Boston Patriot

More Expenditure uncovered

2011-06-03T13:10:00.003+01:00

A recent request for some information has revealed expenditure that I for one am alarmed about.............you decide for yourself!

I requested the annual cost to council for our membership of the Local Government Association (LGA) a talking shop for local authorities and of no real value to tax payers in my opinion,

they are as follows
2007/08 £ 16249.84
2008/09 £ 13485.72
2009/10 £ 10000.00
2010/11 £ 8180.00
2011/12 £ 6825.00

total £ 54740.56

Translation services !!!

2006-07 £ 4244.45
2007-08 £ 2257.51
2008-09 £ 6203.06
2009-10 £ 3282.35 ?
2010-11 £ 5941.67

total £ 21929.04

International Links and Town twinning!

2006-07 £ 2002.15
2007-08 £ 9466.21
2008-09 £ 9932.52
2009-10 £ 3435.37
2010-11 £ 3000.00

total £ 27836.25

Is it any wonder that the council has been struggling to balance the budget when its is hemorrhaging tax payers money on such items!

Add your comments is you wish but please refrain from swearing!

Updates

2011-05-17T22:54:00.002+01:00

Following on from my blog last week, the latest I have received from the Chief Exec is that its always been "protocol" to conduct matters in the way he prescribed......well that's news to me as I have numerous emails from Officers over the years where that was NOT as per the "protocol" he describes. Hmmmm

On another equally frustrating matter I have 3 times requested financial information relating to the costs associated with Party in the Park, in order to see how the costs spiralled from £40868 in 2001/2 to £124,809 in 2008/9. I have been drip fed bit by bit and still have no detailed breakdown of how this cost managed to escalate out of control!

Call me a cynic but I don't buy it! Of course when something becomes so expensive it becomes more and more difficult to justify the spend and perhaps some interesting expenditure has found its way into the Cost center for party in the park, just to help it on its way...OUT that is!

Some may recall I stood alone in trying to get funds used from the " £660,000 Community Cohesion Money,before it was squandered away on officer salaries and charities, this was to no avail subsequently the event was Binned and some shifty nasty poor relation substitute offered in its place.

Watch this space as this is still on The English Democrats agenda!

Early Days

2011-05-13T20:52:00.004+01:00

An interesting but somewhat frustrating first week post election, namely that fellow English Democrat Cllr Elliott Fountain and I have had a few challenges trying to get information from officers at the council due to the Chief exec apparently banning Cllrs and officers speaking unless its through the head of department. Now of course I expect that the heads of each dept are very busy people so the last thing they need is Cllrs constantly calling them to seek advice and or clarification on ward matters ( as has been the case this week), the off shot of that has been having to wait days to get calls returned and emails answered.

I have emailed the Chief Exec for clarification, and await a reply.

However we are undeterred and in typical Bulldog spirit will keep on until we have the answers we need.......is Boston Borough Council prepared???

2011-05-06T17:53:00.005+01:00

As many people who follow local politics here in Boston may be aware I have drawn a line under my association with the BNP and stood for election as an English Democrat. I am proud and honored to have been re elected as an ENGLISH DEMOCRAT along with Elliott Fountain, together we will be working very hard to improve the plight of our Townsfolk and ensure that the English are not left by the wayside when it comes to opportunity and equality in these challenging times.

We shall be taking a particular interest in HMO's, Party in the Park and looking for ways to bring Boston back to being a proud and hard working community of people who work and play hard!

English and Proud

Objective Completed

2010-05-10T00:26:00.004+01:00

5.3% means that we have saved our Deposit which is another first for the BNP in Lincolnshire,the icing on the cake has to be a doubling of the vote since 2005 and the destruction of labour, who suffered a remarkable but not surprising slap in the face.

Lets keep our fingers crossed that the unnatural partnership of LibCon delivers what this country so desperately needs and that is PR form of voting.

Polling day

2010-05-06T09:02:00.002+01:00

Finally it's here !!

Today the people of Boston and Skegness have a very real opportunity to express their feelings using the democratic process. One wonders if the electorate will stand by the corrupt and morally inept old gang party's or vote for change....REAL CHANGE, not the yellow Lilly livered Lib Dem kind of change.

My hopes for today are that people will use this as an means of letting those in Westminster know what they really feel.

I am looking forward to keeping my deposit, who knows what other surprises are in store??

Independent support for democracy

2010-04-29T17:15:00.002+01:00

BNP and Independants to work together to allow an elected member full access to the democratic process.

Please fear not, I have in no way whatsoever switched allegiance from the BNP, in fact far from it.

The independents and I are working together simply for the purpose of seat allocation on the committees so that I can more effectively conduct my role as borough councillor for the Fenside ward.

Readers may recall that since my election back in November 2008 I have been trying to gain fair and equal representation on committee seats, I have pursued the issue via the every available channel, finally bringing the matter before the standards committee and full council.

In the now traditional manner we have been accustomed to here in Boston the ruling BBI party voted out an amendment to the constitution that would and could have allowed me to take my rightful place.

I feel that my association with the independent group for this purpose serves both there own cause as well as mine given they have lost one of their number to the conservative group.

As I am sure you are aware I am standing for the British National Party in the forthcoming general election, and I fully expect that after next years local election results the BNP with have a group all of its own in the council chamber.

Cllr David Owens

2010-04-27T20:35:00.001+01:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p007fyxk/The_Breakfast_Show_with_Rod_Whiting_General_Election_Boston_and_Skegness_debate/
Link to the Boston And Skegness election debate!

Hear from the candidates at the following

Labour Kenny .36

BNP Owens 1.22

Libdem Smith 1.24

Indi Wilson 1.27

Con simmonds 1.44

Ukip paine 2.08

A somewhat distorted amount of time given to Cons and labour and ukip vs myself, Kenny i.e. labour have no political representation in the area but still get more time than an elected member.

Slide through to hear what the electorate have to say.

Reminder of BNP local support.

2010-04-27T19:36:00.003+01:00

Boston North West By-Election 15 October 2009
Party Candidate Votes
Conservative Andrea Jenkyns 597 38.7 +13.2
BNP David Owens 581 37.7 +17.1
Labour Pam Kenny 204 13.2 +1.9
Liberal Democrat Michael Shriden-Shinn 160 10.4 +3.2
Majority 16 1.0
Turnout 1,542 21.3

This fact seems to be completely ignored by the BBC when broadcasting comments relating to this current election. I had an interview on Monday afternoon with BBC radio Lincolnshire, they seem to have left most of it on the editing floor!

Well perhaps the truth is a little to difficult to handle and the BBC do not want to allow honest comment on the state of our nation by some "nasty" bnp man. Pathetic!

Game On

2010-04-16T19:17:00.002+01:00

Nomination papers are in and accepted so now it's game on. I have written to the BBC in connection with the coverage of the election on their website which has excluded the British National Party amongst those contesting the seat. Please feel free to email or call them yourselves to add weight to the request.

People like you!

2010-04-10T21:43:00.003+01:00

Vote BNP

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but as I am sure you may understand there's a lot going on behind the scenes.

The election has been called at last, and as many of you may already be aware I am standing for Boston and Skegness.

Over the last few months the Lincolnshire Coastal Group, the fastest growing group in Britain, has been hard at work raising awareness all along the coastal strip, and has had some brilliant results with increasing members and funding for this campaign.
In the last 12 hours alone, two new members joined the ever growing membership of this dedicated group.

With this support behind me I am sure this will be a most pleasing campaign with a result that we can all be proud of.

However, as always,help is always welcome , so if any one wishes to help out with the distribution of leaflets, postcards or donations please let me know and I will direct you to the relevant person who can assist.

St Georges Day

2010-03-06T00:05:00.001Z

Anyone remember this? April 2005.

I think it's time to bring this parade back to the streets of Boston, don't YOU?

Just to remind readers that last year there was a "Carnival Parade " that was part of the community showcase weekend. Where were the H&S police then?

I believe its time to bring back what was a 30 year tradition to our Town, and stand proud on St Georges day 2010.

MAYbe FAIR?

2010-02-17T00:11:00.001Z

Now that the ruling party have successfully sounded the death Nell on Party in the Park, I am growing increasingly concerned that the MAY FAIR is next in line.

I do hope I am wrong, however last years wayforward group (24th Nov 2009) discussed options and from reading the briefing notes (and more importantly reading between the lines) there does not seem to be a hugh amount of favour for it.

Aside from the costs ( which as I know can be worked up as easily as down) there appears to be a great deal of apathy in what has a historic place in our town heritage.

The May Fair traces its origins back to a charter by Henry VIII in 1545, when it use to take place on St Georges day and the two days following. When in 1752 England adopted the Gregorian calender the date was moved to May, hence the name May Fair.

Now, call me a sceptic if you wish, but I can see the writing on the wall, a similar thing happened with Party in the Park, it kinda works like this!

Make it so expensive by what ever means you can and it becomes easy to say " We can't afford it in the current climate, lets wait and see what the outcome of the "market testing" of Cultural Services suggests....blah blah blah..........and you guessed it the event gets put off whilst this process is carried out never to raise its head again, can you see a trend here? Ermm.............. like Party in the Park.

Sorry, but in my view we have to keep some traditions going, this is a historic event, love it or hate it! and is something that MUST be maintained, otherwise whats the point of anything?

Watch this space as I attempt to resurrect the St Georges day parade that was cancelled a few years ago because of " health and safety" complete TOSH!!

LIEsure services, the jury's out

2010-02-12T00:03:00.003Z

My letter to the local media over the recent dictate over leisure services here in Boston.

I am sure there will be plenty to write about as the wheels fall off this in coming months and years!

Sir,

I write to express in Public, the grave concerns I raised in Full Council last week relating to the Leisure services contract.

Unfortunately, this matter was not discussed in public, despite my motion to lift this restriction, equally concerning and more disturbing was the BBI flat rejection to allow debate of this matter.
Perhaps it can be explained as the prior weeks scrutiny meeting led to Cllr Dungworth
Walking out of a meeting in which he is portfolio holder, thereby delaying it 3 days.
This delay left little time to get answers ready for Mondays Full Council meeting where the final decision was to be made. The scrutiny meeting attended largely by the opposition was robust and raised a number of grave concerns relating to the appointment of the preferred bidder. A number of questions were raised and answers to these were produced at the Full council.
Under these circumstances, myself and members of the opposition felt it prudent not to appoint a contract whilst there were so many questionable aspects surrounding the preferred bidder, the full detail that could only be realised by those who bothered to attend the meeting and read up on the reports and supporting information.

I wish to make quite clear that I am very keen to see the training pool opened at once, however this contract does not allow for that.

I wish to see good value for money and a service we can be proud of, however initial investigations point to a very disappointing history from the preferred bidder
( See Mere Leisure Centre Grantham) and the BBI seem content to make do with what we can get!!

These arrangements land the Council with the liability of maintaining the PRSA and have allowed the BSI to write off over £3m of debit to the council. The tax payer has nothing to show for it…….scandalous.

These arrangements by their very nature, make the ability of you the taxpayer to complain to me the elected member in order to resolve issues that a private company are directly responsible for even more difficult than at present.

I am not convinced that there is enough power within the contract to manage robustly any shortfalls in service and standards, in the event that the preferred bidder fails to deliver what the taxpayer desires.

And finally I question, has the BBI, with its voting majority delivered to the borough another DABSI mess.
I hope not but I am not at all convinced.

Cllr David Owens
British National Party

Next on the agenda!

2010-02-02T23:23:00.006Z

I have formally requested that the scrutiny committee take an in depth look at how we manage, govern and control HMO's ( house's of multiple occupancy).

This is an area that I know causes no end of personal strife to many people in Boston, and something which most if not all councillors will never have to face.

However, I feel that as a council we have a duty to deal with issues that the people of our Borough feel concern them most, and this is one of many areas that falls within that category.

The controls and enforcement that allow such matters to arise are in need of a real debate to establish how best to resolve current and future issues where the blight of poorly managed HMO's is affecting the daily lives of those who have to put up with them.

I shall keep you posted on progress.

Please remember all these meetings are open to the public, and you have every right to attend.

Success

2010-02-02T23:17:00.002Z

Some good news, after my continued requests to have the Community Cohesion spend analysed by the scrutiny committee, I have today been advised that this will come before them on March 10 th. I would urge anyone with the slightest interest in this to come along to the meeting, ITS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, and there is nothing to fear.

For more information give me a call on 07980-261023

Where has all the money gone?

2010-02-01T00:15:00.004Z

My personal interest in seeing that we know where our money is spent.

The following a series of some of the email's between those who can give us, the taxpayer the answers.

READ FROM THE BOTTOM UP

Richard,

Thank you for you reply, I would very much like to stress, that whilst officers of the council need to prepare reports, more importantly I would expect that those beneficiaries that have drawn on this funding report in both a written and verbal manner are held to account for such.

Obviously these parties are beyond your direct control, however the relevant committee has explicate powers to call these partners to account and every effort should be made to ensure they are.

r

Cllr David Owens

>>> Richard Harbord 31/01/2010 18:12 >>>
I have this matter in mind and will find a convenient date and which panel as soon as I can.I need to give officers time to produce a factual report to discuss.

I will comew back to you in the next few days

Richard

Richard Harbord
Chief Executive
>>> David Owens 01/30/10 4:01 AM >>>
All,

Further to my requests in December, and given the timing in relation to budget setting, I once again request that this subject comes before scrutiny, I feel it is imperative that we gain a thorough understanding of how the £660,000 of tax payers money has and is being spent. I expect to see representation of all those parties i.e. CAB and CVS in this scrutiny and wish to see them and others account for all expenditure that has been charged under the heading of Community Cohesion.

Regards

Cllr David Owens

>>> David Owens 08/12/2009 13:58 >>>
Alison,

You may recall from a forum meeting last week the subject of items for inclusion under this banner was discussed. Richard Harbord stole my thunder somewhat, in suggesting that Community cohesion is brought to scrutiny as an example.

The purpose of this email is to make a formal request that this subject come before your committee at the earliest opportunity.

To refresh your and other members memories,

£660,000 of funding was granted to BBC for this fund to be spread over 3 years, we are nearing the end of year 2. Whilst any funding to assist cohesion in Boston is most welcome, we as elected members have a duty to ensure that this money is spent wisely and appropriately.

The past and current reporting methods of how this money is spent, leaves a great deal to be desired and would benefit all concerned to open this area to view by all.

The CAB, CVS, Mayflower are all partners in this enterprise and I suggest should be included in the meeting/s should they be called.
We would also need to know precisely what each of the recipients of funding is actually doing in relation to funds it is receiving and were staff have been taken on to fill new roles ( of which there are at least 4,) what have they delivered whilst in post and what plans are there for the future when funding ceases at the end of 2010/11.

It may be of interest to know what percentage of CAB and CVS,s total funding comes from this cohesion fund, as it may be prudent to ensure that this fund stream meets with the criteria of the Community Cohesion Strategy (as detailed in appendix B of the report to cabinet dated 23rd July 2008) and that there is clear evidence of all recipients meeting the strict criteria.

I have obtaining a breakdown for the past present and future spending under this funding stream and I am slightly concerned that they appear to be somewhat lacking in any real detail.

Kind Regards

Cllr David Owens

The bells of St Botolph's

2010-01-29T01:14:00.011Z

Please don't get me wrong, I think that the "stump" is the center piece and indeed the focal point of our town, however, in these times of financial hardship it may be worth remembering that we are elected to mind the public purse, and that we should be prudent in how we spend tax payers money. (something perhaps the BBI should learn).

It is therefore with some regret that I call into question the application to council from St Botolph's for the grand sum of over £ 141,000 for the maintenance of the chancel.

Allow me to explain,

From my initial enquires I find that the term "chancel" refers to the east end of the church in which the altar is located and is usually separated from the rest of the church by either lattice work or a communion bench. This area is what is defined as the chancel and as lay rector the council have a duty and indeed a legal responsibility to maintain it.

I have asked officers at the council to review our obligations under this historic duty, as it would appear that the council, therefore you and I ,are being asked to fund for works outside the remit of what is known as the chancel.

Before we all get upset and on our high horses about this, all I am simply doing is what I consider to be due diligence in my role as a Borough Councillor, in a council that is struggling to make the numbers add up, it in no way implies that I do not support our local landmark.
You have no further to go than the current incumbents to see how little they wish to support the stump, when asked to fund the lighting of stumpy at a measly cost of £4000 per year, and they flatly refused!

Now, If it transpires that WE, the council and YOU the taxpayer,have the legal obligation to maintain the whole church, I am asking the Borough Council to protect the local taxpayers from what could be a potentially Hugh liability in future years ( because stumpy ain't getting any younger) and take out some kind of insurance, because this years request is more than £141,000, in five years time it could be £250,000, £500,000 or more, who really knows!

Unofficial but interesting homemade video.

2009-12-31T11:39:00.001Z

No Use in Complaining, as my Mum used to Say

2009-11-18T01:52:00.008Z

I have kept quiet in relation to the activities Mr Kenny has been up to in relation to complaining about everyone who is not a Labour party member, however I feel the time is right to expose some of the malicious and thoroughly unpleasant activity he has carried out in the last 12 Month’s.

Following the BNP success in Fenside last November, I received a call from Lincolnshire Police as they received a complaint that a piece of my election material may be “illegal” as this was reported to them by the ever vigilant Mr Paul Kenny.

I duly made an appointment to speak to the senior officer (who the prior week was investigating a murder) to show him the evidence proving that such an allegation was in fact, unfounded.

This senior officer was apologetic and was clearly most frustrated that his time was being wasted investigating the most heinous crime of not having an imprint (i.e. name and address of printer etc.) on a leaflet, and the fact that the “evidence” produced by the complainant was not even the genuine leaflet, but a photocopy of the A5 sized leaflet copied as an A4 document! And as such, not a leaflet used in the campaign.

Needless to say the police’s time and that of a very senior officer was wasted, by the vindictiveness and clear political motivation of Mr Paul Kenny.

However, having failed in the pursuit of quashing any political opponents the ever persistent Mr Kenny, was not prepared to leave it there, as aside from swiping at the other councillors as mentioned on the bostoneye blog site, he attempted to have another go at me.

This time, following the last county council by-election which saw the Labour Party in Boston destroyed at the ballot box, he launched a new wave of complaints relating to my reference to the migrant community in Boston in my election material, and some how tried to link my observations and comments into how that was not treating others with respect and claimed I breached equality enactments in my capacity as an elected member.

This led to another complete waste of Standards committee time and resources leading to the expected result of the complaint not being upheld.

How much more has the Boston tax payer got to put up with and fund the fantasies of this wannabe Politician, when will he realise that Labours days of influence in places like Boston have come to an end.

Labour had their chance and they blew it! They sold out to the Multi-Culti fantasy and ignored what their hardcore supporters and voters were telling them.

May they rest in Peace

Another MUST SEE video

2009-11-18T00:57:00.003Z

Quick post once again, but none the less an important one.

On the side bar is a video that reflects what it is to be a member of the BNP.

It should serve as a lesson to those that continue to lie about what we are about and spread fear of what we offer the British Electorate, as people are seeing through their lies and slanders and realising that we really do offer an alternative to ALL those who have been ignored by the old gang politicians.

Name that tune!

2009-11-10T18:26:00.001Z

Just a quick one today, on the sidebar is an old classic, named in this instance the "immigration song".

Enjoy

True face of London

2009-11-03T10:27:00.004Z

Today, I post a video clip created by members of Wales BNP. ( CLICK ON VIDEO ON SIDE)

I need not comment as when you watch it you will see for yourself how successive Governments have betrayed all of us and continue to lie about the reality of the immigration in our Country.

I have personal experience of the area in this video, as I used to live in an adjacent part of London and worked on Wembley High Street, and was a milkman in and around what was the Old Wembley Stadium. The observations made in this video are not isolated to Wembley, they extend into many area's in and outside of London.

One just needs to drive through places like Alperton, Harrow, Edgware, Burnt Oak and Luton,and you will see for yourself what colonisation looks like!

I was never asked by any politician if I wanted this to happen ..... were YOU?

You have seen the "Before" heres the "After"

2009-10-28T14:02:00.007Z

Another successful area cleared by our industrious Council workforce. I am sure most would agree that it's a really unpleasant job having to clear up someone else's "mess" and the folks from Fen Road simply get on with it. Well done!

More Camps!

2009-10-23T17:29:00.005+01:00

Just to bring people up to date with matters surrounding illegal camping in the town.

Yesterday, once again our council staff had to down tools in their normal roles and get “suited and booted” in their bio suits to clear two more illegal camp site from the town centre.

The first one was in the Wormgate area, on Archer Lane, and was located behind a brick wall near the car park on Fountain Lane.

It would appear that it’s been in existence for around 3 weeks, but looking at the state of it you would have thought more like 3 months, with around 3 lorry loads of debris, made up of rubbish and the vegetation that was removed to prevent more camping!

I once again spoke with staff from the council and the local police whilst at the site, and it appears that there were several people living under the tarpaulin, and in fact two of the occupants were awoken by council staff.

Alarmingly these people have “migrated” from Witham Way County Park and were amongst those rounded up last month and given advice and offers of support none of which they have bothered to take up!

The second site was over in Skirbeck, where a camp had been in existence for about a week, and this needed urgent attention as it was adjacent to a nursery school.

Now, the staggering truth is that these individuals do not wish to be assisted and it would now appear that we can not send them home, as they don’t want to go home, so in effect we could be chasing these vagrants around the town for years!

At the first meeting of the new group set up to tackle this issue, mention was made of inviting Mr Mark Simmonds MP to one of these meetings.

I assumed this would be done, and was somewhat surprised to have a lady on the doorstep make a proclamation that “THE BNP” won’t let Mark attend any council meetings.

Slightly unsettled by this statement I tried to re assure the lady that as I am the ONLY member of the BNP on council that was she had been told was complete nonsense; however she was not having any of it.

That evening, I wrote to Mr Simmonds and outlined the situation in my email detailed above (CLICK TO ENLARGE) and have now been advised that he will be attending a meeting here in Boston in November with council officers, to discuss what assistance he can give to try and find a resolution to this ongoing issue.

Now, I shall wait and see If I will be invited to the meeting I set up or whether Mr Simmonds will play school boy politics and refuse to attend a meeting in which there is a BNP councillor in the room.

I hope not as he and I did have a chat during the election count back in June and I am one of his constituants!

Tories in Disguise

2009-10-21T20:24:00.003+01:00

What lessons can be learnt from last weeks election result one may ask, well the first lesson we all should have gleaned is that the BBI are not truly “independent” if anything, most if not all of them have transpired to be Closest Tories.

Why did Cllr Alison Austin not contest the seat, was she fearful of being beaten AGAIN, or did she think that it might be embarrassing should she win (fat chance) after hubby had just been booted off the County Council, having failed to be re elected in June?

Or is she really a Tory in disquise?? who decided to work in collusion with them to try and squeeze the BNP out!

You decide, but you can expect the BBI to try and take the “moral” high ground with the usual nonsense about county council mistakes and rightful winner last time around, yawn! yawn! But the reality is much simpler than that, and they know it.

The BBI are a spent force in Boston and the electorate have been telling me that over recent weeks,!.......so perhaps they will continue the trend and not contest future seats when they become available, every one know's it makes sense!

Andrea Jenkyns had special mention in her winning speech, of the to the BBI and others who did not contest the seat this time around, not only did this demonstrate the absolute fear the Tories had of the BNP actually taking this seat but it also confirmed my comments above, and that fact will be fully explained to Boston’s electorate during ANY election they contest.

It will be an interesting time leading up to 2011 council elections, when the people of Boston will show the BBI the door!

Could have and should have, but did'nt.

2009-10-17T23:14:00.005+01:00

From crunching the numbers what was amazing was the number of first time voters who ventured out for the first time in their lives and cast their vote.

To lose by 17 votes can be more disappointing than losing by 100’s, however what can not be glossed over is the fact that over 37% of those who voted on Thursday voted for the BNP, and that can not be ignored.

The tension at the count on Thursday night could have been cut with a knife, as the Tories realised that this election was closer than any other they have ever contested in their history in Lincolnshire.

The message is simple, the BNP have achieved in 11 months what no other political party has ever achieved in Lincolnshire before, they have managed to completely destroy both the liberal democrat and labour parties and offer to the electorate a REAL alternative to Tory rule.

That only leaves me to say, thank you to all those who voted for me, and tut tut to the hundreds who pledged to vote but did not bother to vote at all!

I plan to be available in 4 years time so that I can once again offer my services to represent the electorate of Boston North West, I can only hope by then it’s not too late!

By Election Results

2009-10-16T00:26:00.003+01:00

Conservatives 597
British National Party 581
Labour 204
Lib Dem 160

More on the result later today, 17 votes short, says it all really.

A really big thank you to all those Who Did turn out to Vote.

Tick Tock

2009-10-14T00:43:00.010+01:00

The countdown has started and the final days of this campaign are drawing to a close. It is interesting to note that there seems to have been very little activity in the urban parts of the election district (other than a sudden increase in registered voter's from the EU states), and it leads me to wonder just what are the other party's actually doing!

I have been out and about for the last 4 weeks and have seen the Tories once, labour on two occasions (delivering the same leaflet, over two weekends) and the lib dems twice. To date, I think labour have put out 2 leaflets one of which was a smear against the BNP and the Tories, the lib dems 2 leaflets and the Tories 2 leaflets.

Don't get me wrong, they may well have done more , but I have not seen it.

It's getting nearer to the time when only YOU the electorate can decide and we will just have to wait and see what the outcome is, won't we!

Where did they all come from?

2009-10-11T23:59:00.005+01:00

It came as no surprise on Saturday evening when I got in from campaigning and opened my mail and to see the latest additions to the electoral register for the forthcoming election.
Call me a cynic, but it looks like someone’s been busy signing up our Eastern European guests , as there are an additional 185 newly added in the last few weeks!
Now could it be a deliberate ploy from the desperate opposition to try a thwart my attempt to gain a seat at County Hall?
Your guess is a good as mine and I shall leave it to you to make your own mind up!
This revalation , however will not cause concern as such activity will only drive more and more voters to the polls on Election Day. and trust me I shall be letting people know what's going on

Meanwhile. Labour have made a half hearted attempt at a smear leaflet which just about sums up their lack lustre campaign if you can call it that!

As my campaign turns the corner into the last week where so far voters have had up to 5 pieces of information to assist them in their selection of a representative. We shall wait and see what the outcome will be in the early hours of Friday Morning, keep your eye on this blog as I will update as soon as possible following the count.

Why I do what I do!

2009-10-08T01:19:00.010+01:00

Every now and then, something happens that makes you realise what its all about, so to speak. This week I received a letter from a gentleman who's words really encourage me to keep on doing what I do! Sadly the generation who gave so much too so many, without looking for reward are rapidly dwindling, and all I can say is that their are still people who thank those who sacrificed so much and are willing to continue the battle to save our nation. [ Click images to read ]

Englez nevoie nu a aplica

2009-10-01T20:11:00.010+01:00

Boston nord vest by alegere...............opps sorry folks that should read in English,
Boston North West By-election, there I was forgetting myself, but you will see why towards the end of this post.

Well the support on the door step is truly breathtaking, with more and more people turning their backs on the old Political Parties and pledging support for me and the British National Party.

Leaflets have been dropping on doormats since the end of August, as soon as we became aware of the forthcoming election, with a selection of themes starting with where we stand on national issues, thus dispelling the usual gutter politics tactic that others may use making false claims of who we are and what we stand for.

Some lucky electors had free copies of our monthly newspaper “ Voice Of Freedom” packed with stories from up and down the country and a special feature on the Afghan war.

The next leaflet covered the topic of why the election was being called and gave an overview of the ongoing issues at Witham Way Country Park, as covered in more detail here on my Blog.

The current leaflet explains why I am standing and why Boston Needs a BNP voice at County Hall. The reverse of that leaflet talks of another Blog topic which is impacting land workers in the borough who are, or more appropriately were, working at staples in Old Leake in the scandal of the “Gulag”. Check out the advert in this weeks Target for staff at Staples, wherein the “applicant must speak fluent English and Romanian and a basic knowledge of Bulgarian”! I rest my case.

I have been pounding the streets and knocking doors virtually every day for the last three weeks, despite what other bloggers may say I know I am working harder than any other candidate to meet and greet the electorate and my feet are starting to ache, but that’s what its all about. We shall just have to wait and see what happens on the 15th October.

I have only seen one other candidate on my travels , and a couple of leaflets from the lib dem Candidate, but perhaps not surprisingly no one from labour. No prizes for wondering why!

Добър bye за сега...

Sorry, just trying to swot up on my linguistic skills so I might be able to get a job in the town.

Lincolnshire “GULAG”

2009-09-23T12:28:00.004+01:00

Well I did wonder how long it would be before agency staff started getting the boot at Staples Farm in Wrangle.

A little bit of history for those who do not know,

Late last year Staples applied for planning permission to site 21 caravans for occupation by seasonal workers along with ancillary welfare facilities, including 2 shipping containers, a landscaped earth mound and recreation ground

They also applied for RETROSPECTIVE planning permission for the 19 that they already had and were using!

In total, 40 caravans each housing up to 6 persons have been allowed to be placed at Staples Farm where they can keep workers on site, in other words a "Gulag"!

Despite the enviroment agency objecting thus giving the planning committee an opportunity to refuse it, they didnt .It was approved and permission granted, with only one vote against!

This new gulag will house up to 246 “workers” from outside the EU under a scheme called SAWS (Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme). This scheme permits workers to come here for up to six months but they have to be “housed” by the employer.

These “inmates” are not permitted to bring vehicles on site and the employers have kindly provided bicycles for the “inmates” use.

Even more generous is the provision of three 8 seater minibuses which will, ”transport workers to obtain daily essentials and occasionally for days out to Lincoln etc.”

A quick calculation means that these minibuses will need to make 33 trips daily just to “obtain daily essentials” Hmmmm And the trips to Lincoln will need to load up 8 people 10 times each, and make the round trip to Lincoln. Well that’s pretty impressive, when are the “inmates” going to fit in time to work one may wonder??

The above illustrates just how ridiculous the whole scheme is.

But why do Staples or anyone for that matter feel the need to create this "gulag"?

Surely with all the migrant workers this town has, there is no need to bring in more foreign nations from outside the EU, and what about the growing number of indigenous nationals who can’t find work, traditionally they were the pool of labour that farmers used to use. These days, for them, even agency work is scarce.

Staples justification for this grand creation is as follows:

In order to maintain a skilled and reliable workforce the applicants have decided to reduce its dependency on agency staff and instead labour will be sourced the Governments SAWS scheme.

The applicants (Staples), considers that the use of gang labour has the following disadvantages:

It is not possible to ensure the correct skill level and maintain continuity of staff or willingness to work (hang on didn’t someone say that about the Brits?)

Cost of paying for poor quality labour is not viable ( now we are getting warmer as to the reason)

Gang labour does not provide a flexible or instantly accessible workforce. ( strange I thought that was the very reason for dropping the use of local labour in favour of agency labour)

So there you have the History, and now back to real time

I am hearing that around 70 agency staff have been laid off from Staples in the last 2 weeks.

As I am sure many will be aware these are quite probably foreign nationals ( as indeed most employees of these agencies are these days) and they will most probably end up joining the indigenous population, who cant find work, in claiming jobseekers allowance.

I did warn of this in a letter to the Standard in December last year,
I said “ This years cheap migrant worker will become next years benefit claimant” The bit the Standard did not print was “when some other impoverished nation joins the E.U. ( and its highly likely that the current entry restrictions will be lifted on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals ) and under cuts the current workforce’s wage.

Well all I can say is TOLD YOU SO!

This is Britain

2009-09-20T20:06:00.002+01:00

A quick post tonight directing readers to the youtube video on the right.

Well worth viewing and a timely reminder that the softly softly approach and politically correct inaction leaves us very vulnerable indeed.

compare the meerkat anyone!

2009-09-15T19:17:00.004+01:00

Well not quite!

I popped along to the community showcase event in central park on Sunday and was truly delighted to see the two meerkats on display, frisky little devils they were too.

I like many of the towns folk really missed not having Party in the Park this year so I ventured out on what was quite a chilly day to see what all the fuss was about.

Despite the complete contrast in the weather from Saturday there seemed to be a good turnout for what has turned into something of an annual event.

As I perused along the various stalls and displays, it was quite humbling to see the dedication many of the volunteers give to their respective causes.

The event in itself seemed to me to be a real attempt by like minded people to pull together and display a kinship and friendship that we in Britain do so well, a little bit like the old Silver jubilee street party days. (for those that remember them!)

Now then with all the of that warm and cuddly stuff out of the way, lets have a reality check shall we!

Community showcase does not compare remotely with the crowds that PiP brings to central park, the displays of local talent from schools and colleges far out way watching people's pet dog attempt an obstacle course.

The introduction of the parade through town to central park, has added a new dimension to the event (and should now open the door for our Scouts, Cubs, Guides and Brownies to, once again, parade thought the town on St Georges day with the excuse that "health and safety "prevents it, now resolved)!

However, all in all, pound for pound ,Party in the Park made for a blinking good weekend and provided a chance for everyone to get together, have a few beers and chill out, and goodness knows in these troubled economic times we could have done with it!

The PiP event of course also provides an opportunity for all the community to be " Cohesive" and come together, therefore I was quite surprised when funding was not forthcoming despite the granting to Boston of some £660,000 to use on "Community Cohesion".

Even the "Community Cohesion Delivery Group" had acknowledged that PiP and community showcase were positive moves that assist with Community Cohesion.

I challenged this earlier in the year and was told it had all been spent and or otherwise allocated.
I therefore asked to see who and where this had been spent and have got that information finally.
Despite the popularity of the event many fellow councillors were quite happy to see it's demise, and as such were disinterested in its continuance and effectively condemned it. (watch out the fair could be next!)

How and where this money has gone will be the subject of later posts, but around £10000. was set aside for last weekends event for starters!

And this needs to be remembered.

Since my time at West Street I have witnessed a number of consultations, you know the kind of thing, were you get asked a question and the only answer you can give is the one "they" want.

Some may remember a few years ago ( pre Boston Bypass Independents regime ) being asked what does "Boston borough council do well" and some may well remember the answer, you guessed it, it was Party in the Park !

Therefore in traditional kamikaze style it gets binned! nice one!

This is where comparing Meerkat's and Market's end

Party in the Park (love or hate it) and Community Showcase are two events that are just not Comparable, no matter how hard the well wisher's try to make it so!

What Direction Now?

2009-09-13T23:36:00.003+01:00

Now the dust has settled, and the last piece of soiled toilet tissue has been picked up, Its time to reflect on the very successful swoop by council staff, officers and other agencies at Witham Country Park last week, and to plan for the future.

Firstly I must commend the staff that set about the task of clearing up the disgusting mess that the illegal campers left behind, as they got on with the task in hand without complaint and really did demonstrate what a credit they are to our Town.

Having been present during the main campsite clearance, it really beggars belief how anyone can choose to live in such conditions.

Anyway, back to last Friday and a meeting where most of those involved in the operation, came together to discuss the outcome.

As it turned out 10 people ended up actually arriving at West Street, where with the assistance of interpreters, appointments with the DWP (Dept. of Work and Pensions) were arranged to try and help them to help themselves, so to speak. The down side being that the DWP scheduled these over a two week period and in all probability the interviewees will not bother to attend anyway.

The process of arranging this took two days, with staff at West street working incredibly hard to help these people, and the cost continuing to escalate, estimated in the region of £5000

The complete apathy and unwillingness of these people to engage with society comes as no surprise as they seem more than happy living the lifestyle they do.
All were known to police or had a criminal record and they seem to be content with a choice of life that involves shop lifting, drug taking, excessive drinking, scavenging in the bins behind KFC and Gregg’s, and being a general nuisance.

Rather than being victims of the current economic climate, they have made a lifestyle choice that most of these individual’s have lived for many years.

However, the task that was presented to Boston Council was one of protecting public safety and the action required was action that could not and should not be avoided.

The “kind soul” who arranged for these vagrants gain access to the process of assistance, is from the rough sleeping unit and is part of the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG).

Fortunately her involvement brings with her the good news that the borough will get £10000 of funding to help with the situation.

Well, of that, I am truly glad, but let’s not forget that the £10000, whilst not coming directly from the local Council tax payer, is none the less still coming from all of us, The Taxpayer.

Looking to the future, there is hope that full Council will pass the new byelaw that is needed to help in dealing with this problem, however as with many things that come before elected members in Council Chamber, whether it will be passed, is by no means a guarantee, it will however get my complete support.

I shall keep readers up to date with progress on this and many of the issues that are currently facing our town……Watch this space…

If you go down to the woods today!

2009-09-09T11:12:00.030+01:00

Well I did, and I saw our hard working council staff clearing one of "several" sites on Witham Country Park.
Its truly shocking to see the state of the place as I am sure you will agree when you see the photos I took this morning of just one of the sites.

By the time I left around 12 individuals have be rounded up and their identities checked, (2 of these people were on bail! (bailed to where I ask), and they were merrily whisked off to West Street by some kind soul who was seeing to it that they can claim job seekers allowance , be found accommodation and of course given housing benefit to boot.

Alarmingly all of those picked up in today's operation were foreign nationals , some of who had been here for 3 or 4 years!!

Now, I am sure many people may say "send 'em home" " & chuck 'em out" etc. but what needs to be remembered is that this is their home if that's what they choose, as they are quite legitimately here under the E.U. rules that grants freedom of movement within members states.
So there you have it, we are no doubt going to be chasing illegal campers from one site to another until such time as the borough get some teeth, and central Government regain control of our borders.

I suggest you view these pictures before you eat your tea, you wouldn't want to waste good food now would you!

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

hi di hi Campers!

2009-09-09T09:00:00.002+01:00

By the time you read this Blog, Staff and Officers from Boston Borough Council will be well and truly up to their ankles in it! Quite literally.
For in the early hours of this morning they, with the protection of Lincolnshire Police, supported by UK Border agency, will be clearing one of the many blots on Boston’s landscape.
Our council staff and other agencies will removing the human excrement, rubbish, empty vodka bottles and used needles from the illegal tent city that has blighted Witham County Park for several months.

At last I hear you cry, (well you would if you knew about it!)

Finally some action you may say! And about time,
But don’t get too excited, don’t get carried away now.

For under the current system, these “campers” don’t have to go anywhere, they can stay exactly where they are and we as a council can do nothing about it!

Just to enlighten readers, these “campers” are not your every day run of the mill kind of camper. NO NO.
These campers are quite different.

They come with all these added benefits!

There is considerable unacceptable anti-social behaviour.

Aside from the above mentioned human waste and used drug paraphernalia
There is broken glass and vast amounts of rubbish.

Council staff have previously removed tents and cleared the site of rubbish but can no longer do so due to the threatening and aggressive behaviour of these “happy campers”

Goods stolen from the towns retailers is sold on to fund the drink and drug binges that take place on site.

Over £2000 of damage has been caused to council property so far.

Members of the public feel intimidated and threatened and there is a feeling they could be mugged and/or attacked.

Clearly local residents are outraged and the fire service has attended many camp fires that have got out of control.

But get this, and it probably comes as no surprise, these people, 4 Bostonains and 12 foreign nationals, ( at present), are not actively seeking work, are not interested in permanent accommodation and it would appear most do not want to integrate with the community. The foreign nationals amongst them appear to be here legally, they however, despite meeting with the Polish Consul, do not want to go home!

Now then, to me, these are some pretty damn good reasons for Councillors to do all they can working with Officers and other agencies to put an end to this constant drain on resources and threat to public health and safety.

So what now? What’s the plan?

Councillor’s will shortly be asked to approve a bylaw which will give the council the teeth it needs to take action and remove these people from council property and have the power of arrest to enforce it.

As usual herein lays the problem,

In this cotton wool culture of the nanny state we do have amongst us Councillors who feel so sorry for the plight of these “lost souls” and do not wish to see a bylaw brought in that would remove them, until they have been provided with “some sort of site for them to stay”

Well with all due respect I don’t want “some sort of site” anywhere near me and I am sure that the overwhelming majority of Boston’s population don’t either!

Perhaps if our Prison’s were not so overcrowded we could find them some accommodation there, and “dock” the rent out of their benefits!

Alternatively, those bleeding heart do gooder’s could always let them camp in their garden.

As neither of the above are going to happen, the only possible option is bring in the bylaw, enforce it and send a very clear message to those who wish to flout the law that we as a Borough will not tolerate it!

What do you think?

Anyone for a spot of camping?
On a serious note

I would like to thank the Council staff and those from outside agengies in the task they are undertaking, i am sure everyone would agree, it ain't a job they would want to do, so well done to you all.

Welcome to Burnley.oops sorry I meant Boston!

2009-09-07T19:00:00.004+01:00

I attended my first meeting of the cynically named “Community Cohesion Delivery Group” and was entertained by Mr Mike Waite, Head of Community Engagement & Cohesion on Burnley Borough Council.

Burnley, many may remember was one of several Northern towns struck with race riots a few years back, some of which carried on for days.

Mike talked through his presentation entitled “Good Relations Work” which shows what Burnley have done since 2001, the year the town fell apart.

The project explores the issues, responding to those issues, the stages of the “programme”, format and feel etc…etc and brings us up to the current situation.

Herein lays the PROBLEM!

This “Programme” seems to me to be all talk and not a lot of anything else.

Several things concern me, there will be workshops within the programme that are subject to “Chatham House Rules” where there is no agenda but more alarmingly NO MINUTES. These talking shops are free to do what ever they want without scrutiny

There is no true measure that proves that all the input (4 years work) and all the costs (unknown, but no doubt substantial) have actually made a single bit of a difference.

All in all it’s just another scheme that hoovers up tax payers money by the bucket full and has no measurable outcome.

The communities in Bradford still live parallel lives with clearly defined but un marked territories, local taxi drivers still play the race card when Burnley Council try to impose the licensing policy.

And division and segregation is still very much the street scene

So far the resurrection of rioting has been averted (other than Asian youths in Birmingham last weekend and Luton the weekend before)

But the best bit is this… They are looking to come and help Boston using the same model.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are huge issues surrounding Community Cohesion in Boston, however I am not of the opinion that this approach would work for Boston.

There are a few differences between Burnley and Boston.
Burnley has a growing Muslim community that have polarised themselves in certain parts of the town, bringing with them their mosques and madras’s and their own way of doing things.
This community have sunk very, very deep roots in the town and have for want of a better word “colonised” some parts of the town.
The community is extremely able via its plethora of community leaders and other mouth pieces to demand what they want , and demographically can influence the local politics with sheer wait of numbers.

Boston is more fortunate not to be that far down that road.

The “guest” community that have descended on Boston, in their droves, are transient and rapidly changing. To get “buy in” and assimilation from this section of the community needs a very different approach. By the very nature of transient people they are more likely not to comply to our local or even national law, e.g. drinking and driving, refuse disposal and use of public places as urinals.
.
Appeasement is not the answer and its continued use, will lead to Boston becoming a dirtier and more deprived place.

Incidentally, I don’t think we need lessons from Burnley, thanks all the same.

It needs a tough non nonsense, zero tolerance approach

I don’t think that would take 4 years to deliver results do you?

2009-09-05T01:26:00.001+01:00

The first meeting I shall be attending of the CCDG is on Monday 7th Sept., regrettably it does not appear to be a terribly exciting affair and the agenda seems pretty thin on substance, but we shall see. I will report back following the meeting with any particularly informative bits and pieces.

More interestingly, the meeting in June had representatives from a group called NACRO, and from my investigations I find that:
“Nacro's vision is a safer society where everyone belongs, human rights are respected and preventing crime means tackling social exclusion and re-integrating those who offend.”

A very noble cause indeed if it works!

I am however some what surprised that NACRO have submitted a bid through the health and well-being fund ?? to deliver sport and education to the migrant community.

Now I am not suggesting that all crime is committed by our migrant community guests, but the direction of tax payer’s money into one section of the community over and above another is, in my book wrong.

Do NACRO see thing's differently?

I am struggling to see how their vision ties in with the real issues that our community face and how dealing with the migrant community as a special case helps matters.

I am pleased that it was recognised by the Community Cohesion delivery group that “whilst supporting the principles of the project, concern was expressed that too much emphasis is being put on it being available for the migrant community and this in itself may increase the void between the indigenous communities.”

Now I ask you, do you really think this group would be “concerned” if there was not a BNP councillor within the council?

I leave that for you to think about.

2009-08-30T16:55:00.005+01:00

Well he goes my first real attempt to set up a blog where I hope to keep the good people of Boston informed of the goings on in West street.
With all that is happening at the moment it is a challenge to know where to start.
However from my "political" stand point I intend to get to the bottom of the workings of a group of people who have the ability to spend OUR money where THEY see fit.
The Group is known as the Community Cohesion Delivery Group, and I have been invited to attend their meetings following my initial concerns over the allocation of the £660,000 that was given to Boston Borough Council solely to spend on " community cohesion" .
Earlier in the year I suggested rather than scrapping Party in the Park, some of this money could be spent supporting this all inclusive and very popular event. I was informed that the money has "already been allocated" therefore their was no money left for PiP.
More on where this money has gone in later posts.