Issue - meetings

(A report by Russell Stone, Director of Finance (S151 Officer))

Please note that in accordance with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote will be taken on Budget recommendations.

(Members are reminded that if they are two months or more in arrears, they must disclose the fact and not vote on any item to set tax or any decision which may affect its calculation).

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Dale Broughton, introduced the report and presented the Council with the full suite of financial documents for 2026/27, comprising the General Fund Revenue Budget, Medium Term Financial Strategy (Appendices 1, 1A and 1B within the report), Capital Programme and Capital Strategy (Appendices 2 and 3 within the report), Treasury Management Policy and Strategy (Appendices 4A - 4C within the report), Fees and Charges 2026/27 (Appendix 5 within the report), the Annual Delivery Plan (Appendix 6 within the report), and the Pay Policy Report and Statement (Appendices 8A and 8B within the report).

During his introduction, Councillor Broughton reached the five?minute limit for speeches. In accordance with the Constitution, the Mayor called for a vote on whether he should be permitted to continue. Following the vote, Council resolved that the Leader be allowed to continue his introduction, after which he proceeded to outline the key features of the budget:

·         The 2026/27 budget was balanced with no in?year efficiency target, supported by strong financial management and savings achieved through the Partnership, which had delivered over £42 million in efficiencies.

·         Significant national funding changes—including the Fair Funding Review, dissolution of the Business Rates Pool, and consolidation of grants—were fully reflected in the MTFS (Appendices 1, 1A, 1B).

·         Internal Drainage Board (IDB) levies remained a major financial pressure, rising to £3.072m, a 52.57% increase since 2021/22, now equating to 64.5% of the borough Council Tax retained locally.

·         A 3.5% increase in Council Tax, which was within the government’s referendum limit, setting the Band D charge at £231.48, with most households in Bands A–C experiencing weekly increases of 10–13 pence. (MTFS Tables – Appendix 1).

·         The Capital Programme (Appendices 2–3) set out investment in leisure improvements, Rosegarth Square, the Boston Depot extension, Pride in Place schemes, and infrastructure for mandatory food?waste collections.

·         The Treasury Management Policy and Strategy (Appendices 4A–4C) confirmed a prudent, risk?averse approach to borrowing and investment, aligned with the capital programme and compliant with national codes.

·         The Annual Delivery Plan (Appendix 6) detailed key priorities for 2026/27 including town centre, environmental and strategic planning work.

·         The Pay Policy Statement and Real Living Wage Supplement (Appendices 8A–8B) ensured the lowest Council pay rate would increase to £13.45 per hour from 1 April 2026.

Members commented on the long?standing pressures created by Internal Drainage Board (IDB) levies, noting that the rising costs continued to place a disproportionate strain on the Council’s finances and remained a source of considerable frustration. Reference was made to the difficulty of managing a budget where IDB increases absorbed such a significant share of the Council Tax retained locally.

Frustration was also expressed regarding the Government’s approach to funding, with comments highlighting that national decisions had failed to recognise or adequately respond to the financial realities faced by district councils such as Boston. Members additionally voiced dissatisfaction with Lincolnshire County Council, drawing attention to ongoing concerns about the condition of local highways as an example of pressures passed down  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79

(A report by Russell Stone, Director of Finance (S151 Officer))

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Economic Growthpresented the Annual Budget Report 2026/27, together with the Medium Term Financial Strategy, Capital Programme, Capital Strategy, Treasury Management Policy/Strategy, and the Annual Delivery Plan, as set out in the published agenda. The Director of Finance (S151 Officer) and the Head of Finance Delivery – BBC (PSPSL) were in attendance to support, and the Interim Finance Consultant was in attendance virtually.

The Portfolio Holder outlined the national and local financial context within which the proposals had been developed, referring to the late confirmation of the Local Government Finance Settlement, the implications of the Government’s Fair Funding Review, and ongoing pressures including inflation, increased service demand and the impact of the Internal Drainage Board levy.

Members were advised that the budget had been through all relevant committees, with every Member given the opportunity to ask questions during the scrutiny process. It was noted that despite significant challenges, the proposed budget for 2026/27 presented a balanced position without requiring in?year efficiency savings.

The Leader recorded his thanks to the Finance Team for their extensive work in bringing forward the budget and highlighted the importance of understanding how Council Tax income was apportioned, particularly in light of the pressures created by the IDB levy. It was noted that the proposals had been examined thoroughly, ensuring that all Members had ample opportunity to ask questions and scrutinise the detail.

Members discussed the ongoing impact of the Internal Drainage Board (IDB) levy, confirming that it continued to place significant pressure on the Council’s finances. Reference was made to how little of every £10 of Council Tax income was retained by the Borough Council once statutory precepts were applied, demonstrating the scale of the issue.

Although the report contained a substantial amount of financial information, Members considered the key message to be that the Council had managed its resources responsibly, despite the negative effects of national funding arrangements, some of which had not fully met local needs. It was observed that the authority remained in a stronger financial position than many councils within the county, with others facing considerably larger budget gaps.

Appreciation was expressed for the commitment and hard work of staff throughout what had been a challenging period, particularly with Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) underway. Members noted that the authority was on course to leave the organisation in a healthy financial position, and recorded their admiration for the professionalism shown across the organisation. Thanks were extended to the wider team for achieving a balanced position under difficult circumstances, and it was emphasised that, as LGR progressed, the priority for any future authority would need to remain the residents of Boston, with strong financial discipline essential to ensuring the borough was transferred in a stable and responsible condition.

Members welcomed the fact that the Council had not needed to seek Government permission to raise Council Tax above the 3% limit, viewing this as further evidence of prudent financial management.

The meeting recognised that this had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60