According to its most recent report listing the headlines for the “risks” facing Boston Borough Council, the future – unlike the slogan – is RED.

Time and again we have questioned Worst Street’s ability to continue to function as one of the smallest councils in the country which spends most of its income on remaining in existence.

Now, what looks like the end of the road is being approached at great speed.

Some of the most crucial raisons d'être for the council’s existence are now heavily under threat –  so much so that some might say there is a strong possibility that they will not succeed.

Most important is the pledge to deliver better council services with less money.

This is now categorised as being almost certain not to happen, with an impact classified as “critical” with 75% likelihood.

The risk here is in the long term balancing of the budget, economic and funding uncertainty, with controls in place in the form of a medium term financial strategy; the budgetary process; and a sound level of reserves. 

“Continued close monitoring” is promised and there is also mention of the mysterious “transformation programme” which as far as we can tell has so far cost more than it has saved.

It’s also worth remembering that reserves are finite –  something which often seems to escape our leaders as they continue to plunder the borough's remaining cash to fund the Moulder/PRSA vanity project to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds. 

These risk reports appear quarterly, never seem to improve, and are apparently noted in the appropriate committees with scarcely a yawn.

***

There is also an “exceptional” report this time about the availability – or rather non-availability – of disabled facilities grants.

These grants aim to make life easier for people with mobility problems and include such things as ramps, showers for those who can no longer use a bath, stair-lifts and widening of doorways for wheelchair access.

BUT ... there is no agreed budget for DFGs in 2016/17 as funding was included in the Better Care Fund paid to Lincolnshire County Council directly from April 2015 and the amount for 2015/16 ‘passported’ to Worst Street, has only covered referrals and commited cash up to November last year.

The risk report, which awards the DFG problem a maximum rating of 16, says that “in the absence of any agreed finance for 16/17, it is therefore not possible to plan for resources committed in 15/16 to actually be paid from an agreed 16/17 budget which is how the DFG programme has been managed in previous years.”
How disabled people might cope is not discussed.

***

Question marks also remain over lack of growth, the stagnant local economy, and the future of the town centre in terms of retail,housing and car parking  –  although the proposed Task and Finish group  is being tipped to ride to the rescue of the latter item.

We’re not selling any tickets to the celebration party for solving that particular mess.

***

Monday’s full council meeting saw Boston's UKIPpers flexing their political muscle for the first time with a series of motions designed to rattle the cage of the council’s so-called “leadership” and their non-Tory toadies.

And what a dreary agenda it might otherwise have been –  with just two items up for discussion ... the Deregulation Act 2015 – changes to hackney carriage and private hire licensing legislation; and Boston borough council's surveillance policy and procedures. 

Agendas such as this are what you get when you work under the cabinet system  –  a defanged council where individual members have no say whatever and simply sit and watch while the leadership and so-called independent and opposition parties connive to defeat democracy.

All six motions were proposed by Councillor Jonathan Noble, Deputy Leader of the UKIP group, and seconded by Councillor Stephen Ball.

From a public point of view, the two most interesting items concerned roads and parking.

One was a call for an advisory cross-party committee to look at Boston’s congestion spots and suggest changes which would improve traffic flow.

The group also proposed free parking in Boston’s Market Place for a 30-minute period to encourage more people to shop in the town centre.

Another proposal called for officers to work with Hanseatic Developments –  whose plans for White Horse Wharf were recently thrown out  –  to consider how best to maintain their warehouse.

The rest were demands for the main opposition group in Worst Street – if it has a substantial numerical advantage over other opposition groups – to chair the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Environment and Performance and Corporate and Community committees, along with the Audit and Governance Committee.

Added to this was the vice-chairmanship of the Planning and Licensing/Regulatory and Appeals committees.

***

In any other council these chairmanship requests would not have seemed unreasonable, but the Tories, Labour and two so-called independents are apparently so filled with hatred for UKIP that in some cases they are willing to surrender their political integrity to make life impossible for the party.

This means that 17 of Boston’s 30 councillors who claim to represent the people care more for “their” people than they do for the wishes of the remainder of the electorate.

Let’s not forget that the political make-up of Boston Borough Council is Conservative - 13, UKIP - 12, Independent - 2, Labour - 2,and “Unaligned”- 1.

It’s worth remembering that the so-called “unaligned” councillor is in fact a UKIP defector who now regards himself as Independent.

But whoever drew up the lists at Worst Street apparently considers him not fit to be an “Independents Independent” and share the title with the other two councillors thus named.

Therefore – in the clear interests of unfairness – we have committees chaired by a Labour Councillor (one of only two) and an Independent (one of only two) whilst the recent election of a UKIP chairman of B-Tacky remains ignored in the council listings.

***

It goes without saying that there are no members of the cabinet other than Tories – but it wasn’t always like that.

UKIP Councillor Brian Rush recalls a time when – despite the apparent antipathy between the Boston Bypass Independents and Tories – the BBI offered a deal to none other than the current Conservative “leader” Pete ‘Nipper’ Bedford.

Councillor Rush told Boston Eye: “There we all were, just before going into yet another, one sided, non-productive, council meeting ... 

All we rejects were lolling about uninspired, in the opposition members’ meeting room, when in trundles the normally sedate Councillor Bedford, who gleefully announces to us that Richard Austin had been to see him (PB) and had offered him (PB) a seat on the BBI Cabinet....!

“Whaaaat! Of course, there were gasps of amazement...mumblings and grumblings, some of delight, but most of dismay!

“’When?’  and ‘What are you going to do,’ someone asked, ‘You're not taking it..! Are you?’  another cried. In truth the mood was somewhat stunned.

“‘No!’ said Peter measuredly, ‘I am not.... I have already refused it, but tonight I am going to stand up, in council, and ask Councillor Austin to confirm in public that he did make the offer!`

“Woweee!

“Now we really were excited, it was going to be a great night for us rejects after all.

“Council began; there was hushed anticipation, the excitement mounted, all of us wallowing in what was going to be a major embarrassment, for that cocky Richard Austin ...

“Hush... Silence, all eyes on Peter ...  a hero was about to be born ... anytime now ... come on Pete, come on ...

“Nothing, absolutely nothing.....!

“I really cannot remember if anyone spoke to Councillor Bedford after that meeting.

“I think a bunch of us just trudged down to the Eagle Pub, moaned and sank a couple of pints......then got a cab home.

“Does this explain why some of us no longer support, nor have trust in anything Peter does, or pretends that he will do?

“Maybe this could also have been why some past, but (yes, truly there were one or two) half decent Bypassers decided not to bother standing again for Councillor Austin’s group ... maybe there is little to choose between the standards of either man.

“But I wonder, if given the right question, in the right forum, which one of them would tell us the truth.

“People tell me that Richard Austin is a good, regular and dedicated churchgoing man. Maybe we should just ask him for his recall.

“Thing is, I do still have a number of people, who do remember what it was that Peter had advocated, I wonder if our Mayor will confirm or deny it.”

***

After Monday’s meeting, a frustrated Councillor Noble told Boston Eye: “All six UKIP motions at the full council meeting were defeated by the combined votes of Conservative, Labour and Independent councillors. 

"The Conservatives chose to adopt a patronising, condescending attitude towards the UKIP group and seemed to display a remarkable degree of complacency with regard to Boston's continuing traffic problems in dismissing UKIP's suggestion of the setting up of an advisory cross-party committee which would have examined congestion spots in Boston's road traffic network and suggested specific changes to Lincolnshire County Council's Highways Department which would improve traffic flow.

“The UKIP group is not convinced that the Labour group – two councillors – is in fact acting in opposition to the Conservative ruling group as in every full council vote since May 7^th they have voted with the Conservatives on every motion that has been debated.

“This is one reason why the UKIP group has attempted to gain the chairmanships of the two Scrutiny Committees because, as the Council's Scrutiny and Policy Development Protocol states: ‘Where a majority group (or coalition) controls the Council, the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee should be from an opposition group."

“The Conservatives and their allies also chose to reject UKIP's proposal of free parking for thirty minutes in the Market Place as a means of encouraging more citizens to shop in the town centre.

“Revenue from this car park in the last financial year was £86,530.

“Not all this revenue would be lost and could be counterbalanced by the projected £85,241 increase in council tax revenue in the present financial year. 

“As this proposal was being discussed, I drew attention to some of the lavish funding the council had provided in other areas: the Health and Wellbeing capital spend which is currently £1,693,000 as set out in the Quarter 1 performance report and considered by Cabinet on 9^th September 2015; the £8,956,000 spent by the council to date on the PRSA; the £293,000 increase in the estimated PRSA

and GMLC biomass boiler costs –  £456,000 to £749,000; and the £840,000 that the council has invested in the PRSA for improvement works, as agreed by the full council on 2^nd  March 2015.

“The UKIP group will continue to hold the Conservative ruling group and its executive to account through its scrutiny work on the various council committees.”

***

Sadly, we cannot see such efforts will achieve anything much given the inappropriate mind-set not only of the Tory group but its Labour and Independent lackeys. The Labour group attitude surprises and disappoints us in equal measure –  especially given its leader's adulation of a Corbyn leadership which seeks to wind back the clock and return power and fairness to the people.
Incongruity tinged with hypocrisy best sums it up – and we think that a quotation from George Orwell’s Animal Farm ... which must be high on any Labour Party reading list ... says all that needs saying. 

It runs thus: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

In this case, for “some animals” read “ Boston Labour animals” and for “others” read “ Boston UKIP animals.”

***

Whine lovers will doubtless be ecstatic at the return of “Peter’s Notes” to the pages of the local free magazine Simply Boston. 

After a brief absence, 'Nipper’s' column – which “discusses the important topics in and around Boston”  is back in the September issue.

But if the items under discussion have a familiar ring to them – it’s because they are not new.

For once, “Nipper” isn’t fobbing people off with some stale old column what he wrote earlier.

But so desperate is he to claim that Boston is advancing in leaps and bounds that he has resorted to trawling through all the old stuff camouflaged by just one new development.

The newcomer is Pep&Co,  the UK  arm of  South African-based Pepkor, an investment firm set up by former Asda chief executive Andy Bond – which has as its slogan “spend a little ... get a lot.”

In Boston, we know full well what this means – another buy-it-cheap-stack-it-high outlet of the kind which abound in the town.

It is a sad reflection on Boston that the only newcomers which consider opening here are of similar ilk – cut price, and often low quality outlets.
However, the arrival of yet another cheap clothes shop was enough for “Nipper” to recall that a local butcher has opened a second shop along with B&M – who have sensibly chosen a site where parking is free.

He also mentions a new store from Jewellers Maud’s (sic) which is in fact a relocation, the “expansion” of Wilcox and Carter’s jewellery shop, which is actually a refit and expansion within the same small shop it has occupied for more than 50 years, and plans by Lildl (sic) to open a Boston store –  which seem to have gone very quiet.

But – lest we become so overwhelmed that we need a sniff of sal volatile – the leader is happy to remind us of other successes of a gloomier kind which received “much interest” at the “recent” Local Government Association national conference – in June.

Yes, yet again, Boston is dining out on the flood disaster of December 2013 and the council’s robust approach on rogue landlords.

The leader ends by telling us: “Finally, after the election, the council has settled down to another period of activity and I am pleased to have at my side (Ed: shouldn't this say " beneath my heel?”) a cabinet of experienced and enthusiastic councillors who are passionate about the town and have their sleeves rolled up ready for hard work ahead.”

Although it would be impolite to laugh, we have to say ... ha-ha-ha!

***

Varying responses arrived after mention of the Assembly Rooms in the last issue of Boston Eye.

One reader – an official of the Boston to Skegness Seabank Marathon – told us “for the last three years they have let us use the nightclub free of charge for registration for the marathon.

“It must be a real pain for them; their staff will have had little or no sleep as they are open for business until just a few hours before we start registration at 7am on the Sunday morning.

“It was really easy to organise, I just said to Matt Clark ‘is there any chance I can borrow your nightclub for the registration for the marathon?’ and he said ‘yes.’

They can’t do enough to help.

“Maybe if more people asked, there would be more community usage.”

***

But another reader asked: “Why can't the owners of the Assembly Rooms make sure that the clock is right – it is the only one seen by all in Market Place?

“Also why can't they fly flags on appropriate days? After all they make a lot of money from Boston folk, and it would be good to give a little back to the town centre and help make it a tad more attractive!

“My pet hate is the Market Place. 

“Why can we not have some "legal" road markings so that everyone knows where the road is, and then pedestrians will not hold group chats in the middle of the road. 

“The council keep faffing around wasting money by constantly changing their ideas for it, but all it does is drive people away from the town centre.

“It is a right mess ... as are the buses travelling through a pedestrian area!”

***

Hard on the heels of the news that the PRSA has been “saved” by the ridiculous actions of Boston Borough Council throwing good money after band in acts of increasing desperation, comes a small cloud on the horizon..

Regular readers will recall that the company which has ridden to the rescue – 1life – was formerly known as Leisure Connection,

A long time ago Worst Street tried for a deal with LC to take on the PRSA but it foundered after a lengthy period of discussion.

At the time, Leisure Connection – which ran other council sports facilities around Lincolnshire and the rest of the country – had an extremely bad reputation ... and even a critical website dedicated to its shortcomings.

Now with a new name, we would hope that things are better again.

But a report from Spalding, where the company runs the Castle Sports Complex, recently called for a debate on the facility's future after changing rooms were described as “disgusting,” and the pool water temperature was referred to as cold.

Admittedly, the centre is 31 years old, but the PRSA is already thirteen and part of the deal requires almost £100,000 spending on repairs.

It would be nice to celebrate the disappearance of the PRSA from its treasured place on Boston Borough Council financial mantelpiece – but we have the feeling that this story is far from over.

***

We are pleased to see that our council “leader” has acted on our reminder of a couple of months ago and announced the start of the cabinet “Question Times” promised in his party manifesto back in May.

Well, not quite the start – rather the trumpeting of the first meeting of its kind that will be held “at intervals – possibly quarterly – as part of our policy of demonstrating openness, transparency and access.”

As might be expected, the procedure is not an easy one. 

Whilst the cabinet’s next meeting is on Wednesday 21^st October at 10am, the Q&A will be at 6pm, three days earlier on Monday 19^th.

And there are a few blazing hoops to be jumped through as well.

“Those wishing to ask a question are asked to firstly submit them in writing, and then be prepared to attend the session in person to ask their question and receive the answer,” says the borough’s announcement.

The excuse for this is so that portfolio holders “can present the most comprehensive answers, by having all pertinent information available” – but it will more likely have the desired effect of putting people off, so that the powers that be can declare the arrangement a failure and do

away with it as quickly as possible.

It’s likely that very few council taxpayers know that they already have the “right” that is now being granted to them.

It’s almost a year since Boston Borough Council introduced a 20 minute-only “public question time at all of our committee meetings, including Cabinet ...” with the claim that it “actively encouraged members of the public to speak.”

Quite what form this active encouragement takes eludes us.

But there you go.

Having said that, there are again hurdles to overcome.

It’s good to see that it’s not only UKIP that our Worst Street masters think deserve a hard time!

They don’t mind clubbing the electorate into silence as well.

***

Finally ... did you know that yesterday was Lincolnshire Day?

Not that it would matter if you lived in Boston, as we looked everywhere to see what celebrations were taking place locally, and could find none whatever.

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