We always enjoy it when Boston Borough Council Cabinet member Derek Richmond tries to be clever, because he never gets it right.
Councillor Richmond - who is responsible for the public toilets, town centre development and management, car parks, Boston Business Improvement District, and markets - and who is already infamous for his quotes likening the disabled to turkeys voting for Christmas, and suggesting that charging blue badge holders to park was an act of equality that would put them on a par with able-bodied people.
At last week’s full council meeting, he was asked a question about Boston BID – on whose board he sits as a director, having replaced council officer Ian Martin who was a “founder director.”
Of Mr Martin’s role the BID has said: “Although the BID is not a borough council run organisation it is pleased to have the support of Boston Borough Council and that an officer of the Council has been appointed to represent the Borough Council on the board of directors. Ian is very active as a director and provides invaluable advice and support.”
Nothing has been said so far about Councillor Richmond’s role, as - in common with much of the information on the BID website - it is out of date, and so he does not appear on the list of directors.
Councillor Richmond was asked a detailed question by former director Darron Abbott, who has concerns about how the BID is run, and who has resigned in protest at some activities.
So, it came as something of a surprise when Councillor Richmond announced: “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 persisted with a supplementary question, despite efforts by the Mayor Colin Brotherton to prevent him from doing to.
Councillor Richmond’s response was to confirm that he was on the BID board of directors and would continue to be on the board, and that the council chamber was not the place for this discussion.
Subsequently, Mr Abbott e-mailed Councillor Richmond to say: “I could not believe your answers at the council meeting. To claim that the matter was not one that should be discussed in the council chamber really does show how arrogant and out of touch you really are. You seem to have forgotten that you are the Director of Boston BID that represents Boston Borough Council, and this means you represent the people and businesses of this town.  You seem to be unable to grasp that.”
Councillor Richmond did not reply.
Mr Abbott also wrote to the Mayor querying his efforts to stifle the supplementary question, and was told: “The subject matter related to the financial affairs of a private company, which was not appropriate to be discussed in the Council Chamber.”
“Under the Council's Constitution questions from the public must be asked as succinctly as possible and the Mayor reject (sic) a supplementary question if it does not relate to matter (sic) for which the Council has responsibility, hence my attempt to interrupt you.”
Mr Abbott responded: “Whilst Boston BID is a private company, you all seem to forget that Boston Borough Council is a shareholder and in turn as a ratepayer, that makes this business accountable to the members of the council and the ratepayers. “You also seem to forget that Boston Borough Council pays a considerable levy to BID each year. As a ratepayer I contribute to this levy, although it is becoming increasingly obvious yourself, you fellow councillors and the officers of Boston Borough Council do not feel the public are important. I feel you should stick to your election promise of being accountable.
“Councillor Richmond is a director of this company because he is the portfolio holder that includes BID. He seems to forget that his role is to report back to the council on BID's activities. He does not appear to be doing this.”
As far as we are concerned, you can’t have it both ways.
It appears that when it suits him, Councillor Richmond is a director of Boston BID.
Boston Borough Council is listed as being “a founder member” of BID.
Boston Borough Council collects the compulsory levy on behalf of Boston BID, and prosecutes members who fail to pay it.
Boston Borough Council has involved the BID in projects such as the Christmas lights – by taking money from BID funds for something it should be funding itself … contrary to the BID regulations. Something similar occurs with street cleaning.
Boston Borough Council was involved in the consultation which led to the decision to cancel the Boston Beat concert.
Boston Borough Council is Tweeedledumb to the BID's Tweedldee.
So much involvement – yet when it suits some councillors, Boston BID is a private company.
Nothing to do with us, Guv'nor.
We know that the members of the Tory leadership regard we taxpayers as stupid and gullible – but this time they have gone too far.
 

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