Decision details

To award £184,221 in Levelling Up Partnership funds to the Boston Volunteer Centre Charity (charity number 1069816) for the purpose of capital renovations to the Len Medlock Centre in Boston.

In line with the Levelling Up Partnership Scheme’s Investment Plan agreed with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, an allocation of £184,221 was approved for this purpose within the District’s Investment Plan. This decision is for the decision to formally enter into contract for these funds and to deliver the Scheme in Financial Year 2025-6.

To award funds to the above recipient in line with the agreed Investment Plan for the Community Organisations package within the Boston Levelling Up Partnership Programme.

Do nothing – Doing nothing would risk the Council not meeting commitments made under the Levelling Up Partnership Scheme Investment Plan, resulting in the realisation of an underspend on the Programme. The resultant underspend may have to be returned to Central Government, resulting in a loss in investment in Boston. This would pose both a reputational risk to the Council and would be a ‘missed opportunity’ in terms of local growth/economic impact.

Similarly, this would result in a missed opportunity to make a significant investment in a building which is home to a number of voluntary and community organisations in Boston Borough. This package of support is targeted at enabling the charity which runs the building to update, redecorate and upgrade the building to make it more accessible and attractive to its users, utilising Levelling Up funding to support community organisations in Boston. Not undertaking this investment would therefore present a significant ‘opportunity cost’ for local community groups.