Bored of the Board already

For heavens’ sakes. I had high hopes for this Town Board and already they’re faltering at one of the easiest jobs in town. Resignations over governance have taken place - code for in-fighting.

I remain optimistic and hope they can sort this out so that it work of the board does become a transparent and democratic process.

Easiest job in town

If you’re wondering why I claim it’s the easiest job in town, that’s not the usual “I could do better” retort that many an auld boy says. It’s based on the situation as it stands. Anyone who has tried to raise funds, get buy-in and recruit relevant help for a project will understand what I mean.

The board have been given 3 themes they have to work with, they have been allocated £2 million per year (including revenue costs!!), there was a decent level of participation when people are asked to suggest board members and areas of work and they do not have to hire engineers etc to actually execute of they plans, that’s the job of the Council.

This is something that third-sector groups never experience and are probably very envious of. Most dream of :

• steady, multi-year funding (I know it hasn’t been delivered yet)
• revenue funding (for admin to run the thing), not just capital funding
• a clear, set remit that they have to deliver
• a delivery partner

What could go wrong?

Surely with this perfect storm of criteria in place it’s guaranteed that good things come out of it? They can’t f*** this up can they?

Even a perfect plan has its weaknesses. Those weaknesses are usually people peopling i.e. ego. It is very common for people to bring their own side projects and try to shoehorn those into wider schemes. Sometimes their “side-project” is simply a grievance against other towns folk or the “the cooncil”.

I’m not saying that’s what is happening here, but I would not be surprised. It takes mature board members to join a board, read the remit and then sit in service of that remit. Even if most of the people on the board are good, a few blowhards that constantly hark back to the past could be enough to sink the ship or at least make half the good people throw up their hands in exasperation and leave.

Next is politics. And in this case I mean that on the large scale. Let’s face it, these boards and levelling up are pre-election bribes by the Conservatives to try to hold on to areas that have consistently rewarded the Tories with their vote over the years. If Labour do come to power in a month as most polls predict, are they likely to bin the schemes? No money has been delivered to it could be quite an easy assassination.

Finally, a lack of vision and small thinking. £2 million per year is a lot of money and it’s also not a lot of money. I mean, you can do something substantial with £2 million, but you need a machine to spend it and you need people that understand that spending that amount of money means you run into situations where professional support is needed. There are only so many flower boxes you can plant and community cleanups you can do. As soon as you start touching buildings and infrastructure it gets more complex. Don’t avoid those things, be bold, but recognise they aren’t quick wins.

A plea to the Board

Please don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. In essence your job is to shepherd idea and plans that fit a specific remit to the council, who hold the money on your (OUR) behalf. No fundraising, not detailed legal and planning work, it’s a dream. Read your articles and constitution. Follow that and do your job in service of that constituiton. Doonhamers expect that.