"BBI denied democratic debate - not Mayor"

Our piece a week ago today on the refusal by the Mayor to allow opposition discussion on the Cabinet decision to sell land to the County Council for the so-called road improvements in in Queen Street and Sleaford Road has led to us being taken to task by Conservative Councillor Raymond Singleton-McGuire.
"I am a keen observer of your points of view on your daily Blog," he writes.
"Sadly, I raise concerns over recent matters in your article of Monday, 4th January, for the following reasons.
"When previously a Borough Councillor in 2006/7, I was a member of the Conservative Party By-Pass Action Group, working extremely hard together with other members, and the Lincolnshire County Council for the Liquorpond Street Road Improvement scheme - only to be publicly criticised by the incoming Boston Bypass Party who put a stop to everything.
"After two years of being in power, the Boston Bypass Party have done a U-turn and resurrected the scheme, somewhat claiming the credit. Matters have progressed with the Lincolnshire County Council to forge ahead with this long awaited highway improvement for Boston. Many meetings have taken place, open to all councillors and general public to raise concerns, or in fact 'call it in' for further debate.
This could also have happened at Boston Borough Council’s Overview and Scrutiny, Policy & Project Committee meeting Chaired by Councillor Alison Austin on 18th November 2009.
"Unfortunately, the importance of this agenda item (perhaps the biggest for Boston’s future in many years) was given limited exposure with a one hour time restriction imposed on it by Councillor Alison Austin. Councillor Alison Austin also declared preference would be given to the committee members first which I felt was not a very democratic process.
"I also believe an attempt to stifle debate with a degree of unnecessary antagonistic and personal unpleasantaries were indulged upon by Councillor Alison Austin to some members, which included myself being given the third degree in my attempt to ask a question. I complained strongly at the time and to the Chief Executive the following day. Councillor Anne Dorrian eventually left the meeting after continued unnecessary interruptions by Councillor Alison Austin.
"All councillors were invited to an additional one hour cross examination of Lincolnshire County Council Highways Officers on the Highways Strategy focusing on Liquorpond Street improvements immediately before the Overview and Scrutiny meeting.
"To get to the point, if a 'call in' for further debate was required, then the appropriate time and place should have been at the above meetings or at previous Lincolnshire county Council meetings."This is a multi-million pound project for Boston which has already begun moving forward having been given permission and the green light to 'pass go!' at several processes and meetings.
"To accept a 'call-in’ at full council when there is already an overwhelming majority of 93% in favour, would not be practical and at such a late stage would waste thousands of unnecessary taxpayers money (sic) in delays, when, this 'democratic process' that your article refers to could have been executed earlier at little or no waste of taxpayers' money.
"The Mayor has the power and the right to proclaim such a motion if in the interest of the public and the borough.
"Therefore, I feel it is unfair for Boston Eye to ridicule or even refer to the Mayor of Boston in such a way, when as a non-political figurehead, the position of a Mayor (or Mayoress) does not allow them to defend themselves is such circumstances, give their point of view or reasoning.
"I am all for the democratic process but feel the problem lies with the Boston Bypass Party on this one who did not give a fair and necessary exposure to the borough’s members at Boston.
"After all, they are the ruling administration and Councillor Richard Austin (husband to Councillor Alison Austin!) is the Portfolio Holder for Transport.
"Need I say more? I rest my case!"
We thank Councilor Singleton-McGuire for his e-mail.
Firstly we would say that having re-read the blog, we can find nothing that "ridicules" the Mayor, and we strongly reject this assertion.
The e-mail also raises other points which tend to worry us, and we will discuss them in detail in tomorrow's blog.

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