Putting the other side of the story

As always, there are two sides to every story - the Boston Bypass Independent Party side, and the other version.
The recent Audit Commission inspection of the borough's regeneration plans are interpreted (by the borough) as demonstrating success.
Councillor Richard Dungworth, Cabinet member for Regeneration - fresh from walking out of a meeting of which he was portfolio holder - apparently stuck around long enough to read the commission report (we assume.)
The quote written for him on the council's website says: "I’m pleased that the inspectors have noted the success of regeneration in Boston, and that their report helps the council to focus on the key issues going forwards. (sic)
"It is rewarding for staff and members to see that this council’s focus on regeneration has been recognised and this inspection report and its recommendations gives the council a blueprint for the future.
"Naturally it is disappointing that inspectors were not more confident about our future prospects, but given the timing of the inspection and the winding up of Boston Area Regeneration Company that is understandable."
This is, of course, the point where the Chairman of the Reading Between the Lines Committee needs to take a look at what's been said and to turn it into English.
"This council’s focus on regeneration has been recognised ...." - of course it has - that's what the report was all about.
"Its recommendations gives the council a blueprint for the future ... " - it tells us what we're doing wrong and how to put it right.
"Inspectors were not more confident about our future prospects, but given the timing of the inspection and the winding up of Boston Area Regeneration Company that is understandable ... " - the inspection caught us with our trousers down.
The Audit Commission gave the council one star for its regeneration service and rated its prospects for improving to a good service as poor.
What the borough didn't say was that the Audit Commission also finds: -
A lack of a clear and consistent political vision driving regeneration and plans for what the council wants to achieve are unclear ...
No up to date economic development strategy to align plans to the changing economic climate ...
The council has limited leadership, management, staff and financial capacity which it is trying to address ...
The council and its partners have not worked well together in developing an enterprise culture, although "focus" is improving ...
The council has had limited impact in stimulating commercial and industrial inward investment and business growth ...
There has been minimal progress in enabling higher skill levels, reducing reliance on agriculture, improving pay and the added value of jobs ...
Key town centre development sites along the Haven remain either under utilised or derelict ...
Many heritage buildings in Boston remain under utilised and under invested in and there has not been effective development of Boston as a destination for cultural and heritage tourism ...
Plans for regeneration are often vague, do not focus on outcomes and targets are not SMART (Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic, Time-bound) and the borough does not have an up to date economic development strategy ...
The list goes on and on, and you can read the full report here
http://195.224.121.198/software/Audit%20Regeneration.pdf
It doesn't take a degree in rocket science to see what the Audit Commission is saying.
It is saying that Boston Borough Council - aka the Boston Bypass Independent party - is failing dismally in its duty towards the borough and its citizens, and complacently clutches at straws to find a way to make excuses to get them off the hook.

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