Tonight’s full meeting of Boston Borough Council will – not
for the first time – be looking at disposing of yet another chunk of the
taxpayers’ family silver.
This time it’s looking at a deal with a company called
Magna Vitae – which means great things of life – and which is a
major leisure and cultural service provider for neighbouring East Lindsey
District Council.
Magna Vitae calls
itself a charitable trust with the mission to provide “an extraordinary range”
of cultural, leisure and health related facilities and services that allow
local people to live a great life.
The company is regulated by the Charities Commission and
Companies House, and any profits are re-invested to develop and improve
services for the people of East Lindsey.
***
Tonight’s meeting is taking the first tentative steps under
the heading “alternative delivery arrangements for leisure, culture and
community services” – and if the idea takes off, a three phase consultation will
be complete by the end of the year.
Working with Magna Vitae
has already cut East Lindsey’s costs by £700k with a plan to increase this to
£1.5m by 2022/23.
Worst Street’s transformation programme is looking to save
£200k rising to £400k.
The services under review include the Geoff Moulder Leisure
Centre, Heritage, the Guildhall, Tourism, Sports and Play, Events (including
BTAC), the May Fair – and not Mayfair
as the council persistently and incorrectly calls it – and community support projects
including “controlling migration” – for which the council has just been given £1.39m
in government aid.
Presumably, any jobs that go with these services will be
passed on to the charity to take over.
***
So it seems that the Moulder Leisure Centre will go the way
of the Princess Royal Sports Arena which is run by a company called 1Life – but only after Worst Street
stumped up a pile of taxpayers’ cash for repairs and improvements to bring the
centre up to an improved handover condition.
Not only that, but the PRSA – like the Moulder – enjoys
biomass fuelled heating from systems that cost £¾million to install after some
underestimates were adjusted – and which we still appear to be funding at the
PRSA two years after the place was farmed out to the private sector.
The PRSA also benefits from a £100,000 solar heating system
paid for by taxpayers.
***
So – over the years we have poured millions into leisure
services that we can now no longer afford to operate or maintain which we are
now handing over to third parties to enjoy at public expense.
It all makes sound financial sense, doesn’t it? – as did
selling of Boston’s council housing stock and the town’s Port – both of which
are now profitable in the hands of people who know what they’re doing.
***
The thing that struck us most forcibly in the report was the
news that Worst Street already operates in partnership with East Lindsey
District Council on finance, building control, refuse, CCTV and community safety
and property services.
Add to that the proposed “Geoff Moulder Leisure Centre, heritage,
guildhall, tourism, sports and play events, the May Fair and community support
projects” and we wonder whether you would agree with us that it might be a
better option for Worst Street to merge with Manby its entirety – and do away
with Boston Borough Council altogether!
Now that the flames from Worst Street’s attempted witch
burning have died down, the ashes have yielded a new political group which
could leave some of those who sought the resignation of Mayor Councillor Brian
Rush with more than a little egg on their faces.
For all the crocodile tears of pain shed by councillors, the
end result was a feeling that the charges against the Mayor were mostly
trumped-up, ill-judged and rooted in personal dislike rather than grounded in
any solid political foundation.
The Mayor was told to quit and said that he wouldn’t, which
is his entitlement.
Morever, he cannot be sacked.
Even a piece of political prestidigitation by Councillor
Richard ‘Dick Dastardly’ Austin to
withhold administrative support from the Mayor sputtered out among the
faggots piled high for the intended Mayoral pyre.
***
Within hours of the disastrous emergency Show Trial (definition: a trial held in
public with the intention of influencing or satisfying public opinion, rather
than of ensuring justice) it was clear that not only would the Mayor remain –
but that the council would be honour (!!) bound to support all engagements in
the diary up to and including the date of the meeting that tried to kick him
out.
As his term of office is up in just a few weeks, the diary
is already well stocked with engagements, and since then Councillor Rush has
declared that he will make his own arrangements to honour any other requests
for a civic appearance.
So after all the expense and bad-mouthing, Boston borough councillors
have emerged toothless.
As Councillor Rush aptly declared in a radio interview last
week: “We’re looking foolish, aren’t we?; we’re looking foolish.”
And who has more egg on their faces than most?
Council leader Michael Cooper who proposed the motion – and
then embarrassed himself further in a botched
radio interview – seconder Tory councillor David Brown and the rump of three
needed to validate it … the so-called Independent Alison Austin, UKIP’s Sue
Ransome, and deputy leader Aaron Spencer.
And let's not forget Councillor Richard Austin as well.
And let's not forget Councillor Richard Austin as well.
An eloquent speaker at the Worst Street kangaroo court was
Councillor Barrie Pierpoint, who delivered a stirring defence of Councillor
Rush, with support also forthcoming from Councillor Anton Dani.
Now, these two have joined Councillor Rush and Councillor
Stephen Ball to form “a new independent group for the people of Boston, putting
them first before party politics – Bostonian
Independents Group (BiG).”
All four were listed on WorstWeb
after the meeting as unaligned – Deputy Mayor Councillor Pierpont did what he
called the “honourable” thing and quit the “independent” group comprising the
Austins, former leader Peter Bedford and one-time Labour leader Paul Gleeson as
he ended his speech.
***
So, who are the members of the new independent party?
Councillor Rush and Councillor Pierpoint have become well-known
to us in recent weeks.
The former represents Staniland Ward, and the latter is one
of two councillors for Old Leake and Wrangle.
Councillor Dani is the member for Fenside, whilst Councillor
Ball is one of three members for Skirbeck.
In attendance terms, Councillor Rush has attended all
lessons in the past year, with Councillor Pierpoint running a close second –
having attended 85% of meetings.
Councillor Dani has attended 60% of meetings in the past
year – but lurking at the bottom of the list is Councillor Ball, who attended a
mere two meetings out of a possible 16 … a wretched 12%, and just enough to remain
in office, as failure to attended at least one meeting every six months means
automatic exclusion from the council.
If the Bostonian Independents Group is to succeed, it can
only do so by making its presence felt – and members who fail to turn up will
be wasting their time with the voters.
***
In an introductory press release, the four have set out a 20-point
plan to ensure that the residents in the borough take priority with regards to
getting value for money, quality services, and making a difference to Boston.
“The four councillors found that from speaking to the Boston
public many residents said they are now getting fed up and tired of the main
political parties’ lacklustre councillors,
who have no ambition, are stale, lack direction and leadership, and put their
party before the local people.”
According to Councillor Dani – who somewhat contradictorily
“leads” the “independents” – “We embrace all communities and faiths within our
group. We are here to serve the public of Boston, and we will challenge other councillors,
officers, and some of the decisions taken by the cabinet – which is a closed
shop – on behalf of all the residents in Boston if it is not in their best
interests.”
“It’s now time for
change, transparency and openness – and put Boston back on the map, ensure
local communities are confident about their future, and work with local people,
groups and partnerships to promote a more positive, vibrant and flourishing
Boston.”
***
So what are these 20 points?
We’ll not overload you with the full list – as many of them are
goals that have already been set – in some cases years ago.
A couple of others are really things over which a political
splinter group can have little influence.
But five that caught our eye included banning buses from the
town centre due to toxic diesel fumes; continually to push for a road scheme
around Boston leading to a bypass, and/or a new bridge over the River Witham to
cut congestion; taking back control of the Market Place from Lincolnshire
County Council; reducing the powers of the Boston Town Area Committee; and to
create a Boston Citizen’s Forum to
work with councillors and officers to involve them with consultation, ideas,
feedback and improvements to shape the future of their borough, and acting as
Boston Ambassadors.
We wish the group well in their efforts – and if we could
add a 21st point to their plan, it would be to break new ground by
doing away with the unnecessary use of capital letters!
***
One thing is certain – the role of the Mayor will never be
quite the same again … despite the shenanigans of the past few weeks
A meeting of the Worst Street Cabinet of Curiosities has to
approved a series of long-overdue economies aimed at bring the role of first
citizen into something approaching the 21st century.
These included the arduous demand that the Mayor should
drive the civic personage her/himself rather than be chauffeured; a 30%
reduction in allowances from £6,000 a year to £4,000 – and a limit on travel to
remain within Lincolnshire except in special cases.
In 2015/16, the Mayor attended 187 events and in 2016/17 the
Mayor attended 192 events – which is around the same number when we published a
Freedom of Information request almost five years ago.
Of those, around 60 involved scratching the backs of fellow
mayors … and included such exotic items as a trip to Lincoln for the mayor’s
“Whisky Tour”
Nor were the jollies confined to the county – the year saw
civic visits as far afield as Kings Lynn, Peterborough, Wisbech, Fenland
District Council in March, Cambs, plus Melton Mowbray, Downham Market and
Newark.
Now – and not before time – it seems that this is to be
reined in.
The only disappointment is that councillors have fought so
long and so hard to keep their perks and put their own importance ahead the
importance of the voters.
One benefit will be that the Mayor of the day will have more
time to attend local events – which we are sure will do much to improve the
public view of the role within the borough … enhancing civic pride and perhaps
even the image of Worst Street Central along the way.
We can only hope.
***
Yet again the changes to the Mayoral role open the door for
a suggestion we made at the end of last year, when we commented: “It’s been
said that the hoi polloi don’t have
much understanding of the role of the first citizen; so why doesn’t Worst
Street take a leaf from other authorities’ books – and publish a list of mayoral engagements on its website, which would have the benefit replacing an irrelevant story in its
so-called newsletter with something that is actually germane to Boston Borough
Council.
“Then taxpayers could see for themselves what the mayor does
and perhaps gain a better appreciation of the role.”
***
One rather sad aspect of the report concerned the annual Service
to the Community Awards, which have been presented since 1980.
“In recent years the number of nominations has reduced year
on year and in 2017 only one was received,” we were told.
“The cost of making the award was approximately £700
including scroll and reception.
“Noting the lack of nominations it is unclear what value
these awards have within the community.”
Know the workings of the Worst Street “mind” as we do, we
imagine that the knee-jerk reaction will be to save a few more quid and do away
with the awards.
But it would be shameful beyond belief to confess that a
borough the size of Boston can find no one
to honour who goes that extra mile to help the people where they live.
Someone needs to grasp this concept by the scruff of the
neck and give it a good dusting off to some up with worthy nominees – but not
the usual ranks of the great and the good.
It’s not difficult – a round robin letter to the borough’s
18 parish councils would be a good starter for ten.
And assuming that the councillors representing BTAC-ky are
in touch with their ward roots, they ought to be able to furnish some more.
Our aim should be to be spoiled for choice – not
contemplating defeat because of the usual Worst Street indifference.
***
Early last week MP Matt Warman popped up on Facebook with a 43 second, 127-word
progress report on what’s being done to solve Boston’s traffic problems.
“So this morning I had a meeting with Councillor Martin
Hill, the leader of the county council, Councillor Mike Cooper, the leader of
the borough council, and Councillor Colin Davie from the county council as
well.
“It’s the latest step in moves to strive to put serious
proposals to government on how Boston can finally alleviate these long running
traffic problems and it’s something that I will be keeping up the pressure on
in parliament and locally as well.”
It’s not what you’d call earth-shattering – and we can’t
honestly visualise what, if anything might have been achieved by such a meeting.
And as far as it being “an issue that I have raised in
parliament on a number of occasions,” the records of the political website They work for you indicate that of the
296 questions posed in parliament since he was elected, Mr Warman has raised
just two about a bypass/distributor
road for Boston – in June 2015 and October last year.
That’s almost as many questions as he has asked about
same-sex marriage in Bermuda … an issue he addressed earlier this month.
***
Shock headline: No surprises in Old Leake and Wrangle
by-election.
In the way that some people collect car numbers or go train
spotting, local farmer Tom Ashton held the seat for the Tories last Thursday –
to acquire his fifth Lincolnshire council seat.
The turnout was poor – at 722, it as less than a quarter of the
2,950 who voted in 2015.
The result was: Tom Ashton (Cons) - 536
Joseph Pearson (Lab) - 123
Don Ransome (UKIP) -
50
Richard Thornalley (Blue Revolution) - 13
As well as representing OLaW on Boston Borough Council, farmer
Ashton is also a Lincolnshire county councillor for Tattershall Castle, an East Lindsey district councillor for Sibsey
and Stickney, and a parish councillor for both Wrangle and Old Leake.
***
The pathetic turnout will doubtless be blamed on a number of things –
but we feel that high on the list should be the fact that neither Boston
Borough Council website reminded voters of the event on the day – and nor did
either of our so-called local “newspapers.”
Perhaps the Tory leadership at Worst Street felt it would
give their candidate a better chance if no-one knew that a by-election was taking
place – but what excuse our local bastions of democracy might come up with is
anyone’s guess.
Poor forward diarying, laziness or sheer incompetence?
Take your pick.
***
The Worst Street line-up in the chamber now looks like this…
Conservatives - 16
UKIP - 6
Independents - 4
Bostonian Independents’
Group - 4
***
We
always welcome letters from readers, and were very pleased to receive
the following via e-mail.
“The wonderful warm reception I received at the Danny Flear Centre
farmers’ dinner on Friday night was absolutely fantastic.
“I think such an outpouring of support proves, yet again, that our
farming community also shares the same opinion as most sections of Boston's
society regarding our precious right to free speech!
“I will not claim that every single person in attendance agreed
with my recent controversial opinion – that would not be fair – but the warmth
of the response by the vast majority of those in attendance clearly indicated
that they agreed with my right to say what I thought ...
“And guess who actually led the charge.... yes! None other than
Matt Warman, MP.
“Well done him ... he is clearly not as precious about such things
as our wonderful Boston borough councillors.
“Hip! Hip! Hooray!
“Matt, you get my vote on this one!
“This, incidentally, is the private opinion of a resident of
Boston, 'Brian Rush' speaking as a private individual.
“Thank you.”
***
Finally …
Is it the case that even Worst Street felt shamefaced about
the assault on the Mayor and the ignominy it brought upon the council?
The picture below is a screenshot from WorstWeb – the borough’s somewhat grimy internet window on the
world.
Was it an inadvertent juxtaposition … or an admission byWorst Street that even it had exceeded its normal low standards?
You can write to us at boston.eye@googlemail.com
E– mails will be treated in
confidence and published anonymously if requested.
Our former blog is archived at:
http://bostoneyelincolnshire.blogspot.com
We are on Twitter – visit @eye_boston
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