Challenge on the agenda for Boston BID

Tonight’s annual meeting of the Boston Business Improvement District should be an interesting one.
In the audience will be a number of dissatisfied shareholders who feel that they have had unwanted membership foisted on them, and then faced legal action for failing to pay a levy that they believe is unfair and not being properly spent.
Having started the Town Ranger scheme, pulled a few weeds, and set up a hot line for people to call in the event of any problems with the so-far problem-free roadworks scheme, the BID is supposed to be masterminding the development of the town HUB which is now almost two months behind schedule, and has now directed its attention to the next cunning plan - to attract more visitors from overseas.
Given the fact that so many far better equipped organisations have tried to do this and failed, plus the BID’s lamentable track record to date, the prospects for success look slim.
Then there is the murky relationship between Boston BID and Boston Borough Council.
Having vigorously denied carrying out admin tasks for the BID nor making any charges to the organisation, the borough suddenly remembered that this was not the case and that it can actually reclaim the cost of administering the collection of the BID levy.
It now emerges that as well as having a statutory obligation to collect the BID levy on behalf of Boston BID Boston Borough Council was required to purchase additional computer software, which works alongside its existing business rates software.
So at a stroke, the borough has gone from making no charge to being able to bill the BID for:
1. Software implementation - £13,990 +VAT.
2. Annual software maintenance costs - £1,395 + VAT
3. Administration and collection costs
4. BID levy bad debts
5. Payments for any bid services or works provided by the council.
The fact is that the BID spends almost all the money it charges its shareholders on paying its manager, the town rangers, and for office space and admin.
If enough disgruntled shareholders can force a vote tonight the BID could be wound up - and based on its performance to date, we see no reason why it should not be.

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