The no good ... the bad ... and the ugly

The Audit Commission "Oneplace" organisational assessment report on Boston Borough Council came out last week, and before its publication, we thought that the best way we might simplify it would be to split it up along the lines of the movie title "The good ... the Bad ... and the Ugly."
Unfortunately. as is so often the case with Boston, the list doesn't have anything you could put in the file marked good, so here we go with Boston Borough Council - the Bad and the Ugly.
The report says the council performs poorly because of lack of leadership until very recently and a lack of capacity at a senior level. In recent years plans have not been completed when expected, there has been a track record of services not being planned properly and the needs of local people have not been taken into full consideration. Performance does not meet the Council's own targets and the process for managing performance is not fully used or enforced. Unless capacity at a senior level is addressed and scrutiny is enhanced, further improvement will be difficult to achieve.
The council scores one out of four for Managing Performance, Use of Resources, Governing the Business and Managing Resources. It only bounces off the bottom with its rating for managing finances - with a stonking two out of four.
At senior management level there is lack of capacity and resources to drive improvements forward, and staff feel they are not getting the leadership they need to support the direction the council is going in.
But the report says the council has recognised major improvements are needed and has set up an Improvement Board to help with what it needs to do.
Areas of improvement include the Into Town bus services. Other schemes such as the government Swim4life initiative, ‘fit kids' programmes, and walking groups are giving residents the opportunity to get fitter. More plans to offer a healthier lifestyle such as healthy eating campaigns are being made.
The town centre has undergone a big clean up involving local groups and residents. Keeping it clean is now the challenge.
Improvements to the market place have resulted in occupancy going up and market traders taking over the running of the market stalls.
While residents are more satisfied with the area as a place to live and believe the community is getting on better together, Boston is still well below the national average. The number of people who feel drink and drugs are an issue in open spaces has also reduced but are still at a level most residents would feel are unacceptable.
It's all pretty bleak, really, and we get the feeling that the Audit Commission is trying desperately to find something to brand as positive to avoid total condemnation of the council.
Whilst we thought the best thing to do would be to step aside and let someone else take on the council's leadership, Richard Austin has managed to find light at the end of the tunnel as you might expect.
"I'm glad to say it does show that the council, working with other public authorities, is delivering against some of the areas' priorities - namely improving transport, decreasing traffic congestion and improving health.
"The organisational assessment, of which the council was already fully aware, makes it clear for residents the scale of the challenge we are dealing with and the need to improve.
"We are in the process of delivering an improved council and changing the culture of the authority. It is my belief that by working with a voluntary Improvement Board we will improve the value for money the council provides for residents and improve the council's performance quickly and effectively.
"I'm confident that our organisational assessment in 12 months' time will show the improvement our residents expect and deserve."
You can read the report for yourself by following the link here
But pour yourself a stiff drink first.

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