BOSTON BYPASS INDEPENDENT PARTY
..... or should that be
BRING BACK INTEGRITY PLEASE
Can I tell you a story about a group of people who answered an advert in a paper, and then decided to stand for election in the borough council elections in Boston in May 2007, namely the Boston Bypass Independent Party?
In the run up to their campaign, their glorified leader met with a local bus company, namely Brylaine Travel Ltd. A deal was struck where the bus company gave two cheques of £1000 each, plus also agreed to put posters on the buses on all the routes in Boston. They also agreed to paint up a whole bus in the BBIP colours and slogans – so for weeks in the run up to the election, we started to see buses running around our town with political literature on them.
We got to the glorious day of the count on 4th May 2007. The bus turned up so the 25 newly elected councillors all had their photos taken with their ‘Battle bus’ – even the TV cameras turned up.
Over the next few months, questions were asked about why they had not declared their interest. Some of them forgot they were members of a political party, and some didn’t know where they lived, but they kept being told by the Councils Standards Committee that it was okay.
We read with interest an article in our local papers on 5th December 2007 that the Council leader was pleased to announce that the new Into Town bus service was going to be run by Brylaine Travel Ltd – no surprise to some of us, knowing that it was the only company that had been allowed to tender for the work. So it was no surprise to read the quote from the leader who enthused that ‘it is great news that the order is about to be placed for the buses.’
Then when it came to the setting of their first budget on 25th February 2008, it came as no surprise, that there was a three year funding deal put together for the new Into Town bus service amounting to £364,000, and by now I don’t need to tell you who benefited from this money – yes – Brylaine Travel Ltd. What you may be interested to know is that in all the pre-budget meetings, nobody declared an interest with this bus company, and then on the night of the budget setting meeting on 25th February two BBIP councillors, Cllrs Dorrian and Rush declared an interest, before walking the floor to set up their new party. This meant that 23 members still had not declared an interest.
Then it got to June 2008 – a formal complaint was put into Boston Borough Council. The Standards Committee met and dismissed the allegation, and said that there was no need to declare their relationship with Brylaine Travel Ltd. An appeal was made in November 2008 against the decision and then we got this amazing response from Conservative Cllr John Ruskin, one of the members of the sub-committee of the Standards Committee:-
‘It was decided to uphold the decision not to take any action on your complaint because the donation from Brylaine was to the BBI and not to individual members. Whilst monies donated to an individual member needs to be declared, monies paid to a group do not.’
Even more amazingly at the full council meeting on 2nd March 2009, the group leaders from BBIP and the Better Boston Group both asked for it to be recorded that they were making a declaration of interest on behalf of all their members that Brylaine Travel Ltd had given a SMALL donation to their election campaign in 2007.
You then have to ask the following questions:
1. Why did members of Boston Bypass Independent Party not declare this interest when they were elected?
2. Why did members of the Boston Bypass Independent party not declare this interest at any meetings?
3. Why did members of the Boston Bypass Independent party not ask for dispensation from the Standards Committee?
4. What training did the members receive on disclosing, and did all of them sign the relevant forms to say that they accepted the Code of Conduct?
It seems to me that the people of Boston should have a proper explanation as to why a political party - the Boston Bypass Independent Party along with a local bus company - Brylaine Travel Ltd have a relationship but not want to be open and transparent about it.
I enclose a copy of the seven principles of Nolan:-
Selflessness
Take decisions based solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families, or their friends.
Integrity
Not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability
Are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness
Be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty
Have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership
Promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
This whole affair does not bode well for democracy in Boston. You expect all of the members to live up to the expectations laid out in the seven principles of Nolan as above. You then have to ask yourself – if they have signed the Code of Conduct, is it worth the paper it is written on?
It is time for the Standards Board of England to investigate this case to see whether the high standards that should be upheld within local government is being upheld in Boston Borough Council, and the Audit Commission to investigate the governance and financial issues in this case, as the people of Boston are the people paying for public services and expect high standards of probity to its services.
It is interesting to know that the Lincolnshire County Council, who contracted Brylaine Travel Ltd as the sole providers have now written into the contract that no political material can be displayed on their buses.
It is also of note that on the Electoral Commission website - BBIP’s expenses for the year 2007/08 show a notional figure of £500 for advertising.
You may be interested to know that two of the existing Councillors have had police cautions for not submitting their election expenses.
You then have to ask – can you trust a political group who are not prepared to be open and transparent to the people whom they represent, but it gets worse.
..... or should that be
BRING BACK INTEGRITY PLEASE
Can I tell you a story about a group of people who answered an advert in a paper, and then decided to stand for election in the borough council elections in Boston in May 2007, namely the Boston Bypass Independent Party?
In the run up to their campaign, their glorified leader met with a local bus company, namely Brylaine Travel Ltd. A deal was struck where the bus company gave two cheques of £1000 each, plus also agreed to put posters on the buses on all the routes in Boston. They also agreed to paint up a whole bus in the BBIP colours and slogans – so for weeks in the run up to the election, we started to see buses running around our town with political literature on them.
We got to the glorious day of the count on 4th May 2007. The bus turned up so the 25 newly elected councillors all had their photos taken with their ‘Battle bus’ – even the TV cameras turned up.
Over the next few months, questions were asked about why they had not declared their interest. Some of them forgot they were members of a political party, and some didn’t know where they lived, but they kept being told by the Councils Standards Committee that it was okay.
We read with interest an article in our local papers on 5th December 2007 that the Council leader was pleased to announce that the new Into Town bus service was going to be run by Brylaine Travel Ltd – no surprise to some of us, knowing that it was the only company that had been allowed to tender for the work. So it was no surprise to read the quote from the leader who enthused that ‘it is great news that the order is about to be placed for the buses.’
Then when it came to the setting of their first budget on 25th February 2008, it came as no surprise, that there was a three year funding deal put together for the new Into Town bus service amounting to £364,000, and by now I don’t need to tell you who benefited from this money – yes – Brylaine Travel Ltd. What you may be interested to know is that in all the pre-budget meetings, nobody declared an interest with this bus company, and then on the night of the budget setting meeting on 25th February two BBIP councillors, Cllrs Dorrian and Rush declared an interest, before walking the floor to set up their new party. This meant that 23 members still had not declared an interest.
Then it got to June 2008 – a formal complaint was put into Boston Borough Council. The Standards Committee met and dismissed the allegation, and said that there was no need to declare their relationship with Brylaine Travel Ltd. An appeal was made in November 2008 against the decision and then we got this amazing response from Conservative Cllr John Ruskin, one of the members of the sub-committee of the Standards Committee:-
‘It was decided to uphold the decision not to take any action on your complaint because the donation from Brylaine was to the BBI and not to individual members. Whilst monies donated to an individual member needs to be declared, monies paid to a group do not.’
Even more amazingly at the full council meeting on 2nd March 2009, the group leaders from BBIP and the Better Boston Group both asked for it to be recorded that they were making a declaration of interest on behalf of all their members that Brylaine Travel Ltd had given a SMALL donation to their election campaign in 2007.
You then have to ask the following questions:
1. Why did members of Boston Bypass Independent Party not declare this interest when they were elected?
2. Why did members of the Boston Bypass Independent party not declare this interest at any meetings?
3. Why did members of the Boston Bypass Independent party not ask for dispensation from the Standards Committee?
4. What training did the members receive on disclosing, and did all of them sign the relevant forms to say that they accepted the Code of Conduct?
It seems to me that the people of Boston should have a proper explanation as to why a political party - the Boston Bypass Independent Party along with a local bus company - Brylaine Travel Ltd have a relationship but not want to be open and transparent about it.
I enclose a copy of the seven principles of Nolan:-
Selflessness
Take decisions based solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families, or their friends.
Integrity
Not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability
Are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness
Be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty
Have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership
Promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
This whole affair does not bode well for democracy in Boston. You expect all of the members to live up to the expectations laid out in the seven principles of Nolan as above. You then have to ask yourself – if they have signed the Code of Conduct, is it worth the paper it is written on?
It is time for the Standards Board of England to investigate this case to see whether the high standards that should be upheld within local government is being upheld in Boston Borough Council, and the Audit Commission to investigate the governance and financial issues in this case, as the people of Boston are the people paying for public services and expect high standards of probity to its services.
It is interesting to know that the Lincolnshire County Council, who contracted Brylaine Travel Ltd as the sole providers have now written into the contract that no political material can be displayed on their buses.
It is also of note that on the Electoral Commission website - BBIP’s expenses for the year 2007/08 show a notional figure of £500 for advertising.
You may be interested to know that two of the existing Councillors have had police cautions for not submitting their election expenses.
You then have to ask – can you trust a political group who are not prepared to be open and transparent to the people whom they represent, but it gets worse.
They have even dropped the word BYPASS from their local Community Plan 2009/10 – obviously the wheels have fallen off the battle bus!
Paul Kenny
Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Boston & Skegness
Paul Kenny
Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Boston & Skegness
Your can write to us at boston.eye@googlemail.com Your e-mails will be treated in confidence if requested.
No comments:
Post a Comment