Money down the drain?

No! BBI wants

to get it out!

After recent reports that the BBI was trying to ditch improvements to Boston bus station in the hope of saving money come claims that that they have been trying a smoke and mirrors stunt involving something far more serious.
A reader in the know tells Boston Eye: “During the last two weeks they have been sending their equivalent of Big Issue salesmen round the local Internal Drainage Boards (some of the organisations on whom we depend to keep our feet dry and our homes and businesses safe from flooding) begging for reductions of up to 29% in drainage rates.”
Apparently the BBI - despite having been told otherwise more than once during the past four years - think the money that the council is required to collect from drainage ratepayers of Boston and pass on to the three local boards to be used in maintain our drainage wellbeing, is other than just that.
“The BBI have revealed that such drainage rates collected are still, in their opinion, income that should be considered as disposable income for the BBC/BBI administration.
“And if that doesn’t frighten you, then it should. Just imagine the BBI, with their usual competence, dictating to our local IDBs whether or how to spend the money to look after us all drainagewise!
“It was noted that our BBI leader Cllr Richard Austin, demonstrating his strong leadership qualities, abstained on a vote for a decrease in drainage rates at the Black Sluice IDB where he is a borough-appointed representative.
“At the Witham Fourth IDB it was pointed out to BBI representatives that even a standstill on rates, when funds are needed to deliver the required infrastructure maintenance and improvements, was not the best way to look after the safety of our borough and its populace.
“All of which reminds me; what have the BBI been doing during the last three years to keep our council tax in line with requirements for their service delivery? They have refused to even contemplate inflation/RPI increases!
“Perhaps the BBI should be looking at their local IDBs as a good example of how to look after things.”


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