Borough's big BIDness

The figures just keep getting bigger and bigger.
From initially claiming that it did not bill the Boston Business Improvement District (Boston BID) for the services it provides, Boston Borough Council has now admitted that it has so far charged the BID almost £7,000 for services rendered between December 2008 and March this year.
No wonder the borough’s finances seem so confused and confusing.
The figures were provided at Monday’s council meeting after a question from local accountant Darron Abbott who is leading criticism of the way the BID operates and the value for money it offers - in this case money “earned” from a compulsory levy made on every business in the BID area regardless of whether they wish to be members or not.
It appears that the idea of simply winding up the BID because it doesn’t do what it says on the tin is anathema to the great and the good on the council and in the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce who are the overall governors of the scheme.
Overwhelming demands for its closure at its annual meeting were brushed aside by the chamber, which alone can take the decision - members aren't allowed the important votes - and the BID’s manager, Niall Armstrong, seems not to have uttered a word since the rebellion began.
Everywhere you turn, someone is trying to justify the BID.
Prominent in last week’s Boston Target was a list of all the positive things it has done - and a similar whitewash is promised in today's Boston Standard.
They included mention that the Town Rangers had “assisted” with 189 arrests - which we calculate equates to almost £400 per incident.
Street cleaning and litter picking. BID members were promised that their levy would not be used for services which are already paid for elsewhere.
Community HUB - “bringing two redundant shops back into use.” and shop front graphics to brighten up empty shop fronts. Aside from the fact that so far we have seen none of these graphics. Both of these projects are funded by a government grant to Boston Borough Council. The fact that the council is too idle to do the job it was told to do and farmed it out to Boston BID, does not make it a BID achievement.So far the job is only half done and way behind schedule.
Town directory. Where is it?
Boston BID is a demonstrable failure and an unfair and unwanted tax on already hard-pressed local traders.
Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce should be big enough to acknowledge that it has failed and allow it to be wound up, as its members wish - not to cling on arrogantly and enforce it simply because they can.

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