-mails from former BID board member Darron Abbott to council leader Peter Bedford and Town Centre portfolio holder Derek Richmond apparently left the two men lost for words – forcing them to ask Mr Harbord to do their talking for them.
Controversy arose after Councillor Richmond was asked a question about BID at the last full council meeting.
His response was: “Since BID is a private company limited by shares and quite independent of this council, any such matter is entirely one for the BID board and its directors surely?”
Mr Abbott found this response unacceptable and has pointed out that is raises more questions that it answered.
Mr Harbord’s short and sweet reply was to say: “The situation is clearly that Councillor Richmond is a director of Boston BID and that legally his responsibility is to act in the best interests of that company. (Our italics.)
“The fact that he is there as a representative of the council is, in legal terms, a secondary consideration. He will, of course, keep the council informed and express the council's views at board meetings, but as a director of the company he must legally do his best for them.”
Mr Abbott responds: “Thank you for your letter written on behalf of Councillors Bedford and Richmond. It was rather disappointing that they could not be bothered to reply themselves, but I suppose it is adding to the growing feeling around the town how the councillors seem to think they do not need to engage or be accountable to us mere members of the public.
“Your letter seems to suggest that Boston BID comes first over Councillor Richmond’s duty as a councillor. Surely this is wrong, as my understanding he is only a director of Boston BID because he is a councillor. What happens if Boston BID do something that is not in line with council policy - will this not cause a problem if he has to go along with the BID ruling.
“Sometimes there will have to be a conflict of interests.
“As the role as a director of Boston BID takes priority over his position as a councillor, should he not resign his position as councillor?
“Or perhaps he should resign his role as a director of BID and simply attend the board meetings as an observer.
"As Councillor Richmond and the council have no responsibility for Boston BID’s actions, please could you let me now who uses the voting rights of the share held under the name of Boston Borough Council?
“If Councillor Richmond has no responsibility to ensure BID is run correctly on behalf of the council why then does he list BID as one of his responsibilities on his portfolio holder list?
“Why does Mr Derek Richmond speak on behalf of Boston Borough Council at the BID board meetings if he is not representing the council? 
“The purpose of my supplementary question was to highlight the poor management of Boston BID, which was the purpose of my original question which Councillor Richmond did not answer.”
We wonder what response – if any – will be forthcoming.

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