Boston “struggling”

as BID income

takes a hit

Despite promoting the impression that everything in the garden is lovely, is seems that behind their gung-ho façade, business members of Boston BID are less than sanguine about the organisation and the town’s prospects.
Our piece on Monday about the Business Improvement District’s ill-judged idea for a festival costing tens of thousands of pounds to celebrate Central and Eastern European culture brought a rapid response from readers.
We heard of fears that that the town was struggling - and that the BID should try to encourage smaller businesses back into the centre.
This is a good idea, for which funds are available – although that fact appears to have been forgotten.
The £52,000 government grant to Boston Borough Council to counter the run-down appearance of the town centre caused by empty shops included £10,000 for a grant scheme to offer new retailers occupying empty shops funding towards business rates in their first year after start up.
Nothing has yet been heard about this – despite the fact it could be an excellent way to help small businesses gain a foothold in the town centre and bring a little variety to the shopping experience currently on offer.
Having said that, there has also been no sign of the £12,000 allocated for artwork to disguise empty shop windows being spent either.
BID “members” – let’s not forget that their membership is compulsory, and they face a criminal conviction and fine if they refuse to pay their levy – are concerned at the amount of money being spent on the Town Rangers and BID management.
The Rangers account for almost half the levy and the wages of the BID Manager brings the total to 70% of the BID’s £135,000 annual income.
But then, according the “business plan” £6,000 is allocated to pay for “adverts/print/website and internet” costs, plus £9,000 for office accommodation and ancillary costs and £3,000 for “admin assistance.”
By our reckoning, that comes to £110,000 out of the £135,000 available – which doesn’t leave much of a balance to actually do anything.
At its inception, it was claimed that match funding would equal the £135,000 wrested from “members” – but this is not happening.
Not only is money not coming in via this route but we hear that it has in fact dried up almost completely - with the belief that the remaining three years of the BID’s life will see little, if any, further funding.
And again, despite claims that the BID is mending relations with members, we hear of complaints about lack of response by the BID Manager to enquiries and frustration when suggestions that could bring improvements to the town were ignored.
Complaints extend throughout the BID’s top structure – to the effect that there is no relationship between the members and the board, creating a sense of isolation.
Even worse, members apparently feel that there is no sign of any marketing of the town and that they are not involved in any discussions.
All in all, the feedback from the people who pay the bills for Boston BID does not paint a pretty picture.
It was back in July 2010 that angry members rose up in revolt at this incompetent organisation, and the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce representative was charged with assessing public feeling about winding up the company.,
An answer was promised within three months.
Has his watch stopped?

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