Boston Borough Council leader Peter Bedford delivers his New Year message and reflects on the successes he believes were achieved in the past 12 months...
Despite the economic problems – recession, cuts in Government grant, savings to be made – the council is on track to achieve a balanced budget.
We are in the last stage of improvements to the Geoff Moulder Leisure Complex with training pool refurbishment work.
The council enabled £1 million to be spent on improvements at the Peter Paine Sports Centre. The facility was in much need of improvement and by handing the centre over to Boston College the cash for refurbishment was unlocked.
We look forward to a new future for the Assembly Rooms thanks to private investment. It was built as a centre for public gatherings and entertainment and, under its new owner, those uses will be maintained in a modern context.
Other initiatives included achieving Councillor Development Charter status, receiving a clean bill of health from the Audit Commission, partnership working to tackle fly-tipping, staff sharing with South Holland District Council and East Lindsey District Council and a new garden waste collection service.
We also saw the completion of the Market Place, a project to restore 116 High Street, success in Britain in Bloom, the picnic in the park for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Torch Relay. It’s been a historic 12 months.
Looking forward we are well placed to tackle what 2013 will throw at us. There will be more budget challenges, but we have made a very good start to prepare for these.
I want to thank all staff at the council who have all worked so hard and cun onscientiously over the past 12 months. There have been difficult times and challenges the like of which we have never had to face before, but we have come through unscathed.
Coun Peter Bedford
Leader, Boston Borough Council
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