tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911117883865454162024-02-21T06:08:17.295+00:00Boston.Eyean alternative look at life in Boston, LincolnshireBoston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.comBlogger788125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-40317125984269396932011-09-25T12:06:00.000+01:002011-09-25T12:06:34.042+01:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Welcome to <em>Boston Eye</em></u></strong> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>After a <em>spat</em> with <em>Boston Borough Council</em>, we were reluctantly forced to revise our blogging arrangements to honour an promise … and we believe in keeping our word – unlike others that we could name.<br />
The page that you are on now is home to <em>Boston Eye’s</em> reports from October 2008 – when it transferred from an even earlier website begun in February 2007 - until September 2011 – and now forms an archive of our <em>800</em> postings during that period, which can be searched by using the <em>Blogger</em> search box on the page - pictured below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNMpku71gypIHGsFE6VaZz4BthBZgM_36Udnc3sRV4jk_CXQyh0Ke2pqDYfemu6mnZ8SNNHgDlBtP7ZcN8z5y0Dc_TXLjhF75fJ1ckpKJFpx8BHBX0BDXmIE84aYgFgtw6t3Gm5bIOTVJ/s1600/blogger+search+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNMpku71gypIHGsFE6VaZz4BthBZgM_36Udnc3sRV4jk_CXQyh0Ke2pqDYfemu6mnZ8SNNHgDlBtP7ZcN8z5y0Dc_TXLjhF75fJ1ckpKJFpx8BHBX0BDXmIE84aYgFgtw6t3Gm5bIOTVJ/s1600/blogger+search+box.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u>From Monday 5th September, we became <em>New Boston Eye</em> – and moved to:</u></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://newbostoneye.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">http://newbostoneye.blogspot.com/</span></a> </span></strong></u></div><br />
Please <u>bookmark</u> it and visit us often. <br />
Our e-mail address remains the same.<br />
<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-57961677237875728812011-09-04T12:08:00.000+01:002011-09-04T12:08:44.046+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Out with the old </u>...</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">IN</span></strong></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>with the new</u>!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdS7JZrBVF8tApq49iH7Qud_D44nTAZ3bNpaOAJBQD-Ne6C4i_xDX3lok-o-2FhcLrfuHr_TLQUiuo7Ln-q3zH5iqc16ulc_swiEfprjlEf-sHQ4GXLXRz0SHdaiYRSoi7nzVuoqkD3cn/s1600/line-in-the-sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdS7JZrBVF8tApq49iH7Qud_D44nTAZ3bNpaOAJBQD-Ne6C4i_xDX3lok-o-2FhcLrfuHr_TLQUiuo7Ln-q3zH5iqc16ulc_swiEfprjlEf-sHQ4GXLXRz0SHdaiYRSoi7nzVuoqkD3cn/s1600/line-in-the-sand.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Having given our word, we have drawn a line in the sand beneath the <em>Boston Eye</em> blog which began four and a half years ago.<br />
However, in view of the questionable way that we were nudged by Boston Borough Council towards an age old promise to cease blogging, we asked our readers to decide.<br />
Their vote was unanimous ... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><u>Carry on - <em>don't</em> cower down</u></strong></span></div><br />
Among the dozens of of e-mails we received, it was encouraging to note that more than 20% of serving borough councillors urged us to continue.<br />
So from tomorrow - Monday, 5th September - we resume blogging from our new address ... <br />
You will find us at<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://newbostoneye.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">http://newbostoneye.blogspot.com/</span></strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
Please bookmark it and visit us often. <br />
This site will remain as an archive of our previous <em>800</em> postings ...<br />
Our e-mail address remains the same.<br />
<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> and your e-mails will <em>always</em> be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested. <br />
<br />
Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-37719858422511134642011-09-03T07:56:00.000+01:002011-09-03T07:56:59.882+01:00<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbfZpEzviSaDvbGYaGgx2UoNbDjFZBaIPL5SJ0fIutO_E7-8PL5OinwHMC3K4CVlQA4DDl3u6_uTDAm20AJ6UUHShjJjYTQYPJFvzkAefvAOcqux1NWdnhWJTdg-sLVtxudXFCy2V36Nx/s1600/Yes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbfZpEzviSaDvbGYaGgx2UoNbDjFZBaIPL5SJ0fIutO_E7-8PL5OinwHMC3K4CVlQA4DDl3u6_uTDAm20AJ6UUHShjJjYTQYPJFvzkAefvAOcqux1NWdnhWJTdg-sLVtxudXFCy2V36Nx/s200/Yes.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Our readers </u></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>have spoken </u>... </span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>and Boston Eye will soldier on</u>!</span></strong></div><br />
There’s a lot to read today.<br />
We were overwhelmed by the quantity of e-mails we received following yesterday’s blog – and the tremendous support and generous comments expressed in them.<br />
Universally, they implored us to continue writing in some shape or form, and given the depth of feeling expressed, that is what we plan to do.<br />
We will honour our promise to cease blogging as <em>Boston Eye</em>, which me made because we felt that if our identity became widely known, our credibility would suffer – as we were nothing more than an individual – a local David aiming his slingshot at the well armoured and confident Goliath known as Boston Borough Council, but sadly without the success of the original.<br />
But the bottom line is that it doesn’t seem to matter – because over the years our blog appears to have gathered credibility and a reputation which makes it something that our readers do not want to lose.<br />
We thank them for this, and will carry on from a new address – which honours our promise – even though it was enforced through what we consider less than honourable means.<br />
Our new address will be <a href="http://newbostoneye.blogspot.com/">http://newbostoneye.blogspot.com/</a> and our e-mail will remain the same.<br />
We wrote earlier about the e-mails we have received – and publish extracts from some of them below.<br />
Interestingly a surprising number came from Boston Borough councillors – though as you might expect, they did not include any Conservative members!<br />
Councillor Richard Leggott ,a veteran Independent, wrote to say: “Not that I have ever interpreted your column as pure opposition, but one of the things I do remember from history lessons, many moons ago, is that, in government, the opposition is just as important as the administration.<br />
“A good partnership is not necessarily one that agrees wholeheartedly on everything.<br />
“Yes, I feel you are now part of the local government 'partnership'.<br />
“Under whatever label/ format you find acceptable please continue your good work on behalf of the people of Boston.”<br />
His colleague Councillor Brian Rush, added: “It is a very sad day politically for Boston, if the Eye stands by its decision to cease blogging because someone sets out to “out” the authors.”<br />
Another Independent, Councillor Carol Taylor, told us: “If it wasn't for <em>Boston Eye</em>, I would be bumbling along hoping that I could make a difference for the people of Boston. I no longer bumble because I have received a tremendous education from <em>Boston Eye</em>. The blog has given me information which whet my appetite and then encouraged me to delve further. This has now increased my knowledge base of events, lack of events, political gaffes, the council's sleeping timetable, who dunnit? who could have dunnit but didn't, and to highlight some wonderful sensitive egos. I am always on guard, however, because should I do anything that is not in the public's interest, you would be down on me like a ton of bricks ( provided from Market Place restoration!) and quite rightly so.<br />
“You have created a blog for the people of Boston and, as you say, readers are increasing in numbers, so why give it up? Four and a half years of building up an information and critical appraisal site sprinkled with a bit of satire, laced with conscience pricking, topped with humour but the icing on the cake is FREEDOM OF SPEECH.”<br />
Labour Councillor Paul Gleeson wrote to say: “I for one will regret the passing of your blog, whilst you will not be surprised to learn I did not agree with all that you wrote. I think my world view is somewhat different. I did, you may be surprised to learn, agree with a lot of what you wrote and all your articles were well written with good research.<br />
“Maybe because I have never seen myself as being part of the great and the good, or even considered it a healthy thing to aspire to, I never felt threatened if your blog tweaked my or my party’s nose or even hit us with a big stick. It is only when our thoughts and assumptions are challenged can we ensure that we develop robust cogent policies. One of the issues of being in a political party is that it is full of people who share your beliefs. Whilst that can give you great strength, it is too easy to convince yourselves that your policy is self-evidently correct, it is only when people with a different (albeit wrong !) world view challenge it, will any flaws be revealed. <br />
“I hope you will reconsider, you can’t leave <a href="http://www.bostonlabour.org.uk/news.html">www.bostonlabour.org.uk/news.html</a> the only daily blog in town, what will we have to live up to?”<br />
Darron Abbott, himself a vociferous campaigner on behalf of Boston and its businesses and a Conservative candidate at last May’s elections, wrote: “I believe is a very dark day in the political history of my town, if indeed it is the last day that <em>Boston Eye</em> publish their blog.<br />
“You may think this sounds a bit dramatic, but I genuinely believe something will be lost. Over the period that <em>Boston Eye</em> has been published, I have learnt a great of what has been happening here in Boston, that the powers that be have tried to keep quiet - or just the fact that I have not had the time or resources to research myself. <br />
“As regular readers will be aware, the blog has allowed me to voice my opinions publicly and, yes, has helped force other parties to take notice, I will be disappointed to lose this facility as <em>Boston Eye</em> have always been prepared to go where the local press have been frightened to go.<br />
“It appears that the author of <em>Boston Eye</em>’s identity has been known for some time. Up to recently this anonymity has been respected as it served its purposes, but now these same people seek to close down the rights of others.<br />
“One person in particular is Councillor Singleton-McGuire, who up to the election in May openly welcomed <em>Boston Eye</em>’s criticism of the BBI and boasted of his submissions to it. It now seems however he and his administration have taken power and received the same scrutiny he feels that the blog is no longer serves his needs.<br />
“As a Conservative candidate at the elections in May, I will now go on record, in how disappointed I am that the administration has taken the course of action they have.<br />
“Whilst I understand the author of <em>Boston Eye</em> feels creditability will be lost, I urge the team to continue to uncover and inform us of that is going on in Boston.”<br />
Other comments sent in just the past 24 hours include:<br />
• “Please continue in some form, as I've only recently discovered your blog, and it seems the only forum that is holding the local authorities to account.”<br />
• "<em>Boston Eye</em> is a beacon of light illuminating the sometimes strange and murky goings on within our once proud borough, but as an obviously honourable person, unlike most of our politicians, I must respect whatever decision you eventually make - but in the earnest hope that you will continue to give voice to sense, reason, sanity and above all the truth regardless of the poison of political correctness that has so corroded our way of life in this town and indeed the whole country. Obviously the PC brigade are totally unable to handle any meaningful discourse on any subject whatsoever as theirs is the only permitted view in the local and national media. As such <em>Boston Eye</em> with its wide range of views must have been a target for destruction from the word go. “We need the likes of <em>Boston Eye</em> to give an alternative and truthful view of events. Please in some way carry on your freedom of speech/thought blog.” <br />
• “I appreciate that in order to keep to your word, the <em>Boston Eye</em> column may now have to cease. “There's more real analysis of local interest in your column than in all the so-called 'local media' combined. “Accordingly, I would urge you to at least consider the possibility of carrying on in some alternate way. “There continues to be a strong need for your kind of independent commentary.”<br />
• "As a daily reader and past contributor please keep up the blogging - it is a medium that is well-informed and represents and puts to the fore the concerns and views of Boston’s public! Who else would do it if not <em>Boston Eye</em>!!???<br />
• " ‘If you don't have this freedom of the press, then all these little fellows are weaselling around and doing their monkey business and they never get caught. " - <em>Harold R. Medina</em> US lawyer, teacher and judge. An apposite quote, <em>n'est-ce pas</em>? And who is going to tell the citizens of Boston if there's any weaselling going on in Worst Street if <em>Boston Eye</em> is silenced? Local newspapers reproduce the council-speak that is fed to them. <em>Boston Eye</em> uncovers the stories behind the stories, and explains the facts in a way that everyone can understand. Long may they continue to do so”<br />
<br />
<em>Whew</em>! What can we say – except see you next week.<br />
And thanks.<br />
<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-28870759618398191672011-09-03T05:45:00.000+01:002011-09-04T11:25:30.025+01:00Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-40194560210356438462011-09-02T06:00:00.012+01:002011-09-02T11:51:31.392+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLLk0O7hsmqymrjlihlJIsQaYgKLOMgX-sb4H1S7U5_bw4bLoWKEdqreNPiXlB-JdW0YLXM46XqGCuB5jG3SjAWv3cs2u6TWUI7X1nt8IXyc__sNKBLMdwpFfDdQCtqCy2s1g7IsP_ZXN/s1600/Week+ending+WBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLLk0O7hsmqymrjlihlJIsQaYgKLOMgX-sb4H1S7U5_bw4bLoWKEdqreNPiXlB-JdW0YLXM46XqGCuB5jG3SjAWv3cs2u6TWUI7X1nt8IXyc__sNKBLMdwpFfDdQCtqCy2s1g7IsP_ZXN/s1600/Week+ending+WBC.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Our Friday miscellany </span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></u><b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">of the week's </span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></u><b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">news and events</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>oday is a day of <em>hail and farewell</em>, as we trot out some of the mixture as before … then bid our readers <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">adieu</i>.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red;"><u>Stop Press entry a</u></span></strong><strong><span style="color: red;"><u>t foot of page</u></span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>t’s a point that we’ve made before in discussions about the influx of migrant workers into <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city> – but it still needs making. This week’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boston Standard</i> tells us that almost 2,500 people from overseas registered for national insurance numbers between March 2010 and March this year “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to allow them to work in the borough</i>.” Other statistics show that there has not been that number of jobs created to justify these figures. Therefore, some registrations must be for <em>ancillary</em> purposes - the most common being entitlement to benefits and allowances. Registration helps places like <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city> because it influences the borough’s grant from central government, but there is still a huge disparity between the unofficial numbers of those who live in the borough, and official statistics. This is why <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city> is always strapped for cash.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>oston Labour Party has a seductive map on its website suggesting a proposed route for the town’s bypass (pictured below, left.). It skips across the A17 and the A52, south to Wyberton, curves north to Fishtoft, Haltoft End and Hill Dyke before heading south again to the point where it started.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFfvfsmLUughzX2Sr-NcLka79lfexrOEGoyQhyphenhypheni_AbZ-MKaB3PTMA9FOvyQ12wRa_s9KagfdPYQxRImk0cO8HxGLzKGpgvWskSxXKWsqvLtMufOYV0_GLg59EWYqTQz2EOtI5eF3SB906/s1600/Boston-bypass1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFfvfsmLUughzX2Sr-NcLka79lfexrOEGoyQhyphenhypheni_AbZ-MKaB3PTMA9FOvyQ12wRa_s9KagfdPYQxRImk0cO8HxGLzKGpgvWskSxXKWsqvLtMufOYV0_GLg59EWYqTQz2EOtI5eF3SB906/s1600/Boston-bypass1.jpg" /></a>In an ideal world it would be just the job. But being the old pedants that we are, we worked out a distance for the route, which came to 15 miles, give or take. The heavily dumbed down plan for the proposed <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:place></st1:city> eastern bypass – which makes it single rather than dual carriageway – will cost £98m for just 4.88 miles. At today’s prices the Labour route would work out at almost £300 million.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think we can fairly say: “Forget it, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Boston</st1:city></st1:place>.”<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>alking of spending, we noted the pictures in the local papers of a “free” event at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Hussey</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place>, where visitors could see demonstrations of traditional brickwork repairs and tour the tatty monument. We’ve mentioned cost <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>quite a bit in the last couple of days, and wondered … could this “free” event be the “masterclass in traditional repair” for which Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire received a lottery grant of almost £50,000 a few months ago? </div><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n August we were told there would be <em>seven</em> <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city> borough council committee meetings this month. Then the Performance Review committee meeting scheduled for the 8th vanished without explanation, and we believe that another may well follow. This is an interesting departure for our new regime – cancelling meetings without explanation when so much needs doing. Perhaps it is intended as a perverse form of economy.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>oston Borough Council continues its ongoing interest in putting the cart before the horse with this year’s voter registration forms. People who don’t spot the box at the top of the page -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and it doesn’t stick out a mile - will doubtless wade through the forms and fill in all the details before learning that if the information is unchanged, it can all be done on the internet, or by ‘phone. As the form points out – using either of these two methods save the council time and money. Perhaps the information could be made more prominent next time around.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">N</span></strong>ot only is the Market Place refurbishment taking its toll on local businesses, it’s also going to rain on one of the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city>’s few open air parades. We note that this year’s <em>Battle of Britain</em> Sunday service and parade will be rerouted<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>through Pescod Square, and that as a result, the saluting base<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will be located in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">loading bay</i> near WH Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely, someone is pulling our leg?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t we sling up a podium big enough for four in a slightly more appropriate and respectful location? It could even be big enough for three, as, whilst we can understand the presence of the Mayor, RAF Coningsby’s Wing Commander Al Seymour, and Boston Team Rector Robin Whitehead, we are somewhat at a loss to see why the council’s “strategic director” needs to be up there with them.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e now have our very own optical illusion as a logo in Boston Borough Council reports. You know what we’re talking about – illustrations where you decide whether a drawing is of an attractive young lady or an old crone.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWRJFRlofb_kr69n1DfSzM9hhoSVdjon3MCVu3tcMkkiKPzwRw7Wzne0VfR8uvTI2lBP_FSUAamnjl4CMCb5DAq9MwwzU2s6DVZvBY0EPHSNz2bp2ssUXe0LICDLyZIBB3uBE5GLhx3Dl/s1600/Drowning+not+waving.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWRJFRlofb_kr69n1DfSzM9hhoSVdjon3MCVu3tcMkkiKPzwRw7Wzne0VfR8uvTI2lBP_FSUAamnjl4CMCb5DAq9MwwzU2s6DVZvBY0EPHSNz2bp2ssUXe0LICDLyZIBB3uBE5GLhx3Dl/s400/Drowning+not+waving.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So how do <em>you</em> see the one above? We guess it’s meant to indicate partnerships and togetherness. But we’re afraid that we see it in a d<em>rowning not waving</em> capacity - a long line of people clinging together for dear life to avoid sinking beneath the choppy blood red waters beneath.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>omething we’ve mentioned on occasion is the poor quality of the postal service in some parts of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city> – where it seems that posties deliver when they feel like it, rather than being motivated by the accumulation of letters at the sorting office. A reader who complained after a particularly breathtaking piece of Royal Mail incompetence e-mailed us with a possible reason. After repeatedly brushing aside all complaints, Royal Mail's final response declared: "Please be assured that we take letting our customers down seriously ..."<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZOhF427rc_hDHHukqr7sOq9GNSZb-daoN0IjrIqfvVDe1ni0VOu7ARk0tzgfwCg1coPY46ERFDIJvP7BISIuuvIAoK9uvmfTSnDhe0tUA4ydcFEw6Kf1SAUt83iHV4x_noEyvNEyTVc7/s1600/New+roll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZOhF427rc_hDHHukqr7sOq9GNSZb-daoN0IjrIqfvVDe1ni0VOu7ARk0tzgfwCg1coPY46ERFDIJvP7BISIuuvIAoK9uvmfTSnDhe0tUA4ydcFEw6Kf1SAUt83iHV4x_noEyvNEyTVc7/s1600/New+roll.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></div><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e note that the controversial <em>Roll of Achievement</em> that was once so prominently displayed has disappeared from the home page of Boston Borough’s Council’s website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is still lurking in the bowels of the borough’s computer – but must be searched for to be read. The roll was always somewhat anomalous – listing some people and not others, and in obvious conflict with other parts of the site listing notable Bostonians. The space on the website has been taken by a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leader’s Message</i> – which we take to be the ruling group’s <em>paean</em> of self praise for their first 100 days. We admit a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">frisson</i> of fear as we read a line by Councillor Peter Bedford which declared: “My aim is to take this authority back to where it was in the past ….”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, he added the words “- a council well thought of and respected throughout the <st1:place w:st="on">East Midlands</st1:place>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Although we consider the first half of the statement to be more likely, w</span>e trust that the aim expressed in the latter will be as true as that of William Tell.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he leader also goes on to say: "Talks are starting with our neighbouring authorities about possible joint working schemes, helping each other to save money and get the best value we can for you all." We hope that he is not thinking of a reunion with the South Holland/East Lindsey partnership, with which the borough was on the brink of forming an alliance when financial problems forced its withdrawal. At the time, it was said that if Boston decided at a later date that it wanted to join the club, it would be at whatever the going rate was. The item below, from the <em>Rotten Boroughs </em>feature in this week's <em>Private Eye,</em> suggests that the price might be high, given the apparent absence of interest from anyone else in the year since the operation started. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84abAVgZV50NaxvuoSCGDmVm74PpAJ8G75c1JBAWtfJBb-YOx0kl6tSf-EnVEq3zkCA7-VTTT6mELnRyxgWgdgrFVPqfL9Wr8BTLQSRdaVhFq26Cv1iS-vC4qHDpVQpIBCXvnGxL9LMOm/s640/Rotten+boroughs001.jpg" width="363" /></div><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>hilst it is always praiseworthy to support our local services, a line has to be drawn somewhere. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the letters page of this week’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boston Target,</i> the “Letter of the Week” was headed “Care at the Pilgrim was just exemplary.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It referred to the stay of an elderly relative in our controversial local hospital, and added: “We can honestly say that she could not have received better care <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anywhere</i>.” Think about it. You can honestly say <em>no such thing</em> - unless the person in question has received treatment in every hospital in the country, and you had compared them all.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>head of our last item, we note that the <em>Boston Standard</em>’s weekly sales have slumped again – according to figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulation released yesterday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the first six months of 2011 they averaged 8,395 copies a week <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- down 10.8% and among only 14% of papers showing a double-digit drop in circulation. Just when we were getting close … <br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Finally</u></span></strong>, the late Harold Wilson wasn’t kidding when he said that a week is a long time in politics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the recent e-mail that we mentioned in which the writer decided to remind us where we lived and cautioned us to watch what we wrote, our enquiries have established that our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nom de plume </i>is no longer what it was. We promised on more than one occasion that we would end our efforts to call the council to account if <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we were “outed” - and decency dictates that we keep our word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been our pleasure to write so many tens of thousands of words and to be read by an increasingly large readership over the past four and a half years. We had hoped that repeatedly sending a message to the "great and the good" might create an appreciation of their unique position and that they might use it to benefit voters. But in many instances this has not proved to be the case. We are sure that there are many in Worst Street will now breathe a sigh of relief, slap themselves on the back and go about their usual business of running a not very good council not very well, happy in the knowledge that no one will now take them to task - which we suspect is what this is really all about. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">misquote</i> Harold Wilson: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the weak </i>are a long time in politics. Having said that, we are also pleased to have made many fine acquaintances within and without the council. One has already suggested that if enough people respond, we should reconsider our decision, and continue blogging – but obviously not under our present name. We are willing to give it a try, and if you would like to see some sort of blog continue, then please e-mail us. We have a target response figure in mind – but as we have said so many times before … we won’t be holding our breath.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut in the meantime, please keep checking our site for news …<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">STOP PRESS</span></u>: We have already received a number of letters and comments regarding the above item, which will reproduced on the blog page tomorrow. In general, they are supportive of <em>Boston Eye</em> continuing on some shape or form, but more views would be welcomed before we take a final decision. We look forward to hearing from you.</strong></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com"><span style="color: blue;">boston.eye@googlemail.com</span></a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.</div>Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-62438008173013615992011-09-01T06:00:00.001+01:002011-09-01T06:00:04.682+01:00<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>£5,000 for hopeless visitor site</u> </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">- </span></strong><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">and who knows </span></strong></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">how much to plug </span></strong></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">somewhere in Exeter?</span></strong></u></div><br />
Yesterday we looked at some of the areas where Boston Borough Council spends its – or rather our - money, and came up with some interesting and unusual items.<br />
Another - which there wasn’t room to mention yesterday - was a contribution of £5,000 towards the running of the <em>Visit Lincolnshire</em> website – but the council’s spending list doesn’t say whether this is annual, or quarterly, or what.<br />
Lincolnshire County Council took on the running of this website after funding was withdrawn from the quango of the same name which previously ran <em>Visit Lincolnshire</em>.<br />
Hopefully, this is an annual charge – because assuming similar contributions are being made by the county’s six other district councils, then Lincolnshire County Council is raking in £35,000 for running a small website within its huge internet presence. Nice work if you can get it.<br />
As for value – a search for Boston on the website generates a so-called 118 entries, although many of these are in neighbouring local authority districts, and a large number appear to be adverts for accommodation and the like.<br />
A random check of the site shows just how hopeless it is.<br />
The <em>Boston Beat</em> one-day music festival is still listed for Central Park next month – even though it was cancelled weeks ago. <br />
The<em> Mill Inn</em> on Spilsby Road appears in the index as being in South Holland. <br />
<em>Boston Farmers’ Market</em> is billed as a weekly event and apparently located halfway down Threadneedle Street.<br />
Whilst <em>Boston Tourist Information Centre</em> in the Guildhall is listed, its severely restricted opening hours are not. <br />
And although we mentioned some time ago that the <em>Boston Community Showcase</em> was not listed on the site, it is still conspicuous by its absence.<br />
What seems clear is that no-one at Boston Borough Council is tasked with checking whether this website is doing its job properly – but when County Hall sends in a bill for £5,000, the cheque wings its way to Lincoln.<br />
Frankly, to pay that much money for such indifferent service is unforgivable.<br />
Someone from Worst Street needs to give Lincolnshire County Council a kick up the backside – but we know that won’t happen, don’t we?<br />
Also on the subject of indifferent service, Boston Borough Council’s website carries a link to another site called <em>locations4business</em>.<br />
The organisation calls itself “<em>The</em> Inward Investment Portal” providing “a complete, free and indispensable business-to-business resource that every company will turn to when deciding where to locate their business operations. In turn, we plan to be the site where every economic development agency will want to be seen.”<br />
Whilst the service is apparently free to business – there is presumably a charge to local authorities such as Boston for having an entry.<br />
Click on the link to the borough council “gallery” on the <em>locations4business site</em>, and you will see the following<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFC0vmoTGbvLMH2s870vS800Vpni3YYoITTv0AHwrJY8baIbHIgaTZ5hKf2jCgkROYiDf2GSEqFGEu8LpfVCG4jz4UfiDTrmG6am5LTrkXJAaBJPW3Y4y9Ike3-nNR0bJmL_CQLkUscAB/s1600/Marsh+Barton.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFC0vmoTGbvLMH2s870vS800Vpni3YYoITTv0AHwrJY8baIbHIgaTZ5hKf2jCgkROYiDf2GSEqFGEu8LpfVCG4jz4UfiDTrmG6am5LTrkXJAaBJPW3Y4y9Ike3-nNR0bJmL_CQLkUscAB/s320/Marsh+Barton.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>click on photo to enlarge</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
If you look closely, you will see an aerial photograph of the Market Place – but, mysteriously, captioned <em>Marsh Barton</em>.<br />
Would you like a clue?<br />
Marsh Barton is <em>Exeter's</em> largest trading estate, supporting over 500 diverse businesses including showrooms, builders merchants, tool and plant hire.<br />
Yet again, we ask: What is the point of paying for services to “sell” Boston - but not checking to see whether they are delivering what they are supposed to?<br />
In recently months it has been said more than once that Boston needs much more by way of promotion and publicity.<br />
Why not start by chasing up these existing sloppy “providers” and getting them to do their job properly?<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-46340588496370701532011-08-31T06:00:00.000+01:002011-08-31T06:00:01.615+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi799yfgJw0fVG9T-8VaELRhtHFWZUZDNej7LPOQVZmvwQ-37y3bGyDFpudy_9LhfgaiIH_uZkmDeeGWmZq2cTPP4WzIlFVIytKmcaKyZ4jDMoKOYG2HsTkj6arcN4fVw2JwCpRAvt_m4Dn/s1600/ctb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi799yfgJw0fVG9T-8VaELRhtHFWZUZDNej7LPOQVZmvwQ-37y3bGyDFpudy_9LhfgaiIH_uZkmDeeGWmZq2cTPP4WzIlFVIytKmcaKyZ4jDMoKOYG2HsTkj6arcN4fVw2JwCpRAvt_m4Dn/s320/ctb.jpg" width="320" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>It's only </u></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>money</u> - </span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>but it <em>is </em>ours</u>!</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Boston Borough Council’s spending figures over £500 always make interesting reading, as they give a clue – but nothing more – as to what the borough does with our money.<br />
For example …<br />
We recently read a report about a programme run by <em>Garden Organic</em>, a national charity for organic growing, which has been working with Boston and East Lindsey district councils to support community growing spaces - including one in Central Park.<br />
It recruits local volunteer <em>Master Gardeners</em> to pass on their expertise to other locals. So far there are 17 - of which only <em>six</em> are listed as operating in Boston, and a new group is currently being sought.<br />
The charity offers a two-day training session, supported by a dedicated manual and interactive website, support from the Lincolnshire volunteer co-ordinator, and “free” resources, including <em>a badge</em>, clothing, safe working policies, insurance, expenses, and <em>awards</em>.<br />
It all sounds so mellow and green, and a perfect example of self-help at little or no cost.<br />
Until, that is, you look at the real cost to Boston council taxpayers. <br />
For the period between March 1st and June 30th, the borough forked over £5,461.96 – that’s a lot of green if you’ll forgive the pun!<br />
A far more expensive bedfellow is the also one of the borough’s favourite needy causes - the South Lincs Community and Voluntary Service, which once upon a time was the humble Boston and District Volunteer Bureau. <br />
Last month, Boston Borough Council paid SLCVS £12,750 under a <em>service level agreement</em> covering July to September this year.<br />
The organisation is by no means hard up.<br />
Just five years ago it got by on an income of £350,000 – but last year took in nearly £800,000, and also has generous surpluses in the bank. <br />
Perhaps a review of whether Boston really needs to chip in so much money – equivalent to an annual contribution of £50,000 a year – might lead to some savings to taxpayers.<br />
It may be, of course, that no one thinks to query such things - because so many staff now appear to work for agencies. <br />
July’s figures show more than £20,000 was spent on agency staff – mainly in the finance, street cleaning and refuse collection services – although one single charge of almost £5,000 was for development control “assistance” in June alone.<br />
Although it is no doubt cheaper to hire staff than to keep them on the books, there are some areas where we think that someone with more commitment than a week or two might be better for the job.<br />
In the way that more information might be helpful to see where some of our money goes, we wondered what a <em>housing court desk</em> is, and why the council paid the Ringrose Law Group £5,000 for it for the period between April and June. <br />
At that rate it’s a yearly cost of £20,000 – but for what, exactly?<br />
Is there a clue in a document published by Boston Borough Council in May last year, under the snappy headline: “<em>Having problems paying for your home? Are you threatened with repossession due to mortgage or rent arrears?</em>” <br />
It asks: “Did you know that FREE representation is available at Boston County Court for all rent or mortgage possession cases? The duty desk is <em>hosted</em> by Ringrose Law in partnership with Boston Borough Council.”<br />
The Ringrose logo and web address also appears in the brochure, and a visit to their site refers to “Our newly established Housing Department” which offers help to clients with issues including possession and repossession.<br />
However, we can find no mention of <em>free</em> representation – or of Boston Borough Council.<br />
If this is indeed the same thing – and has to be the case – then £5,000 a quarter seems a lot to pay.<br />
Might it not be better to see if it was cheaper to pay case-by-case, rather than a fixed fee?<br />
Finally, we note that Liability Orders – issued to recover money owed to the council using the court system, cost £6,642 between May and July.<br />
Some of these orders are used to obtain unpaid council tax – but they are also used to hound further the desperate local business owners who have not paid their levy to the equally but differently desperate Boston Business <em>Improvement</em> District. <br />
It would be interesting to know how many orders are put to this purpose – and also how much money in total that the orders will claw back.<br />
Tomorrow, we’ll be looking at one particular payment where the borough clearly doesn’t bother to see if it is getting value – and finding an unexpected link between Boston and the West Country<br />
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You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.<br />
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Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-51632795001274363072011-08-26T06:00:00.002+01:002011-08-26T15:13:30.069+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_oenCoTmuxp1Ia2gg4E3YA_9ebrUbPdnBeH_fQ-8Nu1gXC5SDI7qX6ST1qL_vJ4IpJjcBiN3ApYNu9MfWz_CejedScfMIxzgE-KljxZY8Z6RXannR0YNj63kVW2wiv91_vXxlVZlVJmd/s1600/Week+ending+WBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_oenCoTmuxp1Ia2gg4E3YA_9ebrUbPdnBeH_fQ-8Nu1gXC5SDI7qX6ST1qL_vJ4IpJjcBiN3ApYNu9MfWz_CejedScfMIxzgE-KljxZY8Z6RXannR0YNj63kVW2wiv91_vXxlVZlVJmd/s1600/Week+ending+WBC.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Our Friday miscellany </span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">of the week's </span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">news and events</span></u></b></div><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>fter all the trumpeting about the deal to “save” the Geoff Moulder Leisure Centre training pool, it seems that the plan isn’t quite as original as it was cracked up to be. Frampton and Holme’s Independent Councillor Brian Rush, writes to say: “It is ironic isn’t it, that this ‘new idea’ was put forward by the <em>Better Boston Group</em> way back? We had many meetings with Adrian Reed (executive headmaster of the Witham Schools Federation) and the Swimming Club, regarding just such a take over at the time. Had this idea not been talked down by Boston Borough Council officers, but taken forward - instead of running with the Leisure Connections <em>debacle</em> - so much time could have been saved, along with lots and lots of taxpayers money. I know success is never guaranteed, and I do hope the Conservatives will be big enough to give credit where it is due. Sometimes local people do know best, and maybe, just maybe, if our officers began to listen to local ideas, Boston might just be a better place.”<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>fter our attempts earlier in the week to clarify exactly what the election of a mayor might mean for Boston, a reader sent us details of developments at Labour-run Leicester City Council – which recently abolished the post of chief executive. Directly-elected mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the post was "redundant" because his role included most of the responsibilities of a chief executive, and that the council could save £175,000 a year by abolishing the post. Critics who say that changing the system would be more expensive, please take note!<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>hat a funny old world it is when freedom of speech is threatened in a place like <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city>! We accept that some people don't like what we say about our local politicians - invariably the politicians themselves - but have always remained satirical, and nothing more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We once said that if identified we would cease blogging, and until recently that would have been the case. However, earlier this week we were confronted by something quite sinister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An e-mail apparently from a senior councillor - couched humorously, but unambiguously -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>claimed to know where a team member lived and included the words "be careful what you write ... "<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We replied and questioned the implied threats in this communication and sought clarification, without success. We are not scared by bullyboy tactics and claims of knowing things which can be no more than guesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is sad when politicians stoop so low to avoid criticism, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boston Eye</i> is made of sterner stuff. We would also be grateful if whoever has been repeatedly trying to hack our site would call it a day!<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here seem to be some strange attitudes where our so-called visitor “attractions” are concerned. We note that the Guildhall – one of our few historic buildings – will close at noon tomorrow, then again at 12.30pm on 3rd September and 1pm on 24th September. The reason is that it has been booked for <em>private functions</em> on those dates. The Guildhall’s opening times are already pathetic – just 10-30am to 3-30pm Wednesday to Saturday. Surely an accommodation could have been made so that the private events started a couple of hours later to avoid the possibility of potential visitors being disappointed? Apparently not.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut it gets worse. Now, the Maud Foster windmill has closed its tearooms after months of disruption from roadworks that made no difference at all to the traffic problems on Spilsby Road that they were designed to alleviate. <br />
Much further down the chain, we note that the g<em>iles52gallery</em> -which cost taxpayers so much money when it was created as part of a “community hub,” has been closed for the last fortnight – during what is probably the busiest time of the year for visitors. It seems that the goal of wrecking the town’s small businesses by closing the Market Place for at least eight months is not enough. The plan now appears to be to run down what few visitor attractions we have as well.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>alking of the Market Place, we note that this week’s <em>Boston Standard</em> claims credit for the opening of an information centre to keep business owners abreast of developments. It was planned <em>anyway</em>, but according to the <em>Standard</em> came “just days after <em><strong>we</strong></em> called for a meeting.” Unfortunately, we can’t quite trace this <em>call</em> being made in the "newspaper" or on its website. Not only that, but as businesses can see their livelihoods being destroyed before their eyes, we see little to be gained from the presence of a mostly unmanned information centre and a comments book – though some of the comments might well prove interesting! Staff from the contractors will be available for three hours each Wednesday and Friday – but what can they say to make people feel better? They can sympathise - possibly - but nothing is going to change. Hurrah for the <em>Boston Standard</em>. File the story under the same category as its “demand” for answers concerning North Sea camp made three weeks ago – which apparently have yet to materialise.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd still with the Market Place refurbishment – we have raised the point several times that works such as this seem to take far longer than they once did. An especially good example was the previously-mentioned Spilsby Road <em>fiasco</em> – which took twelve weeks to complete – possibly because on some occasions there were as few as three workers on site. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTCQj0r4_FBwG4nlad9eTmibtW3Es0MuMiULupmnL0T33jF0EypFyd_jWsD433z-zDRgPlWpN9AyOFe9MoDPHFJRa58iX0k4PF-2BT2nvLjyqNjqmYCLf0e7wRFMVm4RhIiMY4Xn-Y9SL/s1600/Kerbstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTCQj0r4_FBwG4nlad9eTmibtW3Es0MuMiULupmnL0T33jF0EypFyd_jWsD433z-zDRgPlWpN9AyOFe9MoDPHFJRa58iX0k4PF-2BT2nvLjyqNjqmYCLf0e7wRFMVm4RhIiMY4Xn-Y9SL/s320/Kerbstone.jpg" width="320" /></a>A reader sent the picture on the right, which goes a long way to explaining why it will take at least <em>eight months</em> to complete the Market Place works. Two men prepare for the arrival of a two foot length of kerbstone - which is being manoeuvred into place by a third man using a mini <em>crane</em>. How long it takes to lay each kerbstone is anyone’s guess – but we bet that in the old days of manual labour it would have taken a fraction of the time.</div><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e are sure that the change of name from the Boston <em><u>Bypass</u></em> Independents to the Boston <em><u>District</u></em> Independents will do much to win the hearts and minds of the borough’s electorate. Accompanying the news is the same old waffle about independent thinking - and the suggestion that individual independents have little influence ... whereas combining "independence" wins places on committees and greater power. Going it alone doesn’t seem to have harmed our individual independents so far, as they are well represented on committees. It sounds to us like the mixture as before – and as far as we can tell, the BBI/BDI hasn’t exactly blazed a trail at Worst Street since May’s elections. But now that it has <em>finally</em> thrown in the towel, it might find time to delete the BBI blog which began on 12th May 2007 and ended fifteen days later - and which still lists all the founder members of that ill-starred council ... despite the claim that “this blog will be updated regularly to keep you informed on our progress…” Its earliest broken promise perhaps …?<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span></strong>inally, in a move which could come back to haunt him, Skirbeck Ward Labour Councillor Paul Gleeson is inviting Boston people to name their local “grot spots.” He says – quite rightly – “We feel it is essential to run an all year round campaign on cleaning up our town and our estates.” The idea is that we send in photos of our grot spots and the reasons why we have nominated them. The details will then be highlighted on the local Labour Party website. We hope that they are prepared for the site to crash due to the sheer volume of contributions!<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hat’s it for this week – we’ll be back on <em>Wednesday</em> after a a slightly extended Bank Holiday break – but we’re not going away - and if you need us, you can get in touch by e-mail.<br />
<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div>Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-89660484453432617392011-08-25T06:15:00.002+01:002011-08-25T06:15:00.051+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaBwumFIqb5Ilc15AQtH4aF_qPfL1-IlT4uYQOS5-K9qy9HFrXW9l_Onf5LXwh7SL8WbQaiSuidzSVn2ycyZxG-CzPNUdjn_QCAqLA6eNEu9axK9V9D-dwzPFQZAoDNFKxo2HCqYuvXQy/s1600/Street+drinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaBwumFIqb5Ilc15AQtH4aF_qPfL1-IlT4uYQOS5-K9qy9HFrXW9l_Onf5LXwh7SL8WbQaiSuidzSVn2ycyZxG-CzPNUdjn_QCAqLA6eNEu9axK9V9D-dwzPFQZAoDNFKxo2HCqYuvXQy/s320/Street+drinking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Booze - and cheers</u></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span><br />
- <u>Boston drinks</u><br />
<u>to it all</u>!</div></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
It was interesting to read a recent item about Boston’s <em>Street Pastors</em> – a group of volunteers of whom few people in the town aged twenty-five and over will probably have ever heard.</div>Their job is to patrol the streets of Boston late on Saturday night - and watch for unfortunates who get into difficulties through too much drinking.<br />
Interestingly, they see a slice of Boston life that many of the town's great and good - who should know better - are keen to deny exists.<br />
The pastors carry bottles of water, flip-flops, foil blankets, sick bags and face wipes, and patrol the town’s nightclub areas into the wee small hours.<br />
If you wonder about the flip-flops, they are issued to young women who shed their shoes when booze overtakes them – and so risk treading barefoot in the broken glass that litters our town these days.<br />
The pastors also carry dustpans to collect glass from the streets – and pick up the empties left so they don’t join the deadly debris.<br />
Their co-ordinator says: “We are very much part of the peace-keeping in the town.”<br />
It makes Boston sound like <em>Dodge City</em>.<br />
Whilst it is good to know that there is help available to frame this dystopian portrait – it highlights one more problem facing Boston.<br />
The pastors have become another tier of society that helps people who can’t – or won’t – help themselves.<br />
They represent a safety net for those whose sole aim is to hit Boston town centre on a Saturday night and get legless, regardless of the risk.<br />
Whilst they don’t take on a policing role, the pastors take the weight off the police and avoid charges of drunkenness which would otherwise end in a short sharp shock for an offender and a few hours in the cells with a fine next morning – once enough to prevent a second offence.<br />
We’re sure that the police are happy because it makes their job easier, and according to one nightclub owner, the pastors “do a great service for the town at night time. They look after our customers and other people’s customers.” <br />
And that, of course, spares club owners the trouble of looking out for the best interests of their clients.<br />
By way of illustration, this week’s local “newspapers” carry the story of a judge who wants an investigation into the selfsame nightclub whose manager was quoted – regarding its fitness to have an alcohol licence.<br />
His comments followed evidence about the amount of alcohol served to four people who later carried out an <em>unprovoked</em> attack on a total stranger.<br />
Between them, they consumed <em>jugs </em>of vodka based cocktails; WKD – an alcopop – lager and bitter ... serving one defendant who had already drunk <em>twelve</em> pints of beer.<br />
Doubtless, this manager was comfortable with the Street Pastors “looking after” his customers – but who “looked after” the assault victim was probably not his concern either.<br />
It’s all so brainless.<br />
What do you make of the man on a night out whose best quote was: “I really respect the Street Pastors, because their job is rubbish?”<br />
Or the women who approached them to ask if they would be distributing flip-flops later – making their intentions for a good night out completely unambiguous.<br />
Boston’s attitude to drinking and public order is ambivalent at least.<br />
We have a Designated Public Place Order, which bans drinking in the town centre – but as our picture sent in by a reader clearly shows, you can tip a tinnie within yards of the town’s police station without a problem.<br />
And whenever someone comes up with an idea to <em>sell </em> Boston, by staging an event in Central Park – which always seems to require a beer tent ... the borough council cynically and hypocritically waives the DPPO and looks the other way.<br />
Increasingly, public order in Boston is in the hands of non-empowered individuals, and not the police who represent law and order …<br />
We have the Town Rangers, who appear to spend most of their time loafing about in shop doorways, chatting; we <em>think</em> that we still have Police Community Support Officers – though these days they are never seen – and their “real” colleagues are also invisible.<br />
It appears that we are making no effort to curb the problems that occur on Friday and Saturday nights in the town by trying to educate people to moderate their behaviour. <br />
Instead we encourage a lifestyle that <em>cossets</em> them if they don’t – even though … in a worst case scenario – they could end up in intensive care or as a victim of rape.<br />
<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-75243876365417430912011-08-24T06:15:00.003+01:002011-08-24T06:15:00.624+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz50j3GgBoYbrcmdPx7YV-LeqGI5KidQ5jVbTWDUzMLrw0RdINNPK-cvPWMCtUZF_a7Hc7pvvWoq2PwpUh0ssiG91PgHFhuZJz31jUF69i-_FTMmEarhnerufEc_knOC1h6_swjyYj79h/s1600/Supine+BBD+captioned+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz50j3GgBoYbrcmdPx7YV-LeqGI5KidQ5jVbTWDUzMLrw0RdINNPK-cvPWMCtUZF_a7Hc7pvvWoq2PwpUh0ssiG91PgHFhuZJz31jUF69i-_FTMmEarhnerufEc_knOC1h6_swjyYj79h/s400/Supine+BBD+captioned+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRSiRA7yDQVoUN_ZoH1kVbzaQ2Cl3NcjpXhR58VyLzBLZvITOkPciieHxGF0iuVVhu4uEzWMoLjJnnuUQ5MVHFeyUtDfks6wasJlccGSKhfdBW_gDhUCNxpkkHay5npuWMYT9OHInR4rn/s1600/Supine+BBD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRSiRA7yDQVoUN_ZoH1kVbzaQ2Cl3NcjpXhR58VyLzBLZvITOkPciieHxGF0iuVVhu4uEzWMoLjJnnuUQ5MVHFeyUtDfks6wasJlccGSKhfdBW_gDhUCNxpkkHay5npuWMYT9OHInR4rn/s1600/Supine+BBD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></strong></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It seems that when it comes to bypasses, nothing is too good for the people of Lincoln. The Tory leadership of Lincolnshire County Council has just taken what they call a “calculated risk” with a last-ditch £48 million offer towards a 4.88-mile Lincoln eastern bypass.</div>It represents an increase of £33.9 million on the previous figure of £13.8 million, and if the government takes the bait, the county council expects to take the money from reserves rather than borrowing. The extra money will be blagged back over twenty years from housing developers, district councils and other groups who will benefit from the bypass.<br />
Astonishingly for a £10 million a mile price tag, the road has already been downgraded from a dual to a single carriageway to try to keep the government onside.<br />
Some bypass!<br />
The county council’s desperation has been noted by Boston’s Labour councillors, who want to know when our local Tory administration is going to put pressure on “their Conservative friends” at County Hall to make the same kind of commitment that they are making to Lincoln.<br />
“What we don’t want to see happen in the next four years is Boston’s new administration staying silent to the County Council, similar to the previous administration,” they say. “So let’s see some action, as the recent benefits will soon be lost again by the ever increasing amount of traffic on our roads.”<br />
The councillors also comment on the ironic situation in Spalding, which has a choice of two routes for a Spalding Western Relief Road. But both routes would cut through local allotments - which has provoked objections to the plans.<br />
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have that option?” says the Labour group. “Isn’t Boston just as deserving of a bypass as Lincoln and Spalding for our economic success?”<br />
Of course it is – it’s just that our local leaders appear willing to be led by their masters in Lincoln – which means we’ll probably never hear about a bypass for Boston again.<br />
At the same time as the Spalding bypass issue, comes news of cash help to revamp and renovate historic shops and offices in Spalding, Crowland, Holbeach and Long Sutton<br />
Traditional work to reinstate the authentic look of properties could be part paid through a something called the Partnership Schemes in Conservation Areas, which is run by South Holland District Council and English Heritage - and since 2007, more than £600,000 has been handed out.<br />
Twenty-five buildings have been worked on - with an average grant of more than £24,000.<br />
What intrigues us is that whilst South Holland District Council can walk the walk – all Boston Borough Council seems capable of is talking the talk.<br />
As long ago as 2004, the Heritage Lottery Fund granted the council a Townscape Heritage Initiative worth up to £860,000 - but it was withdrawn in 2008 as it was unable to be delivered.<br />
More recently, but still as long ago as 2008, the council was talking to English Heritage about investing in just such a project as the one that’s operating in South Holland.<br />
An English Heritage spokesman said at the time: “We don't invest massive amounts every year but when we're interested in a place we'll consistently invest over a period of time. It might take seven or eight years to regenerate a place. In Boston it might take longer" In one town they spent 15 years helping shop owners do their places up and convert space over shops for residential use.<br />
How is it that other local authorities seem able to short circuit the system and get money released in quantity for essential projects, whilst in Boston, they sit on their backsides while absolutely nothing happens?<br />
In the time that Boston has been talking, South Holland has spent more than half a million pounds.<br />
<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-46328798156770804462011-08-23T06:15:00.008+01:002011-08-23T06:15:00.882+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTg2G_oOGfml2cb0usNkC_cPB7oUnqVCZGHMznYeDMTxK7cZFvzo0rWO8zV0ASFVBDQ0hv-nx6hPpOIuuiHGtXdjZVz8p3nSZmi4Gv_5fAgj11GXGeSPU09F0nzLEh2XNsWIjRI6Z0-uZ/s1600/votehangus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTg2G_oOGfml2cb0usNkC_cPB7oUnqVCZGHMznYeDMTxK7cZFvzo0rWO8zV0ASFVBDQ0hv-nx6hPpOIuuiHGtXdjZVz8p3nSZmi4Gv_5fAgj11GXGeSPU09F0nzLEh2XNsWIjRI6Z0-uZ/s1600/votehangus.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H'Angus won in Hartelpool</td></tr>
</tbody></table><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Let's <em>see</em> if Boston </span></strong></u><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">wants an elected mayor </span></strong></u><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">- and no monkey business!</span></strong></u>As the debate rumbles on about whether Boston needs an elected mayor - which would replace the shambolic system we have at present – it seems that people are unclear on what it means.The confusion was compounded in the <em>Observer</em> column in last week’s <em>Boston Standard</em> – but since the writer needs a card with his name written on it stuck in his hatband as an <em>aide memoir</em>, we are not especially surprised.<br />
When a borough appoints an elected mayor, the historic office is not affected.<br />
The “electricians, truck drivers and businessmen” can still potter around in their ermine robes and silly hats as they have for centuries.<br />
Fortunately in most cases, the mayor has little to do with the real running of a council – except to “impartially” referee a tied vote.<br />
The real power is in the hands of whomever a council elects – or otherwise – as its leader, who then appoints a cabinet of like thinking individuals unlikely to do anything than his or her bidding … but who can be sacked if they don’t.<br />
Defined like this, we can see why the concept of an elected mayor is appealing. <br />
The functionary in this post is put there by a <em>majority</em> vote of local people – in other words, people who consider the <em>candidate</em> the <em>best</em> for the job.<br />
Again the difference from the current system is quite distinct.<br />
At present, a leader's power comes from the combined votes for his or her party - not as an individual. <br />
And let’s not forget that, often, elected councillors who won the votes don't necessarily support their leader’s appointment.<br />
More significantly, a leader is often unknown to the electors he represents.<br />
Another misconception – which seems widely held in Boston - is that the person campaigning for a referendum will automatically get the job.<br />
All that is happening at present is that local people are being petitioned to call for a referendum which – if one is held – will cost £50,000, and not the £70,000 being touted. <br />
If the petition succeeds, and a referendum is held and a majority votes to elect a mayor, the next step is open to anyone who wants to throw their hat into the ring.<br />
For example, it could provide an interesting opportunity for a council leader to see if he or she had the real support of the electorate; for a prominent business person to stand; or even – and it’s been done before … in Hartlepool … for the local football mascot to stand; and the man who wore it it to be elected (see photo at top of page.)<br />
The cost of an elected mayor is, of course, an issue - and opponents are quick to say that it is unaffordable.<br />
But this year, the "historic" office of mayor - which is a token piece of pantomime these days - will cost taxpayers £80,000 ... and even when the budget is trimmed, will be £60,000 a year - more than £1,000 a week.<br />
Certainly, some improvement to the way that Boston is managed is clearly needed.<br />
The previous council voted for a government structure called “the new Leader and Cabinet Executive (England) Model.” <br />
This required that “the Leader is elected at the annual council meeting after his/her election to the council <em>and he/she <u>will</u> remain in office for a 4 year term</em> corresponding to his/her term as councillor.”<br />
This key provision regarding tenure in office was designed to ensure that councils were run more <em>harmoniously</em>, more <em>smoothly</em>, and most <em>importantly</em> more <em>efficiently</em> and <em>professionally</em> – but it has already been <em>rejected</em> by the <em>current leader</em>.<br />
Surely then, all bets are now off.<br />
If voters want a referendum, they should have one.<br />
Perhaps the money could come from the <em>reserves</em> – as it has for the up-front funding of the Moulder training pool deal.<br />
And as for the result – all we can say is that it could be interesting!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.</div>Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-77781255752350251602011-08-22T06:00:00.004+01:002011-08-22T06:00:00.281+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Pool plan to</span></strong></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;">make splash</span></u></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;">with reserves</span></u></strong></div><br />
We were pleased to see that a special meeting of Boston Borough Council’s cabinet of curosities has been called for Wednesday - particularly as the previous meeting for the month was cancelled.<br />
In our mind’s eye we pictured their bath chairs creaking off the sundecks and squeaking down Worst Street for a session doubtless to be filled with pith and moment – probably mostly pith, given the track record of our leaders to date.<br />
<em>But, no.</em><br />
The meeting will <em>only</em> consider the reopening of the training pool at the Geoff Moulder Leisure complex – plans for which have already been announced in some detail.<br />
Flying in the face of their promise of openness and transparency – one of the few pledges the Tories made to bamboozle Bostonians to put them in charge – after a standing item snappily entitled "Recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny," the meeting will go into <em>secret session</em>.<br />
In fairness, we have to say that a short "public version of the report" was slipped on to the agenda a few days after the initial details appeared – but it tells us next to nothing.<br />
More than that, it creates confusion. <br />
According to the original announcement, a five-year <em>partnership</em> between Boston Borough Council, the Witham Schools Federation and Boston Amateur Swimming Club, is looking at a service level agreement “<em>which will cover the £100,000 a year cost of running the pool </em>and lead to cash generation to help fund the facility.”<br />
But later on, the same statement says that under the deal, the federation and the club will jointly invest £30,000 a year "t<em>o help with improvements and refurbishment at the pool</em>."<br />
That was the situation reported around three weeks ago – but now we see a different version ahead of Wednesday’s meeting.<br />
Cabinet members will be asked to approve spending £195,000 from <em>reserves</em>, with £150,000 being repaid over five years from third party contributions, and the remaining £45,000 funded from the capital reserve – in other words, written off.<br />
So what exactly is going on?<br />
The original statement contradicted itself – firstly by saying that <em>third party contributions</em> would cover the pool’s <em>running costs</em> – then saying they would be used for <em>improvements and refurbishment</em>.<br />
Now, it seems the plan is to dig into Boston’s reserves to the tune of almost two years' worth of running costs - of which £150,000 appears to be an “advance” on what the partners will be expected to repay over five years.<br />
It would be nice to have all this explained more fully before the cabinet rubber stamps it - as it assuredly will – but sadly that is impossible, because the public and press are banned from hearing the discussions.<br />
We learned last week that the borough’s record with sports facilities was worse than previously thought.<br />
Veteran Boston journalist George Wheatman disclosed in his column in the <em>Boston Target</em> that trustees at the Peter Paine sports centre – which was recently given away amidst great fanfare by the borough council to Boston College – were threatened that the centre would be closed if they didn’t spend £400,000 on refurbishment … or hand the lease back to Boston Borough Council.<br />
It’s known as a carrot and stick approach – but without the carrot. <br />
The iron fist in the iron glove.<br />
Given the record of Boston Borough Councils and sporting facilities over the years, we get very nervous.<br />
Are we looking another PRSA in the making, we wonder?<br />
<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-40129761428343188482011-08-19T06:00:00.007+01:002011-08-19T07:03:58.646+01:00Week ending<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-rHlRBMb8UdIzyBtFW7MVO7eHlTzord-3ZqEdamMCv7zQbE1PYkK7fo0MChUQHFYDiq6SO-bD5jNTqZCqYR2P3OBIvyRTo23_zDacL6KBaX9XgAO-FyzE-A6LilEe3drhtJcGMY1cA4t/s1600/Week+ending+WBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-rHlRBMb8UdIzyBtFW7MVO7eHlTzord-3ZqEdamMCv7zQbE1PYkK7fo0MChUQHFYDiq6SO-bD5jNTqZCqYR2P3OBIvyRTo23_zDacL6KBaX9XgAO-FyzE-A6LilEe3drhtJcGMY1cA4t/s1600/Week+ending+WBC.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Our Friday miscellany </u></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>of the week's </u></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>news and events</u></span></strong></div><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here was an ominous phrase among the e-mails in circulation earlier this week from the portfolio holder for town centre development and management, Councillor Derek Richmond. Take a deep breath and read on – the italics are ours, but not the punctuation ... “I too have the interests of the people and businesses of this Town at heart, that's why I put so much time trying to improve Boston in order to achieve more footfall, more spending and ultimately more businesses opening in the future, <em>unfortunately despite everybody's efforts I can't see any of this happening whilst the Market Place is being re-furbished and the economic situation remains as it is</em>, but at least we will have everything in place ready for when all this changes.” Given that the Market Place refurbishment is going on at least until March – and who knows how long the economy will take to recover - we are sure that Boston businesses will go from being gloomy to positively suicidal at this news. If we ran a Market Place business, we’d shut up shop here and now, rather than endure a steady decline and ongoing loss of profits. <br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>till with Councillor Richmond, we were heartily cheered by the news that the great and the good in Boston Borough Council’s cabinet are working so hard on our behalf. In another e-mail, he wrote: “We are already making great inroads in the Council thanks to everybodys hard work as I am sure the Officers would be only too pleased to tell you. I would say <em>every member of the Cabinet are putting in in excess of 40 hours a week.”</em> We’re sure that he would say it, but we have to say that somehow, we doubt it – unless someone would like to convince us !<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e mentioned last week the scruffy plaque that allegedly marks the place where the famous explorer George Bass grew up. However, it appears that not only is the historic plaque in bad nick – but it’s in the <em>wrong</em> place! Reader Robin Smith tells us: “With regard to the state of the Crown and Anchor sign and the plaque with details of George Bass - just one thing concerns me, if the <em>Placecheck</em>/council are keen to spend our money on refurbishing them, can they at least re-install them at the correct location? Yes, George Bass did indeed spend some time residing in Skirbeck Quarter at the Coaching Inn/Posting House under the sign of the Crown and Anchor, but this property was situated at number 16 Skirbeck Quarter. This formerly fine building with its coach arch, on which the sign was originally installed, still stands. The sign, the name and the licence were relocated to the building at number 20 Skirbeck Quarter in around 1850 - approximately 50 years after Bass had died. This building was demolished in 1968 and the sign and plaque placed on the adjacent wall. But this is not the site of the inn where Bass grew up.”<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e were pleased to see another list of local “surgeries” being held by Boston councillors appear on the borough’s website – although some of the events appeared to be out of date when they appeared. The list comprises three Conservative councillors, three Labour, and two Independents. That represents only a quarter of the total number of councillors. Surely the people who elected them deserve better than that?<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>hilst there was no reason for Boston to have expected trouble during last week’s nationwide riots – the events certainly brought back uncomfortable memories of 2004, when the town <em>did</em> suffer in just such a way. This may well have been in the mind of our MP Mark Simmonds when he declared how appalled he was by the scenes in London, adding that the riot criminals must be confronted. What a shame, then, that he couldn’t apparently make the effort to attend the recall of parliament that debated the matter. In reply to a constituent who asked whether he had been present for the debate, his office said that he hadn’t, and “there hadn’t been any riots in Lincolnshire.” The phrase <em>let them eat cake</em> comes to mind.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here appears to have been a lot of gloating by both the <em>Boston Standard</em> and the borough council because BBC’s <em>Look North</em> came to town to feature their “name and shame anti-litter campaign.” It’s really no big deal, as lazy regional TV programmes check out the front pages of our local papers and proceed accordingly. Add to that the fact that the <em>Look North</em> edition in question is a local programme within a local programme, and we wonder what all the fuss is about. It should be routine for stories about Boston to appear on local television – not something to be regarded as exceptional. Also, wouldn’t it be great if the stories were good news, rather than the reverse? And before anyone objects – a story about a joint effort to punish people who drop litter (a <em>scourge</em> according to the council,) is not a good news story - as it highlights the litter problem in Boston and the extreme measures needed to combat it.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here is surely a message to be taken from this week’s court appearances in our local “newspapers.” Without exception, the surnames for the entire sitting read like an Eastern European telephone directory – <em>Slivinskas, Balans, Lezdins, Moskal, Kaicenko, Jucys, Zielinski</em>. And of these seven, some were repeat offenders, who clearly haven’t taken the hint. In its welcoming message to newcomers to Boston, the borough council says: “More people are moving into Boston from outside the area, and this information has been collected to help all newcomers, especially economic migrants from the European Union, to get information about public services they need, <em>integrate</em> into the community and play a full part in the borough's life. One of the council's main priorities is to ensure Boston is a place for everyone - a place that values diversity.” Boston is also a place that should <em>value</em> law and order – and surely the time has come to explain to newcomers that <em>integration</em> requires a certain standard of behaviour. Perhaps our local solicitors could also try to refrain from coming up with laughable excuses in so-called <em>mitigation</em>.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>hen Boston town centre was placed under a <em>Designated Public Place Order</em> – a fancy term which just means you can't drink in public – joy was unconfined. Despite the fact that it hasn’t really made much difference, there’s another less pleasant aspect for people who live beyond the DPPO area, whose opinions were <em>pooh-poohed</em> when they expressed fears that the order would simply shift the problem elsewhere.<br />
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<div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdWWqZQQ-WWhAlJLGWaQ4FyK9J-XZzdIvFQpfHM9T_0B4H2orv_8YoLIkU5JHlLBhEKINRUfI5gc02vR-A6E7kLkcveZXwuTkOWmHV1m7c4vcynm1hzbOT0Wu5rLU7LSXgKGEYsjmwJOo/s1600/Boozebins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdWWqZQQ-WWhAlJLGWaQ4FyK9J-XZzdIvFQpfHM9T_0B4H2orv_8YoLIkU5JHlLBhEKINRUfI5gc02vR-A6E7kLkcveZXwuTkOWmHV1m7c4vcynm1hzbOT0Wu5rLU7LSXgKGEYsjmwJOo/s320/Boozebins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We encountered these two bins within yards of each other during what should have been a pleasant weekend stroll alongside the Maud Foster waterway. Nearby, a council-owned bench had been uprooted and dumped on the river bank – although by now it is probably to be found full fathom five below old Maudie’s waters. But at least a town centre problem has been addressed – which seems to be all that the council is really concerned about - and why should it care about the poor devils living just a few hundred yards further away … after all they’re just council tax payers.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e mentioned a while ago the apparent determination of Lincolnshire County Council to ensure that the town remains as hard to travel as possible because of roadworks. One such problem has been highlighted at the A52 junction with the Boardsides, where the bridge that leads out of town to Tesco and Oldrids Downtown has been made one-way. The so called “diversion” back to town, is apparently over 20 miles and takes more than half an hour. <em>Why</em>? Another question that we have raised is why it takes so long to complete what ought to be relatively minor road schemes. Yesterday as we headed to Tesco, there were two men working on the bridge, whilst a third watched. Could that be the answer?<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>sn’t 20:20 hindsight a wonderful thing? Once again former BBI councillor Sheila Newell has raised her head above the parapet - this time to tell us that Boston is “not as welcoming as it ought to be” and that a mere four-day a week opening of the Guildhall is <em>inappropriate</em>. She adds that the Market Place refurbishment should have included the Assembly Rooms - which are dirty inside and out, poorly presented, and underused. And as for the toilets – only those at Park Gate meet modern standards. How strange that during her four years in office Mrs Newell made little, if anything, of these issues. When she had to opportunity to act, she didn’t – so why is she now so gung-ho about the need for the town to be improved and promoted?<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>usinesses that must have been cheered when the <em>free</em> concert in Central Park – free to visitors, but at a cost of £10,000 to them if they were members of the Boston Business “Improvement” District – had been called off, may now be less sanguine. Apparently the event has merely been <em>postponed</em> – so their money will be needed next year instead. Not only that, but the event may well be spread over <em>two days</em>, not just one. At least it gives people longer to protest - and perhaps curb the BID’s generosity. Meanwhile, we are still baffled as to why the event reached such an advanced stage before Boston Borough Council ordered its postponement on 'elf and safety grounds - because of the proximity of Boston Market and the park. The event was approved by the BID’s board, which includes a senior officer of Boston Borough Council – so why wasn’t the conflict of interest spotted earlier, particularly as the officer concerned was also responsible for the relocation of the market?<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">G</span></strong>ood to see after our mention last week that the Boston Community Showcase has found its way on to the borough council’s website <em>What’s On Diary</em>. Not only that, but another event is also listed for September. <em>Two</em> things going on in Boston in a whole month – <em>phew</em> … it make us feel quite giddy!<br />
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You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-38701071110780970412011-08-18T06:00:00.002+01:002011-08-18T06:10:03.247+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gRhhSupDFxYWw64XNlvX_0yQntZXlRSAa0_gGHCNOD_0NdUcTXgmWzKHIq3mmP4DpKk29eL8KjHBlwqPR7YVc3kaCAvVD_US575VhyHLUqVeslbFdwvo8OL788gszXAw0-GatWXWR86Q/s1600/Boston+in+amber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gRhhSupDFxYWw64XNlvX_0yQntZXlRSAa0_gGHCNOD_0NdUcTXgmWzKHIq3mmP4DpKk29eL8KjHBlwqPR7YVc3kaCAvVD_US575VhyHLUqVeslbFdwvo8OL788gszXAw0-GatWXWR86Q/s1600/Boston+in+amber.jpg" /></a><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Don't let Boston </span></strong></u><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">get trapped in </span></strong></u><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">time </span></strong></u></div><br />
We’ve mentioned before the perception that Boston is seen as being in something of a time warp – a medieval town trapped in amber for visitors to come to enjoy, where tourism holds the key to prosperity.<br />
But is this really the image we should be settling for?<br />
Time and again, we see Boston’s “heritage” trumpeted – but what does it really comprise?<br />
Whilst comparisons are made between Boston and York – often by people who really should know better – this is really comparing chalk and cheese.<br />
We have Boston Stump, the Guildhall – now sadly spoiled by its “restoration” - and … er … Fydell House, which is nothing much to write home about, and the Maud Foster Windmill.<br />
In Lincolnshire as a whole, 80% of the workforce is employed in one of just six areas.<br />
Twenty-seven percent are in government services – which means the council or district councils) 18% work in the retail and wholesale sectors – shops - while 14% are in financial and business services – banks and building societies.<br />
The agri-food industry accounts for just 10% of the workforce - almost three times the England average, followed by non-food manufacturing at 8% and tourism at the bottom of the list with 7%.<br />
The employment situation sums up Boston problems in a nutshell – and if we are to avoid unemployment rising in the years ahead, the time to do something is now.<br />
Government services are a contracting rather than expanding area – as is the financial sector.<br />
Shops will always be there – but don’t we want better for the next generations than an eight hour grind behind a Tesco checkout?<br />
Manufacturing has never been a Lincolnshire industry in this part of the world – and even if we got our bypass at some distant point in the future it seems unlikely that serious manufacturing will ever find its way here.<br />
Even the food industry in slowly becoming less labour intensive, and more jobs in this area are being taken by migrant labour rather than the traditional gangmaster core.<br />
Tourism – with such a small share of the jobs market – is not really the basket in which to put Boston’s eggs.<br />
The attractions that we mentioned at the start are unlikely to employ many more people, even if we attract more visitors.<br />
The shops – and therefore the local economy may benefit in increased sales – but with declining “truly local” businesses, most of the money will head out of the borough and into the coffers of the national chains.<br />
The Lincolnshire Local Economic Assessment recognises Boston’s difficulties.<br />
“Job creation will need to be achieved in the places where the need is greatest.” It says. “This includes areas such as the east coast, Gainsborough and Boston, where levels of worklessness are higher and the skills of the workforce lower than the county average.”<br />
Boston does of course have opportunities for development on the jobs front.<br />
The much trumpeted Endeavour Park which was built by Boston Borough Council still has plenty of capacity – and we are sure that there are other such estates with room for new business.<br />
Yet we never seem to hear much about the opportunities available.<br />
This week saw the announcement of major government investment in rural broadband – with Lincolnshire in the top five areas in terms of the cash allocation with an allocation of £14.3m.<br />
All the signs are there.<br />
A sea change could occur in Boston if the right people seized the initiative now.<br />
Lincolnshire is conspicuously absent from the latest list of Enterprise Zones announced by the government yesterday morning. There are now around thirty counties on the list of locations to benefit from initiative which could see tens of thousands of jobs created.<br />
Soon, our part of the world will be famous for nothing at all – unless someone gets a finger out to improve local work and business opportunities.<br />
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You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-85435339426390400442011-08-17T06:15:00.005+01:002011-08-17T06:15:00.694+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5skGiygQDi_dz4KRDaa_FpFQxqjRImN4JSClo2zeaFnsGDZYPVIYNP2Nh8_ARbm7umt30ZjqXTh0HEwj2icBZFXm4yuiFCe7P3OZeNnG_XBBXLYNh6yVgdy6473o2S9hEsSMXouMfJKkL/s1600/DYWAEMF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5skGiygQDi_dz4KRDaa_FpFQxqjRImN4JSClo2zeaFnsGDZYPVIYNP2Nh8_ARbm7umt30ZjqXTh0HEwj2icBZFXm4yuiFCe7P3OZeNnG_XBBXLYNh6yVgdy6473o2S9hEsSMXouMfJKkL/s200/DYWAEMF.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"<u>Momentum for referendum</u></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>on elected</u></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>mayor is there</u>"</span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></strong>We have been taken to task for suggesting that the campaign to hold a referendum on whether Boston should have an elected Mayor was in the doldrums.<br />
English Democrat Councillor Elliott Fountain, who is spearheading the campaign - which needs 2,400 signatures to force the referendum - says he is sending 250 letters to local businesses and organisations in support of his campaign.<br />
“There are many things going on behind the scenes that are helping me build a strong foundation and build the network I require,” he told us. "I have opened an office on West Street and have been dealing with solicitors to open an English Democrat supporters club.<br />
“There have been two or three big write-ups in the <em>Boston Target</em> in last few weeks, so I think the momentum and awareness is there. <br />
“There is no major rush for me to collect names, so I am not trying to burn myself out because I need to pace myself for the petition, referendum and then the Mayoral election.<br />
“I can easily collect 200 signatures a day myself, and have not yet met one person who has not signed the petition.<br />
“The people/network I am trying to build will give me a strong base, and allow me to use many other resources. I have got over 100 organisations to deal with just with the learning communities for Boston area, who have been supportive, then I have all the retailers who are against Boston BID to see how they are going to support me.<br />
“I have been to meet all the big gangmasters and landlords, and they are willing to help with the campaign. I have just bought a large printer and opened a printer’s just so I can produce my own leaflets and petitions quicker. <br />
“Honestly, I could get the 2,400 signatures by the end of the month if I really wanted to, but I don’t think this would be to my advantage. I want the residential care homes, Mayflower, the police and everyone involved.<br />
“The petition has been downloaded off <a href="http://www.elliottfountain.co.uk/">www.elliottfountain.co.uk</a> on many occasions already, and I would expect these to get signed by the people then dropped in or posted back to me.”<br />
Councillor Fountain also addresses the matter of offering payments to people who collect signatures, which brought comment from <em>Boston Eye</em> readers.<br />
“I would expect the offer of cash to get a response from many of the people who don’t support me, and this I imagine is what has happened - any excuse to try and paint it in a negative light. <br />
“I am truly disappointed with the <em>Boston Standard’s</em> article and think it is taken out of context, and very poor journalism. <br />
“I was happy for the Standard to report one of my groups on <em>Facebook</em>, which has 1,250 members who all show their support. I did not know the Standard was trying to look for a very poor news scoop on there. <br />
“The main reason I want to save Boston is because of what it has become. <br />
"If the media and other people don’t want to support me, this is disappointing to say the least.<br />
“The momentum is there, I promise you.”<br />
In an email to the paper, Councillor Fountain protests that the headline “paints me in a unfair and negative light for no apparent reason.” <br />
He adds: “The Standard should be interviewing myself and reporting on things I have said, not <em>Facebook</em> statuses where I would compensate and reward someone in the economic recession who has taken lots of their own time to support me and to gain over 500 signatures.<br />
“I would not expect anyone to sacrifice their own time knocking on doors, talking to people to explain and collecting names. I had not even thought any further about what I had put on <em>Facebook</em> until I saw it in the Standard.”<br />
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You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-11357583211743408982011-08-16T06:00:00.009+01:002011-08-16T06:11:34.225+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTCw7opBBVivrlFpxsSNZyKVwAS90RC471EFEnXIZXq-_goN57j2H803w3Q3L-s2ALwknqZfdVyDGPoVqkngStptbJAImECckTl-QXuf27COJJGdJEFTwcSNny04DLxaH3_L4_E-GDPbx/s1600/Lost+in+space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTCw7opBBVivrlFpxsSNZyKVwAS90RC471EFEnXIZXq-_goN57j2H803w3Q3L-s2ALwknqZfdVyDGPoVqkngStptbJAImECckTl-QXuf27COJJGdJEFTwcSNny04DLxaH3_L4_E-GDPbx/s400/Lost+in+space.jpg" width="400" /></span></strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Tories caught napping </span></strong></u><br />
<u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">in first 100 daze</span></strong></u></div><br />
Four years ago, the Boston Bypass Independents issued a press release to mark their first hundred days in power.<br />
Rightly or wrongly, they were proud of their achievements, and wanted voters to know.<br />
Four years on, and the new tenants at Worst Street - the <em>Big Blue Dragon Corp</em> - are slumbering in their aerie.<br />
When the Tories stormed to power 100 days ago, no one was more surprised than they.<br />
Their manifesto – such as it was – promised to maintain front line services, end “behind closed door” policies, push for cleaner streets and green waste collection, improve safety in Boston and the villages, and share resources with other councils.<br />
They were pedestrian promises, from a party which expected to form a substantial opposition, then be able to snipe at whoever really ran the show without the need to put their money where their mouth was.<br />
The election changed all that. <br />
The Tories won Boston for the first time since local government reorganisation in 1973 – but their victory left them wrong-footed and short on ideas.<br />
The man who led them to victory – Councillor Raymond Singleton-McGuire - “decided” to cede the leadership to Councillor Peter Bedford … an experienced “leader” having just spent the previous year as the boss of Lincolnshire County Council - and who had obviously enjoyed the experience.<br />
Councillor Singleton-McGuire’s explanation was that the borough’s finances demanded so much attention that it would take him a couple of years to sort things out - but then they were signed off as ok within a few weeks. <br />
Since then the formerly ebullient and vocal Councillor Singleton-McGuire has become a political hermit – seldom heard from, and mute on his previously active blog for months.<br />
The party had barely got its carpet slippers beneath the tea table … just 60 days in … when a councillor who dared to challenge the bosses, found it impossible to go on - and joined the independents.<br />
That led the leader to declare that there was no room for “mavericks” in his posse – a clear suggestion that individuality was not tolerated.<br />
Strangely, Councillor Bedford had already shown “maverick” tendencies by rejecting the government’s “strong leadership model,” which says a leader must serve for a council’s full four year term – the idea being to give it a solid grounding and strengthen it by removing internal political wrangling.<br />
Instead, Councillor Bedford <em><u>clarified</u></em> his position saying he was <em><u>dedicated</u></em> to the job for two years <em><u>at</u> <u>least</u>.</em> After that he would <em><u>rethink </u></em>once Lincolnshire County Council elections were held. <br />
So much for the politics to date – now … what about the promises?<br />
"Maintenance of front line services" is hard to define, as it depends on what you call a front line service.<br />
But within the past week or so we have heard about hiving off the borough’s bereavement services to the private sector. We have also seen a “partnership” at the Geoff Moulder training pool which will let selected groups access the facilities in exchange for a £30,000 a year “entry ticket.” Similarly, the borough has given away the Peter Paine sports centre to Boston College in a peppercorn rent deal which will also almost certainly reduce the access formerly enjoyed by the public. <br />
So the services side of things is contracting all the time – and another election promise, to share working with other councils, may well result in reduced levels also. <br />
Then there was the pledge to end “behind closed door” policies – the infamous “pink paper” agenda items that saw the public and press excluded from meetings.<br />
Despite being in power for more than three months, meetings have been cancelled – including one that would have been the first cabinet session to discuss “real” business – so it is not yet possible to make much of an evaluation.<br />
But what we noticed on the agenda which debated selling off bereavement services, was a warning that if the discussion strayed into “confidential” areas such as staffing implications, then the public would be thrown out. <br />
Note the absence of a pink paper – but also note that, inevitably, the discussion went that way – and the exclusions took place.<br />
The promise on green waste collection was delivered in a sloppy way with a pilot scheme that completely upended the rules on which bins are used for which waste and confused many people. Whilst it is succeeding, there is a clear need to introduce it borough wide and to provide dedicated wheelie bins as soon as possible – and to turn the savings that benefit Lincolnshire County Council into tangible benefits for the people of Boston.<br />
The only other concrete pledge was to work with communities and the police to improve all areas of the borough. To date this appears to constitute the resurrection of a three year old scheme to name and shame litterers – done in conjunction with the <em>Boston Standard</em>.<br />
It’s a start, but there are so many more areas which need to be addressed – especially the reverberations from the Boston explosion and sale of illicit alcohol in the town – and restoring a visible police presence to our streets.<br />
Then there are areas where promises were implied, rather than made.<br />
High on the list was the issue of the Into Town buses using Strait Bargate as a rat run – something condemned by the Tories in opposition. <br />
But now that push has come to shove, they say that nothing can be done until the contract for the service ends in two years’ time – presumably to placate their masters in County Hall - something that they previously accused the BBI of doing.<br />
The Tories also threw their weight behind the Market Place refurbishment scheme – not that they had any choice - but now it is proving such blight on local businesses, they are reluctant to address the problem.<br />
Still, it’s only been a hundred days – so perhaps that’s why there’s not a lot to write home about.<br />
Perhaps we should not have expected <em>too</em> much. <br />
In that case, we wouldn’t have been disappointed.<br />
Instead, we’ll be charitable and call it a<em> honeymoon period.</em><br />
Whatever, it’s over now - so we expect to see something positive emerging for the people of Boston.<br />
<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.<br />
<br />
Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-13392634871196597502011-08-15T06:00:00.002+01:002011-08-15T06:00:05.317+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBymPtc013OuwtNKzx13sONljsfolKd9jZTj_9V5ZCi1ug-wHj_AznwtQ1Dky75Rj9-1kqbUC-ser-Fr4ESF1tG-kugJCp6sZFFH6GNmVy2ITX-4AnmG1QKybEpQXfA51J1oqeaxgMpa-G/s1600/Not+waving+but+drowning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBymPtc013OuwtNKzx13sONljsfolKd9jZTj_9V5ZCi1ug-wHj_AznwtQ1Dky75Rj9-1kqbUC-ser-Fr4ESF1tG-kugJCp6sZFFH6GNmVy2ITX-4AnmG1QKybEpQXfA51J1oqeaxgMpa-G/s400/Not+waving+but+drowning.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">From BID to worse...</span></strong></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Boston’s beleaguered Business Improvement District is at the centre of more controversy after a weekend which saw the announcement of the cancellation of the free concert in Central Park – on the orders of Boston Borough Council - into which the BID had intended to pour £10,000 in levy payers’ money. (See our <a href="http://bostoneyelincolnshire.blogspot.com/2011/08/council-orders-bids-free-concert.html">Saturday blog</a> for details.) <br />
Given the length of time since the concert was announced, and the fact that the event was fully planned and ready, there is speculation that the call to postpone it at such a late stage was more an attempt to defledct the anger of local businesses by saving them money, rather than the “health and safety-ish” pretext of the relocation of the market.<br />
After our reports last week, one of the members of the Task and Finish group set up to look into the affairs of the BID – Independent Councillor Richard Leggott – wrote to Councillor Derek Richmond … the portfolio holder for town centre development and management, car parks, BID, markets and public toilets.<br />
The e-mail appears below.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>click to enlarge the image</u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>His reaction was to suggest from the outset that the information in our report was untrue – but that has, of course, subsequently proved not to be the case.<br />
Here’s what Councillor Richmond – a former right hand man of Boston MP Mark Simmonds, and one time chairman of Boston and Skegness Conservative Association “which has given me experience of local politics” – had to say …<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIH29BzNXm9mVHoMkTJRIVeoDiTn5rapZGcdg1lH-D6Xyys6aaFBHGH9zGY6Y6pxojR8KhuAGe4kKmOAaza5cxDYeTx0aGrk6Z6F7UFYyURq5-R-FTTxVrtzMYfuZbw8SBiKXHcoU-VRf/s1600/RLEM2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIH29BzNXm9mVHoMkTJRIVeoDiTn5rapZGcdg1lH-D6Xyys6aaFBHGH9zGY6Y6pxojR8KhuAGe4kKmOAaza5cxDYeTx0aGrk6Z6F7UFYyURq5-R-FTTxVrtzMYfuZbw8SBiKXHcoU-VRf/s320/RLEM2.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>click to enlarge the image</u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Among the achievements listed, we were especially taken by the BID “Area Champion Scheme.” In which “Eight area champions volunteered to represent their areas. Held first meeting in June - but only one Champion attended.”<br />
Champion!!<br />
Councillor Leggott was quick to pick up on aspects of the reply – including the apparently large amount of levy which has gone unpaid.<br />
His reply left the ball firmly in Councillor Richmond’s court.<br />
<u></u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2mbC3BR1v2Oo2zwG3F8byXWQf7htVtBKBzkNSmngRaYF2Z5eHeVpSWn0_TzQr1o1kHYxXp7sLy0BZ9kAB4xIgqvpiQNUgVf8uG8Z-DFczOPlUGYagyPRjBcI6icAExlVU-6gGYVhM6Xs/s1600/RLEM3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2mbC3BR1v2Oo2zwG3F8byXWQf7htVtBKBzkNSmngRaYF2Z5eHeVpSWn0_TzQr1o1kHYxXp7sLy0BZ9kAB4xIgqvpiQNUgVf8uG8Z-DFczOPlUGYagyPRjBcI6icAExlVU-6gGYVhM6Xs/s320/RLEM3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>click to enlarge the image</u></td></tr>
</tbody></table><u></u>Over the weekend, Councillor Leggott responded to a request from <em>Boston Eye</em> to comment.<br />
“For a start, let me say that I would like our BID to be successful for the town and individual retailers,” he said. <br />
“As a member of the Task and Finish group that looked into matters BID approximately eight months ago, I have kept up an interest in the reactive outcome to the borough council considerations, findings and recommendations.<br />
“The recommendations were for a really serious attempt to address the communications problems within BID, expressing a hope that a two way flow of information could be implemented.<br />
“BID is a member organisation and I know, from other work in such spheres, that unless members are part of a good two way communication system then members cannot appreciate what is being done and why. Nor can they express their approval, or otherwise, at the relevant times and place.<br />
“Communication in such organisations should allow members to input right to and from the core.<br />
“On hearing what has actually been happening since the Task and Finish group made its recommendation regarding this issue, I contacted Councillor Richmond expressing some concerns.<br />
“I have been told that Councillor Richmond is aware of the ongoing communications problem and has been raising the issue at his monthly meetings with (unidentified) BID members. He has also assured me he will be raising the matter again at next Friday's meeting. Well done.<br />
“However in such correspondence it transpires that two other problems are also 'dogging' BID.<br />
“First; there seems to be much activity in the preparation of lists of 'forthcoming attractions.’ Whether such lists ever get turned into actualities is hard to say as a non BID member. Possibly BID members are better informed but ---? <br />
“Second; it would appear that BID funding can be seen to be procuring services that would normally be provided by Boston Borough Council, paid out of council taxes collected. Am I wrong in thinking that the extra 1% levy was all supposed to be used to provide extra services?<br />
“I feel sure that even if Councillor Richmond does not read your column (as he claims) then his fellow cabinet members, three of whom sat on the BID Task and Finish group, will be able to 'fill him in' on these matters.<br />
But I fear that addressing other issues will be for nought if the lack of communications continues to sour BID members' thinking.<br />
“And that would be a great shame.”<br />
A much lengthier – and in some ways even more telling - email dialogue has taken place between Councillor Richmond and Boston businessman Darron Abbott – a strong critic of the BID – and it has led to some interesting disclosures.<br />
There are too many to publish them here – but what they do show is that Councillor Richmond (pictured below left) appears badly out of touch with some of the issues he is supposed to be knowledgeable about.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRIJb7PqjGD9DLvUMoCj76uiANzirU-IjLpnNmd3czw4PRNohYZM-VQHIhzqfnlz6rsA8gG9Ht6Nr7vjk-RQyKrtvRv7sXi5Om-RceGbwOkVFko5KG7J3Hopew_s9lvufSnRbTHJsfxHv/s1600/Councillor+Richmond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRIJb7PqjGD9DLvUMoCj76uiANzirU-IjLpnNmd3czw4PRNohYZM-VQHIhzqfnlz6rsA8gG9Ht6Nr7vjk-RQyKrtvRv7sXi5Om-RceGbwOkVFko5KG7J3Hopew_s9lvufSnRbTHJsfxHv/s1600/Councillor+Richmond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRIJb7PqjGD9DLvUMoCj76uiANzirU-IjLpnNmd3czw4PRNohYZM-VQHIhzqfnlz6rsA8gG9Ht6Nr7vjk-RQyKrtvRv7sXi5Om-RceGbwOkVFko5KG7J3Hopew_s9lvufSnRbTHJsfxHv/s1600/Councillor+Richmond.jpg" /></a>In one message, Mr Abbott told Councillor Richmond: “I really do hope that you and the borough take the opportunity to call a meeting and ask the businesses what they think is wrong. Surely you and the council have a duty to listen to all parties; if you fail to do this it will demonstrate to the life blood of this town that they are not important to you as portfolio holder for the town centre, the conservative administration and the officers of the council.<br />
“I hope you will consider my comments as I feel the businesses have had enough and could start to become vocal.<br />
“Remember: ‘Conservatives are the party for business.’"<br />
The response – whilst apparently conciliatory – was also barbed.<br />
“I no objections to a meeting, and am willing to chair it, in fact I welcome every thing being out in the open, I will talk to BID about this.<br />
“I can tell you that BID do a lot of stuff that is necessary for the Town and that in these times of financial constraints, we as a Council, can't afford to do, Boston would be a poorer place without them, what they do need to do is communicate better as I tell them every time I see them.<br />
“If you knew the amount of work I am putting in with other parties to try and revive Boston after four years of neglect I am sure you would not be making offensive remarks regarding the Life blood of Boston.<br />
“We are already making great inroads in the Council thanks to everybodys hard work as I am sure the Officers would be only too pleased to tell you. I would say every member of the Cabinet are putting in in excess of 40 hours a week.”<br />
Note the line: “BID do a lot of stuff that is necessary for the Town and that in these times of financial constraints, we as a Council, can't afford to do…”<br />
The rules governing BIDs are explicit – they are to use their resources to enhance the status quo – not to pay for services the local council can no longer afford.<br />
In an earlier exchange about the number of business which had not paid their levies, when Mr Abbott raised the issue of the outstanding levy payments – which Councillor Richmond has described as “colossal” he retorted (with a copy this time sent to two of the council’s most senior officers) “Yes but that will change very shortly” – a line taken to mean that prosecutions may well be launched against non payers soon.<br />
Readers will recall that Boston Borough Council is the BID’s “enforcer” and issues summonses for non payment which could see <em>refuseniks</em> fined and criminalised.<br />
Councillor Richmond’s comment prompted this response from Mr Abbott: “Would it not be better to call a meeting to find out why people are not paying, there must be a reason. Perhaps people want their day in court, and I would advise caution. In a recent case the courts said the levy must be paid but would not allow the costs to be passed on. This set a precedent and could be very costly to BID and the council. Remember whose name will be on the demands and court summons and will look the bad guys. It will not be BID.”<br />
Clearly, the council is now on the horns of a dilemma.<br />
The situation surrounding Boston BID has deteriorated to a ludicrous degree – helped in no small way by a portfolio holder with responsibility in that area. <br />
Perhaps a cabinet reshuffle would help?<br />
<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.<br />
<br />
Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-4250318092033681962011-08-13T07:08:00.000+01:002011-08-13T07:08:38.520+01:00<div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Council orders BID's</span></strong></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"<u>free" concert postponed</u></span></strong></div><br />
It’s emerged that Boston Borough Council was behind the move to cancel next month’s free music festival in the town’s Central Park.<br />
An email to the local band <em>Audio Tap</em> from Jo Moscrop, the project manager for the concert at <em>Infodex Events</em>, broke the news.<br />
It read: “Unfortunately Boston Council have requested that Boston BID (the funders) postpone <em>Boston Beat</em> in September due to the temporary relocation of the Market (just outside park gates). We are awaiting a reply back to confirm the new date for the Festival (next year sometime). <br />
“As I'm sure you will agree this is a huge blow and one we could all have done without. <br />
“We are absolutely gutted here and are so sorry that we have to give you this bad news. <br />
“We had everything in place for the event; all the work had been done, just a matter of turning up on the day.”<br />
A comment posted on <em>Audio Tap</em>’s Facebook page (picture below) reads<br />
“Well, no live music in the park this September. THANKS BOSTON COUNCIL. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqrtWR5PXokXtub3NakwMFxnqOxsagH-3QKpmghnI0LRLR4Q7Hk4pOPTjLYOxN0IZ8-6WmAw0REswAIhUtyemhDkIWBzkkqhKEypK0W5YHgFg8RyxkjMi-v7SxZs51LECXITL7nyC71S2/s1600/Facebook+Audio+tap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqrtWR5PXokXtub3NakwMFxnqOxsagH-3QKpmghnI0LRLR4Q7Hk4pOPTjLYOxN0IZ8-6WmAw0REswAIhUtyemhDkIWBzkkqhKEypK0W5YHgFg8RyxkjMi-v7SxZs51LECXITL7nyC71S2/s400/Facebook+Audio+tap.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click on photo to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
“Unfortunately Boston Council have requested that Boston BID (the funders) postpone Boston Beat in September due to the temporary relocation of the Market (just outside park gates).<br />
“I’d have thought it would have helped trade in Boston, with the extra people in the town.”<br />
What <em>we</em> don’t understand is why the project was allowed to develop for so long before the council decided to intervene – thus raising people’s expectations and wasting a lot of the organisers’ time.<br />
Boston Borough Council has an officer on the BID board – and even if he was not present at the meeting which took the decision, he must surely have been aware of it.<br />
The Boston Beat event was announced in the local papers two and a half weeks ago on June 27th – so a decision was clearly taken well before that.<br />
So why did the council take so long?<br />
Was it an indirect way to stop the BID blowing £10,000 of levy payers’ funds after a week of protest against the use of the money for such a project? <br />
If so, it has backfired - as feeling against the BID is now running higher than ever.<br />
See Monday’s <em>Boston Eye</em> to read some interesting e-mail conversations and admissions about Boston BID.<br />
<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-86497878982663554722011-08-12T06:14:00.001+01:002011-08-12T09:37:09.294+01:00Week ending<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPbBs4wJSh6d4_WT6mxn29NhVAgRTMckXPkos4vMyNxutUkq_MqOlsIXaqhCQ70kDLLMXPx5YJknzW_ayAhcLB39k4sKqLOw_8l2sJjik4HnwagO0udDqoxp_3PHKVvbIPB6ETDY51iPr/s1600/Week+ending+WBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPbBs4wJSh6d4_WT6mxn29NhVAgRTMckXPkos4vMyNxutUkq_MqOlsIXaqhCQ70kDLLMXPx5YJknzW_ayAhcLB39k4sKqLOw_8l2sJjik4HnwagO0udDqoxp_3PHKVvbIPB6ETDY51iPr/s1600/Week+ending+WBC.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Our Friday miscellany </strong></span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong> of the week's </strong></span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong> news and events</strong></span></u></div><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong></strong></span></u><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e’re told that Boston BID has backed out of its planned sponsorship of a pop concert planned for Central Park on 11th September which it planned to back with £10,000 worth of members’ levy fees. Meanwhile, as the turmoil goes on, it appears that the BID is set to get its third chairman in just over a year. It also appears that many traders have refused to pay their levy - leaving the BID with a huge amount in arrears. Last Night BBC <em>Look North</em> featured the BID issue, and among the people interviewed was local butcher Terry Dawson, who said he ignored the BID’s initial letter because it looked like junk mail - but then found that his silence had been interpreted as a vote in favour of its formation. And Judith Meadows, a former director of the company, said that whilst the BID made lots of lists it never did much. Look out for more on the BID debate on Monday’s blog.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he campaign for a referendum to see if voters want an elected mayor for Boston appears to have got off to a sluggish start. Five per-cent of the electorate – just 2,400 people – need to back the idea to force the referendum, which critics say is an expense the borough can’t afford. This week’s <em>Boston Standard</em> makes much of the fact that the man behind the campaign – English Democrat Councillor Elliott Fountain – is offering payments to people who collect more than 500 signatures. It’s something that’s also exercised some of our readers. We guess that it depends whether the payment is compensation for time spent going door-to-door with a petition form, or "buying" signatures <em>per se</em>. Perhaps some clarification would help.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></strong>espite the mutterings about the way it is being conducted, the green waste pilot scheme is said to have collected 70 tons of garden refuse in its first week and been a great success. It’s estimated that that more than £45,000 will be saved in disposal fees during the project. However, the beneficiary is not Boston, but Lincolnshire County Council, and it is unclear whether the borough gets anything out of it or not – although estimates show Boston paying nothing at all if the county council foots its costs to the extent of the savings. One slight problem in all of this is what on earth to do with all the compost created. Within our team, we own something like six compost bins, all working flat out, and producing more compost than we can cobble dogs with – magnify that by hundreds of tons, and it surely becomes something of a problem.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_cNGVhiqFeqZpiyR0LDtdWhoUKRa7aK0x77l-myPVBeXmC6MsFHJBhlIdnAPltJRL4TYw4U5m6alDud0sSY3MNYNTUUwg7rzpcdszpNO0HdA9qaWDdoaoXuVDdi8Mnyfyr10Ocb-Bsg9/s1600/Bass+memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_cNGVhiqFeqZpiyR0LDtdWhoUKRa7aK0x77l-myPVBeXmC6MsFHJBhlIdnAPltJRL4TYw4U5m6alDud0sSY3MNYNTUUwg7rzpcdszpNO0HdA9qaWDdoaoXuVDdi8Mnyfyr10Ocb-Bsg9/s320/Bass+memorial.jpg" width="154" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">R</span></strong>efurbished or not? The latest edition of the Boston Borough Council bulletin devotes quite a lot of space to local-ish hero George Bass, one of the early explorers of Australia. It makes mention of the plaque in the High Street which marks the place where Bass grew up, and which was erected almost 20 years ago. Sadly as the bulletin picture of it shows, the plaque appears in a dreadful condition.We hope that the picture is merely out of date, as project number six of the High Street South <em>Placecheck</em> scheme announced in January <em>last year</em> included the refurbishment of the memorial. But as this is <em>Placecheck</em>, anything is possible.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong> novel idea to make Boston a greener place appears on a website called <a href="http://www.en-gb.pledgebank.com/TreesforBoston.">PledgeBank</a>. The idea is that an individual makes a promise that will be carried out if a specified number of others lend support. The one in question is called Trees for Boston, and the pledge reads: "I will plant five trees a year in the town, but only if 20 other local people will support the transfer of the Victorian Cemetery to a local volunteer trust. It is signed by Jonathon Carr-Brackenbury, a “Bostonian concerned resident.” The deadline for signatures is 27th May 2012, and so far only two people have signed up. A footnote to the appeal adds: “The Victorian cemetery is badly mismanaged by the council and needs transferring to a local volunteer trust to be maintained as a Grade 2 listed cemetery park and garden.” It’s a good idea apart from one small snag – by May next year, the cemetery may well have been hived off to the private sector.<br />
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</tbody></table><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>t’s a sad fact that Boston is at the bottom of so many lists that we’ve lost count. But now it seems that our puny status extends even into the corridors of power. A local talking shop called the Conservative Policy Forum for Lincolnshire has four local MPs giving after dinner talks around the county. As you can see, the session with MPs Karl McCartney and Stephen Phillips will set you back a tenner, followed by £8 to hear Nick Boles. But the buffet supper with our very own Mark Simmonds is a mere £6 a head. <br />
It sounds like it won’t be worth taking a doggy bag!<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e note that the <em>Boston Standard</em> has dusted off its big idea of three years ago and teamed up with Boston Borough Council to name and shame litter louts who drop their rubbish in our streets – which the council now admits is a “scourge.” Ideas like this are all well and good, and it is claimed that the scheme was very effective when first tried out three years ago. What we don’t understand was why it was dropped. Presumably, the novelty wore off, but had it continued it might well have all but eradicated the borough’s litter problems by now. We hope that this time the campaign will prove to be more than just a publicity stunt for the council and the Standard. And while they’re about it, how about using the cameras to name and shame the dozens of drivers who jump red traffic lights around the town every day – before they kill or maim some hapless pedestrian.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">P</span></strong>eople who live in glass houses … This week’s <em>Boston Standard</em> has a new comment columnist, who - in the absence of anything much to say - decided to highlight the following.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5XEju0q2YHxPZmFBOZyexm9pG8zgMhCU4a2WGATZoUYQTu1IR6lajo8W778QrnRLLdhzVHM97Y72NKgtZvM65EA-NHsO0l5CIiSJS4p7WcJTGS-WOzDV15h64adJ2QjMv2lLAeHZA4ge/s320/Street+spelling001.jpg" width="320" /></div><br />
Aside from the fact that these misspellings could have been picked up by the local staff who theoretically have greater local knowledge, the dangers of highlighting such errors became apparent just a few pages later. In the Standard’s regular stroll down memory lane, the following appeared …<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYMZuwea0fkSj5MakrhNsrJMH885KTXhm9Ki3ARcKQAilttF2XFi9wJ9Iyc2szaUK4D8tXRbDxJyuJ_9sT9FzSxug0cZcMWyWUziMUSuDdE2HkKNgGL32kyyZLRqJ7oa5HzSaaJAhsg0s/s1600/Street+spelling+2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYMZuwea0fkSj5MakrhNsrJMH885KTXhm9Ki3ARcKQAilttF2XFi9wJ9Iyc2szaUK4D8tXRbDxJyuJ_9sT9FzSxug0cZcMWyWUziMUSuDdE2HkKNgGL32kyyZLRqJ7oa5HzSaaJAhsg0s/s320/Street+spelling+2001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Lindus Road? Surely, <em>Lindis</em>!<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">N</span></strong>ext week will see the first 100 days of the Conservative administration at Boston Borough Council. A time for celebration? We’ll be taking a closer look, as you might expect – most probably in Tuesday’s blog. So if anyone would like to write and tell us what a great job they've been doing, then there’s still time. But we won’t hold our breath!<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n a paid for advert in this week’s <em>Boston Target</em>, Independent Councillor Carol Taylor extends her thanks to a couple who helped her out with the price of a car park ticket. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnjisitG5LBoeCyWfj2z6czzItTv1ilEMaj2OcBANETdfxLJXi3ItuelVGDaZtw1EYx1xfytgrlmHBJNe8d_ibyP4peJol3RzG0g97A4QmYuyI-JIMNCdMHnqScdJFL8PlIltRJdUX2t_/s1600/Thank+you+ad001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnjisitG5LBoeCyWfj2z6czzItTv1ilEMaj2OcBANETdfxLJXi3ItuelVGDaZtw1EYx1xfytgrlmHBJNe8d_ibyP4peJol3RzG0g97A4QmYuyI-JIMNCdMHnqScdJFL8PlIltRJdUX2t_/s320/Thank+you+ad001.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><br />
Last week she had a letter in the paper praising the police for their quick response after she tried to disperse a group of drinkers in the town centre – some of whom wouldn’t take the hint. Councillor Taylor recently rose to our challenge to compare councillors with characters from the Bash Street Kids – and nominated herself as <em>Toots</em>. But in light of recent events, we somehow feel that Beryl <em>in</em> Peril would seem nearer the mark! One final question – it may look different in our enlargement, but why does the Target apparently use a drawing of a carrot as a means to say thanks?<br />
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You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-67999686363107098232011-08-11T06:07:00.000+01:002011-08-11T06:07:24.264+01:00<div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Who will help</span></strong></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>poor old Boston</u>?</span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></strong><div style="text-align: left;">Given the glittering incompetence of Boston Business Improvement District - which we make no apologies for banging on about these past three days - we thought that we would take a look and see whether anyone, anywhere, was flying the flag for Boston.</div>It seems that there are plenty of places, but none of them show much, if any, interest in our part of the world.<br />
A quick search around comes up with <em>Lincolnshire Enterprise</em> “an independent, business led partnership between the private sector, local authorities, public bodies, voluntary and community groups across the (sic) Lincolnshire.”<br />
It calls itself a “key vehicle” through which Lincolnshire County Council engages and consults with partners to champion economic development and regeneration in the county, which has worked with other business leaders and local authorities to develop a proposal to create a <em>Local Enterprise Partnership</em> (LEP) for Lincolnshire. <br />
A trawl though its web pages finds little mention of Boston – except in the context of its heritage value.<br />
Whilst heritage is important, it butters no parsnips, as the bard might have said on an off day.<br />
So what of this Local Enterprise Partnership? <br />
It met for the first time in December – and although it was initially intended to be based on the Lincolnshire County Council area, it now includes North East and North Lincolnshire and will work closely with the LEPs covering Nottinghamshire and Greater Peterborough.<br />
We’re not sure this is a good move.<br />
In the LEP’s own words, “Greater Lincolnshire is largely rural, with much of the population living in market towns, coastal communities and isolated rural settlements. Individuals and businesses looking to grow in these areas face particular challenges, and the LEP will work with partners and local businesses and entrepreneurs to provide support they need to thrive.”<br />
It sounds good – but partnering with the four far more industrialised areas mentioned previously can do nothing but divert much needed assistance from the area the LEP was once intended to serve.<br />
And again, there is an element of secrecy in all of this. The board will meet quarterly – in private – but unlike Boston BID, will publish the minutes of its meetings.<br />
Having said that, we can find no trace of any meeting to date - although by now there should have been at least two - nor any sign of the Prospectus for Action that was promised after the first meeting.<br />
The founding board has 12 members - six from business and six civic leaders from across publicly-funded organisations – and guess what? Boston is not represented.<br />
But the good news for one member at least - Neil Corner, Siemens’ Director of Service – is that the LEP’s first bid included money for a transport infrastructure and to facilitate Siemens’s turbine operations move to Teal Park in North Hykeham near Lincoln.<br />
Oh well, there’s always <em>Visit Lincolnshire</em>, the former tourism quango now run by Lincolnshire County Council after funding was withdrawn.<br />
But even this only pays lip service to Boston.<br />
A search of attractions comes up with 15 places – some of them outside the borough – and does not include Boston Stump. Doubtless it listed elsewhere but ….<br />
The website also lists what’s on events.<br />
We looked for next month’s <em>Boston Community Showcase</em> – a major event that draws thousands of visitors – but it wasn’t listed. Having said that, it doesn’t appear on Boston Borough Council’s website list of events, either, as September is totally blank.<br />
As we mentioned the other week, the draft economic strategy report produced by Boston Borough Council recognised the “poor marketing and image of Boston.”<br />
It’s taken long enough, and we hope that this serious omission is addressed as soon as possible.<br />
But it is also clear that we can look for little, if any help, in funding or promoting the area from the various quangos that are supposed to be taking our needs into account.<br />
We think that one of the best things that could happen would be for Boston to set up its own promotional organisation – but staffed by professionals who know whereof they speak and who have the strength and ability to get things done.<br />
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You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-6321316906630376632011-08-10T06:15:00.011+01:002011-08-10T06:15:03.980+01:00<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><u>Day three of our special report</u></span></strong></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"></div></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The party's over before it's begun.</span></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Boston BID needs looking at before next spring</u>...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Aside from throwing money at free parties Boston BID’s spending to date does not stand close scrutiny.</div>First there was the spectacularly incompetent 2010 business directory– published in September last year at a cost of £10,000 … which made it almost out of date from the outset.<br />
The 48-page glossy publication listed businesses by category - starting with butchers and bakers, then car, charity, financial, food, hair and beauty, health, “information,” leisure (which included pubs and Boston Conservative Club,) property, and a catch-all called “retail” – which included businesses the directory apparently couldn’t be bothered to categorise, which rendered the entire exercise pointless.<br />
Equally unhelpful was the fact that - aside from the main headings - there was no attempt to put businesses in alphabetical order ... so you had to spend ages wading through the hundreds of randomly listed firms to find the one you wanted.<br />
A list of the town’s “attractions” included the Maude (wrong spelling) Foster Windmill, Church Street, Boston Stump, Pescod Hall (a sandwich shop,) Shodfriars Hall (not open to the general public,) Fydell House, and ... that jewel in the crown of attractions – <em><strong><u>Cammacks</u></strong></em>! The Guildhall? Not there.<br />
Now, we have the famous "mapping project" – begun almost a year ago, and due to be delivered by March - but which has not yet materialised. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click to enlarge image</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Instead of an ordinary map that everyone can understand, the BID has come up with a 3D version – (pictured right) which whilst decorative and imaginative – fails to deliver a map’s basic promise … to be something people can use to navigate with. <br />
In September last year a board meeting was told that there would be a £9,000 charge for producing the maps and £7,500 for an initial purchase of 25,000 copies – or 66p a copy.<br />
But by the November meeting (October was cancelled because not enough members bothered to turn up) the cost had been “quantified” at a maximum of £17,000 to include 10,000 map booklets – or £1.70p per map – an unexplained rise of £1.04 a copy.<br />
The latest piece of BIDdery pokery concerns tourist information boards.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8RFFc_DOvw6HTm1i94Po-ibCmngodfvAhG8J4g00l1cyAuFXTJNX52TLyW-_wvyTeSpZK0PtQuKTW8myGz9FgouJEd_kjfWWBTXuaJEH_ndP3g9XEm98PdU4KpG_LauJR9UjT23igLrb/s1600/Information+board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8RFFc_DOvw6HTm1i94Po-ibCmngodfvAhG8J4g00l1cyAuFXTJNX52TLyW-_wvyTeSpZK0PtQuKTW8myGz9FgouJEd_kjfWWBTXuaJEH_ndP3g9XEm98PdU4KpG_LauJR9UjT23igLrb/s200/Information+board.jpg" width="132" /></a><br />
The BID website proudly proclaims that it “has taken over responsibility for the maintenance of the Tourist Information Point boards (example left) that are located in the town. “There are currently seven of these boards and they have not had any meaningful information in them for some time (a bit like the BID website, then) and are not in the best of condition (again, a bit like the BID.)<br />
“As a first step we have removed the boards and <u><em>taken them to a secret location</em></u> where they are undergoing refurbishment which involves a complete strip down, replacement of rubber seals and locks, new perspex windows and a respray. Once the refurbishment is completed the boards will be returned to their original locations and will have useful information about the town and forthcoming events.”<br />
Are they serious?<br />
“<em>A secret location</em>?” What it this – <em>Boy’s Own Paper</em>?<br />
Why is it we think that by the time the BID has finished, it would have been quicker and cheaper to buy new information boards – although given the performance with the maps, this may not have been the case.<br />
Earlier this year, a group appointed by Boston Borough Council examined the BID - after complaints that it was failing to deliver.<br />
A key recommendation was that "overall improvement" was needed in communications between everyone involved in the BID company.<br />
Other suggestions included appointing area representatives as intermediaries between the board and members, and for board members to support dedicated parts of the BID area.<br />
There was also a demand for the issuing of dates of meetings and general correspondence and information from the BID manager to be improved significantly, and that all board meetings should be open to members with a timeslot for questions and statements.<br />
And what has happened?<br />
No recent information has appeared on the website.<br />
The BID has now declared that it will no longer publish minutes of board meetings – because there is no requirement for it to do so.<br />
The borough council group said that a report on the progress of the BID should be bought back to the committee in Spring 2012, for members to monitor the group's recommendations.<br />
Given what is going on, that is far long to wait - as not only have the recommendations that could have been implemented appear to have been ignored - but the situation seems to have worsened ... impossible though it might seem.<br />
The committee that discussed the BID comprised five councillors – all of whom were re-elected in May.<br />
Two of them are now joint deputy leaders<em> Michael Brookes</em> and <em>Raymond Singleton-McGuire</em>, whilst a third is another senior cabinet member, <em>Mike Gilbert</em>.<br />
But many <em>new</em> councillors have now arrived on the scene, whom we believe may know nothing of the dreadful BID debacle.<br />
We urge them to find out more … then press for prompt action if they feel it is necessary - and not let the company bump along the bottom for another six or seven months throwing away members’ hard-earned money like confetti in the meantime.<br />
The council - particularly as it is now run by the party that “represents business” - has a responsibility and a duty of care to local companies trapped in the BID’s sticky web.<br />
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You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-68005234395120090982011-08-09T06:07:00.002+01:002011-08-09T06:10:02.219+01:00<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After yesterday’s news that Boston BID is now for all practical purposes operating in secret, and refusing the pass information to the members who pay for it, we decided to take a closer look at the organisation which was launched in December 2008.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Today sees the first in a two part report that looks in detail at what the BID promised – and what it has delivered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ironically, the BID’s slogan is “Your Town. Your Business. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Your Voice.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Your Opportunity” – and if the Trades Description Act applied to such meaningless waffle, there would be a case to answer.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We took a look at the company’s business plan, thinking to list the promises made so earnestly that have not been delivered – until we realised that this would take up so much space that it would take hours to read.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A few morsels will give you the general drift.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“A BID creates an organisation </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">through which businesses have influence</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“This is a five year plan with clear and realistic aims </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">that will be controlled by local businesses</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.”</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“A complaint of business is that they have little or no say in what happens around their premises or indeed within Boston.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Businesses know only too well what is needed but are not listened too (sic.) You need to feel consulted and involved.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Any local business owner who pays the 1% levy on their business rates will certainly agree that they have no influence on what the BID does – and that their voices remain unheard.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The decision no longer to publish the minutes of the board meetings – which have been the only way for members to see what their “representatives” have been up to – may be correct under the rules.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But every meeting from the very first until that of February this year has previously been published – which begs the question of why they have stopped now.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Is something being hidden that the board does not wish members to know?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Visit the BID’s website and look at the “Latest News.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">All the events listed were months ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The BID manager used to write a monthly-ish column in the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Boston Target</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. We can’t remember when last we saw one.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A newsletter was launched as long ago as May. Most of the content was a repeat of what members already knew – and nothing more has been issued since.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And what about the financial side of things?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The BID levy raises £125,000 a year</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The business plan states “It will be the role of the BID board to obtain matched funding at least to the value of the BID levy throughout the five years of the BID.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- with the performance indicator of winning funding of £650,000 from non levy sources over the time of the BID.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The plan also said that “Without a BID in place, additional funding will not be possible …” and that “It will be important to monitor the progress of Boston BID. Hard performance data will give you, as investors in Boston BID, evidence that we are delivering the targets in this business plan.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If the money has been coming in - and by now … two and a half years in … there should be at least a quarter of a million pounds in that particular pot – then where is the “hard data?” If it exists, we have never heard it mentioned – but maybe the board doesn’t want us to know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A breakdown of the company’s proposed expenditure was:</span> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">46% on security, safety and theft reduction</span><br />
<ul><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">22% on management and additional fund raising</span></li>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">15% on marketing and promotion</span></li>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4% on accommodation and communications</span></li>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4% on street scene enhancement</span></li>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4% on advertising, website and internet</span></li>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2% on administration</span></li>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2% on levy collection</span></li>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></ul><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And as with so many things involving Boston BID, it doesn’t add up – the total comes to 99%!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is how it is more specifically spent.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY9fotHU5VPyFqaOPzqzSAgHhYbDJDtPhorpbjUQZCTxp0X7mXXJ-5p-O7NOp5BGalgD4ENuIxe__TK8s2x93Id3o9wClfOcYW32zVycoroQ5jlIc7E4KV7gE6O3PBLcmKBgGANzk713M/s1600/BID+finance+plan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY9fotHU5VPyFqaOPzqzSAgHhYbDJDtPhorpbjUQZCTxp0X7mXXJ-5p-O7NOp5BGalgD4ENuIxe__TK8s2x93Id3o9wClfOcYW32zVycoroQ5jlIc7E4KV7gE6O3PBLcmKBgGANzk713M/s400/BID+finance+plan.JPG" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click to enlarge image</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As you can see, the bulk of the income goes on staff, including the Rangers, office and administration costs – which makes the BID one of those organisations that needs money to exist simply because if it didn’t get it, it would not exist.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">That’s it for today.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tomorrow, we’ll continue with more on how the BID spends its money – and what sort of value its members are getting out of it – and we urge Boston Borough Council which has a big stake in the BID, to take some action.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You can write to us at </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.</span></span></span>Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-49803140963146568122011-08-08T06:09:00.001+01:002011-08-08T06:09:48.719+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9FzpsV9a9afDliKzjf0RARjJjEoU_X3fg9E6-IjG_fqrhkWnZU7i41YbLQ_e09isDYYKJD_-1gISg1rrovRmvhgD8OZ4KfeiqkUOc8Skh6dr8C1WlBxPG1FeHZtX16sZxjJ_xhtqNAcc/s1600/BIDdle+finger+BGC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9FzpsV9a9afDliKzjf0RARjJjEoU_X3fg9E6-IjG_fqrhkWnZU7i41YbLQ_e09isDYYKJD_-1gISg1rrovRmvhgD8OZ4KfeiqkUOc8Skh6dr8C1WlBxPG1FeHZtX16sZxjJ_xhtqNAcc/s200/BIDdle+finger+BGC.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Businesses get</span></strong></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">the BID-dle</span></strong></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>finger</u>!</span></strong></div><br />
It seems that once again Boston BID – the Business Improvement District foisted on a large chunk of Boston businesses whether they like it or not – is trying to give as many members the finger as it possibly can.<br />
At the beginning of the year, the BID’s board formed a sub committee to organise an “Eastern European event” at a reported cost of around £30,000 – but by all accounts nothing ever came of it.<br />
However, it seems that once the BID sets it mind on a party, nothing will stand in its way – especially not the press-ganged members who must pay 1p in the pound of their rateable value to fund it – or be dragged through the courts by Boston Borough Council and fined.<br />
The BID’s latest cunning plan is to sling £10,000 of members’ hard earned cash at a free party in Central Park – according to manager Niall Armstrong “ so not only do people have a good time but maybe our members see increased takings.”<br />
He also added that the BID was “only” supplying £10,000 because it was the members’ money. “If it bombs, then effectively they could accuse us of wasting £10,000, and they would have a valid claim for that, but by the same token we have got to take a risk.”<br />
We questioned that at the time – and we still do.<br />
Now it seems that the members are questioning it too – in many cases because they knew nothing about the plan until they read of it in the local press.<br />
Until February, members have at least been able to access decisions taken by the BID board by visiting their website.<br />
Since then, no meeting details have been published.<br />
This issue - among others -was taken up by Boston accountant Darron Abbott – a long-standing campaigner where the BID is concerned – and he asked Mr Armstrong several questions concerning the way the company is run – including the absence of board meeting minutes for the past five months.<br />
Mr Armstrong - theoretically the man where the buck stops - passed the buck. He handed the enquiry to local solicitors Sills and Betteridge who sent Mr Abbott an arrogant e-mail which dismissed the absence of board miniutes thus:.<br />
“<em><u>Minutes of the meetings of the board of directors of the company will no longer be available on the company’s website. There is no requirement that a company publish such minutes</u></em>.”<br />
Mr Abbott also raised the issue of the holding of an AGM – and was again given an abrupt brush off. Previous AGMs have been staged in June or July-ish – which would apparently mean that one is now overdue.<br />
“<em><u>Private companies that are not traded companies need not hold annual general meetings.”</u></em><br />
It goes on to say that the only requirement is for the company to hold an AGM “in each period of twelve months beginning with the day following its accounting reference date.”<br />
This means that it could be as late as March 31st next year – and notifications will be sent out to “those entitled to attend and vote” a fortnight before the meeting.<br />
Whether or not this includes members is unclear – as is the authorship of the letter.<br />
Its reference is “JRC” – and we would venture that had “JRC” not entered the law, he or she could have been a doctor with writing like that.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaNJ_vdaj45wolRnGA5woR8cgEaOT5uMFojYVrj2srPwAdUQP0JCjXukhQoKsaLABMfTsCl1B_CMn3W9CSOsGnyWz5AurK1n8vTePU45K2L_qObpTdxBBKZs_SGps8cKTpqMT-v54ScYQ/s1600/BID+letter+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaNJ_vdaj45wolRnGA5woR8cgEaOT5uMFojYVrj2srPwAdUQP0JCjXukhQoKsaLABMfTsCl1B_CMn3W9CSOsGnyWz5AurK1n8vTePU45K2L_qObpTdxBBKZs_SGps8cKTpqMT-v54ScYQ/s1600/BID+letter+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaNJ_vdaj45wolRnGA5woR8cgEaOT5uMFojYVrj2srPwAdUQP0JCjXukhQoKsaLABMfTsCl1B_CMn3W9CSOsGnyWz5AurK1n8vTePU45K2L_qObpTdxBBKZs_SGps8cKTpqMT-v54ScYQ/s200/BID+letter+signature.jpg" width="200" /></a>How civil it would have been to let the recipient know your name. How discourteous simply not to bother.<br />
Earlier this year a committee of Boston Borough Council – convened to look at the BID and the way it was run – concluded as its first and most important recommendation: “<u><em>An overall improvement is required in communications between all persons involved within the BID company</em></u>.”<br />
Boston Borough Council does not run Boston BID – but it acts as debt collector, paymaster and enforcer – which is a substantial part of the operation.<br />
It also has a senior officer on the BID’s elite nine-person decision-making board.<br />
By association, the council is letting the BID get away with riding roughshod over its members – at a time of economic uncertainty both nationally and locally with the hugely adverse effect of the Market Place refurbishment scheme.<br />
We hope that having once looked at the BID operation and made important and much needed recommendations, that the council does not remain supine in this latest ignorant assault on local business.<br />
The council needs to offer them support – not condone such rough handling.<br />
<br />
You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-29358480536977601662011-08-05T06:08:00.004+01:002011-08-05T15:11:08.787+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMnXl9j-Zf6i1MwwrQQUru576ll-FGo3E7p8YlVTnHBXWjTpBrcv6U7Vd8TDNAqbp1y8wgLPyajB0afbNMcq8NkC_PNpNSEu7JFNwzosLKG-jcP18CuU7pKGzRfVCaKfAHtRIkcuG4pVX/s1600/Week+ending+WBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMnXl9j-Zf6i1MwwrQQUru576ll-FGo3E7p8YlVTnHBXWjTpBrcv6U7Vd8TDNAqbp1y8wgLPyajB0afbNMcq8NkC_PNpNSEu7JFNwzosLKG-jcP18CuU7pKGzRfVCaKfAHtRIkcuG4pVX/s1600/Week+ending+WBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMnXl9j-Zf6i1MwwrQQUru576ll-FGo3E7p8YlVTnHBXWjTpBrcv6U7Vd8TDNAqbp1y8wgLPyajB0afbNMcq8NkC_PNpNSEu7JFNwzosLKG-jcP18CuU7pKGzRfVCaKfAHtRIkcuG4pVX/s1600/Week+ending+WBC.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Our Friday miscellany </u></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>of the week's </u></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>news and events</u></span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e had a very civilised e-mail dialogue with Councillor Mike Gilbert after our comments at the beginning of the week about his appearance on BBC local radio. “On the whole I stand by most of what I said, and make no apology for trying to normalise Boston's reputation nationally - so that when we have an incident we don't get swamped by the nation’s media for all the wrong reasons,” he said. “Boston is a wonderful town and one that deserves better publicity than it has got in the past. Population numbers and funding of services is critical to this and, as was stated on the BBC, this is the major issue - and not specifically the nationality of that population increase.” Councillor Gilbert was also good enough to seek a definitive answer to our differing views as to benefit entitlements for the migrant community, and subsequently wrote to say “This is the response I have had: ‘Just to clarify, all EU nationals, and this includes A8’s must have a NI number to gain employment or claim benefits. Some EU nationals are entitled to benefits even if they are working - for example working tax credits or child benefit. Those who are unemployed may be entitled to Jobseeker’s Allowance but have to evidence this to the DWP and comply with regulations.’ He added: “I believe the facts are clearer in your mail but essentially both say the same thing, as of the first of May 2011, A8 migrants have the same rights as the rest of the EU residents and can claim benefits. Clearly my knowledge was out of date. Thanks for clarifying this aspect of what I said; how embarrassing!!” We thank Councillor Gilbert for checking things out – and hope that those readers who accused us and some of our contributors of being ignorant and racist about benefit entitlement – and those were among the politer terms used – might now have the decency to apologise.<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>omeone, somewhere must think that we’re a bit stupid here in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city>. On Wednesday, we commented that the “live” webcam from the Boston Big Dig that “refreshed” automatically every minute, had in fact been showing the same scene for days on end – and that the picture was not of the dig, but of piles of gravel. The picture suddenly disappeared and was replaced by another – again with the same claim to being “live” and regularly refreshed. A sharp eyed reader alerted us to the same problem as before, so we looked at the webcam at 7pm last night and again at 9pm and it was unchanged. It was the same at five this morning, when we took the screen grab (below.)</span><br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Judging by the crisp shadows going East to West it was taken early in the morning. But who’s in charge of all this, and why has it gone so pear-shaped? What a silly question when you note the involvement of Boston Borough Council and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Boston</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>. And as for CIA systems of Kirton, who “install the best CCTV surveillance and security alarm products” – all we can say is that we’ll never trust CCTV again!</span></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span></strong>ne of Boston’s leadership triumvirate, Councillor Michael Brookes, is busy arguing that the experimental green waste collection scheme is not as chaotic as everyone says. He was responding to criticism from local Labour Party branch secretary Pam Kenny, who has launched an online petition for a proper service using dedicated brown bins to collect the waste. Already, 45 people have signed the petition, which closes at the end of December. Despite Councillor Brookes’s reassurances, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, as they say. Consider this comment from one of our readers. “I thought that you may be interested in the progress of the new garden waste collection. Argyle Street, early Tuesday morning. First truck arrives, blue bags loaded and all blue bins checked. Letters placed on bins filled with non-compliant contents. Later in the morning, a second truck arrives and empties compliant bins (garden waste) leaving the large number of non-compliant bins still full. About lunchtime a third truck arrives and empties all the non-compliant bins. As the householders of the non-compliant bins would arrive back from work and find a letter telling them why their bins had not been emptied when in fact they had been, they will be somewhat confused and obviously repeat their error again in two weeks.” We like Mrs Kenny’s idea better. You can support it by clicking <a href="http://epetition.boston.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/petition/7">here</a> .<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>till with Boston’s Labour Party, it has called for a public enquiry by the Health Secretary into the ongoing problems at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital. A statement says: “They are saddened to hear that around 100 student nurses have been removed from Pilgrim Hospital after the Nursing and Midwifery Council expressed "serious concerns" about it, but what are the real reasons for them being removed? The comments continue:” This comes on top of the hospital being criticised last month by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which said it had not met required standards in 12 of 16 categories. It is only weeks since our local MP appeared on television and said he wouldn’t send any of his family members to the hospital, so we call upon the Tory-led government to call a public enquiry to find out what are the real problems at Pilgrim Hospital. Boston Labour Party wants the people of Boston to feel they have a hospital that provides quality services and a place where their loved ones feel safe when they have to stay and receive treatment.” This is a sensible call to make – and it’s not the first to come from this minor opposition party within Boston Borough Council. It begs a question of our own … why isn’t the controlling Tory administration – which works so closely with the NHS in Lincolnshire - voicing similar concerns?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVzXq4CoCeUMZffsF8sb3euh-Zi0ZFdGgtfAwLYGnnXIuCpHjiMGk6urQSIoruo0ucNKsTdHd7_0-_rY1sf8YeVsKfQqVVdvkKU04IjF3_TK7QF8Cw-ytPlVLbsuszoh4CcItNrR5ur5Q/s1600/toots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVzXq4CoCeUMZffsF8sb3euh-Zi0ZFdGgtfAwLYGnnXIuCpHjiMGk6urQSIoruo0ucNKsTdHd7_0-_rY1sf8YeVsKfQqVVdvkKU04IjF3_TK7QF8Cw-ytPlVLbsuszoh4CcItNrR5ur5Q/s1600/toots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVzXq4CoCeUMZffsF8sb3euh-Zi0ZFdGgtfAwLYGnnXIuCpHjiMGk6urQSIoruo0ucNKsTdHd7_0-_rY1sf8YeVsKfQqVVdvkKU04IjF3_TK7QF8Cw-ytPlVLbsuszoh4CcItNrR5ur5Q/s1600/toots.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>t’s good to find there’s a sense of humour in Worst Street after all. Following our suggestion last week to rename the place Bash Street because of all the argy bargy that’s being going on recently, one councillor has come forward to take up our challenge to nominate members of the council as characters from the cartoon strip. “I wish to nominate myself as <em>Toots </em>(right,)” writes Independent Councillor Carol Taylor. “She is described as a tomboy who can be bossy but has more of a heart than her any of her friends. She claims she fancies Dennis the Menace and fires a valentine card at him using a toy rocket. She is also further described as 'one of the boys' - and considering that I am now an Independent, I would be honoured to receive this accolade!!! PS I'm dreading who you think would be Dennis the Menace!!”<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e remarked the other day on the slow progress of work on the Market Place regeneration scheme. A reader who spotted the advert pictured below suggests that this may well be due to a shortage of workers.<br />
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The Jobcentre ad was posted on 19th July – a week after the work theoretically started, and two weeks after the first advert appeared, which suggests a shortage of takers for the work. Again, it does not bode well for the work to be completed on schedule.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he term “damning with faint praise” was exemplified this week in a letter to the press from former BBI councillor Sheila Newell. She congratulated the new council on giving away the Peter Paine sports centre to Boston College – but pointed out that it was agreed by the previous administration. That remained the tone of the letter throughout until a point near the end, when Mrs Newell commented: “The new borough council could not have chosen a worse time to increase their councillors’ basic allowances by more than 85%.” Strange. According to the minutes of the former<br />
Boston Borough Council on 17th January, when allowances were discussed, Mrs Newell’s council colleague and husband Ramonde said that increases in allowances had been put off for the past four years, and that a decision had to be made at some point. He moved a proposal that the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel be accepted in full, with a 20% reduction for “public service discount.” This would have seen allowances soar from £2,378 a year to £4,399.78. Only four councillors voted for this suggestion – including Councillors Raymonde and Shelia Newell - after which it was decided to put off the decision until after May’s elections.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>hat a good idea to cover the unwelcoming walls of Boston Borough Council’s atrium in the municipal buildings with paintings by local children. It certainly cheers up the bleak, institutionalised look of the place. But we’re less than sure about the idea of billing it as “Boston’s newest, FREE of charge, public art gallery…” Art gallery it isn’t, and how else could it be other than free – unless the council's next big idea to ease the borough’s parlous financial situation is to charge citizens to visit.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he traditional Victorian garden planned for Boston’s Central Park is getting some publicity this week. It will comprise four herb gardens with a water feature in the middle, and cost around £10,000. Regular readers will recall the furore when a drawing that looked as though it had been done on the back of a fag packet was used to illustrate this expensive project.<br />
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According to the plan, the main features requiring construction are the pergola-type structures leading to the proposed water feature. In the interests of value for money we took a look around the internet, and discovered that the pergola pictured below could be bought for just £269. <br />
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That would cost exactly £1,076. Presumably the labour costs are in-house and therefore either reasonable or non existent. So where is the other £8,924 going? Perhaps on Boston’s own version of the Trevi!<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e often comment on the lack of a visible police presence in Boston. So we were pleased to hear from a reader who told us that he had seen not one, but two, police community support officers on their cycles patrolling the area. <br />
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Apart from the fact that such sightings are so rare, what made them stand out was the fact that they were cycling across the Hospital Lane footbridge - where of course, cycling is prohibited!<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e usually find our comedy cuttings in the pages of the local “newspapers.” But this week’s example comes from unlikely source – the website of the long established Boston business of J Carr and Son.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nbznBfD5XkHq72bgueYz1G30YZ7ngFa4tkIEwzxkcmOhwRMVMGWddUbzEzeVQKO49ktkcfTlgbR7rQXCv1UScVAzgWAwbA4OgI0CS8OFw6Vhk8UQD_E-N-C-wYDJp4LCPjT-Sjof1i-Y/s1600/Carr+history+hand+on+roll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nbznBfD5XkHq72bgueYz1G30YZ7ngFa4tkIEwzxkcmOhwRMVMGWddUbzEzeVQKO49ktkcfTlgbR7rQXCv1UScVAzgWAwbA4OgI0CS8OFw6Vhk8UQD_E-N-C-wYDJp4LCPjT-Sjof1i-Y/s400/Carr+history+hand+on+roll.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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“Hand on roll….” Now there’s a well established Boston tradition for you!<br />
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You can write to us at <a href="mailto:boston.eye@googlemail.com">boston.eye@googlemail.com</a> Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.Boston Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08705845537975754880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091111788386545416.post-22982951810648694532011-08-04T05:54:00.000+01:002011-08-04T05:54:29.532+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIow5AorJ-oF1Li0duK76ho8jDtAUZRjC_NtJXFkcdC8aLKAdWUUNLirP6Cc37yoHwQGhOa7FR7ze44JYEtxuysJk8PAanKdWIjKp6s4EyCAMPajcqd1ZUcfCEEfDVklM4fluf8-CLaEdC/s1600/Sold+stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIow5AorJ-oF1Li0duK76ho8jDtAUZRjC_NtJXFkcdC8aLKAdWUUNLirP6Cc37yoHwQGhOa7FR7ze44JYEtxuysJk8PAanKdWIjKp6s4EyCAMPajcqd1ZUcfCEEfDVklM4fluf8-CLaEdC/s1600/Sold+stone.jpg" /></a><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Is crem up </span></strong></u><u><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">for sale?</span></strong></u></div><br />
To get all the bad puns out of the way in one fell swoop, a burning issue of grave importance was on the agenda of last night’s meeting of Boston Borough Council’s Joint Scrutiny Committee – assuming, that is, that it wasn’t cancelled at the last minute.<br />
It concerned the possible sell off of the borough’s bereavement services – the crematorium and cemeteries in the town and at Fosdyke.<br />
This is apparently part of the council’s “transformation programme” – which seems to mean transforming itself from an authority which takes responsibility for local services to one which lets somebody else to all the work.<br />
If you think you’ve heard something like this before, you would be right.<br />
A year or so ago, the council had big plans to hand the running of the Princess Royal Sports Arena and the Geoff Moulder pool to a company called Leisure Connection – which was to take on their management once local taxpayers had footed a massive bill for maintenance to make them acceptable to their new owners.<br />
Leisure Connection had something of a mixed reputation among local authorities – many of whom discovered that once it took on the management of their facilities, public dissatisfaction soon followed.<br />
Eventually, for reasons unspecified, the take over was shelved, and the council has since cobbled together another cunning plan for the two leisure facilities.<br />
As always, the reason why the bereavement service may be sold off is money – not any amount that might be made from the deal, but the cost of providing new equipment to filter out mercury, which becomes a legal requirement at the end of next year.<br />
The service is expected to show a profit of almost £140,000 in 2011-2012 – but as far as we can work out the investment needed could run into millions – which apparently the borough hasn’t got.<br />
We can’t imagine that this costly requirement has come out of the blue, which makes us wonder why it is being addressed so late in the day.<br />
Despite the warnings when a new crematorium was opened at Alford three years ago, Boston increased the cost of an adult cremation from £417 to £430 "to support service investment," further widening the discrepancy with Alford which charged between £360 and £390 – and the demand for cremations has fallen by 28% in the past three years. <br />
If a deal is done to privatise the service it would be for a thirty year concession with two further ten year periods, at the discretion of the council.<br />
For this, the operator would have to provide an efficient and sensitive bereavement service, increase customer numbers (!!) improve facilities and options for the bereaved, reduce the environmental impact of the business, boost profits and improve quality standards.<br />
It sounds like a tall order – yet even so, a couple of operators are showing an interest.<br />
We just hope that it doesn’t end in tears yet again – and that if it goes ahead that it doesn’t merely result in even higher charges.<br />
What’s next for the sell off, we wonder – there aren’t that many services left, but we would imagine that the hard pressed rubbish collection could be next to go under the hammer.<br />
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