Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

No declarations of interest were received.

The Minutes of the meeting of Full Council held on 20^th January 2025 were agreed and signed by the Mayor.

The Chief Executive confirmed that there were no communications.

The Chief Executive confirmed that no deputations or petitions had been received.

The Chief Executive advised that the following questions had been received:

1.  Question to Councillor Anne Dorrian from Councillor Paul Gleeson

There has been significant commentary in the news and on social media regarding the council's decision to adjust member remuneration to align more closely with allowances paid to members of other councils locally and nationally

Do you as Leader of the Council have any comments or statements to make to update us on this issue?

Response from Councillor Anne Dorrian

I would like to thank Councillor Gleeson for notice of his question.

The decision taken by the Council follows the first review of Councillors' allowances since 2022. Most other Councils have increased their allowances since then, some multiple times. For tax purposes council members and civic dignitaries are treated in the same way as any other individual who holds an office or is an employee. Allowances received are liable for Income Tax deductions.

At Council, an amendment to the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel was proposed by Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Woodliffe, seconded by Cllr Bedford, and approved following a vote. The cost of the increase that was approved is the equivalent of less than half a pence per day, per resident - a worthwhile investment that I believe offers excellent value given the level of responsibility and complexity that now comes with being an elected Councillor.

The new allowances mean the Council can continue to draw on a wider talent pool from the local area, making the role more accessible to more people. Being a councillor is a great honour and privilege. It is only right that people from all walks of life, backgrounds and experiences have the opportunity to bring their skills and knowledge to the role to help their community. By offering a fair amount, we hope to encourage a range of voices - not just those who are comfortably in a position to sacrifice time and money.

The public duty of being a Councillor is one that comes with great responsibility and commitment. Councillors give up many hours to support local residents, attend meetings, and make important decisions that impact people's lives. My week on Council business is usually between 50 to 60 hours. All Councillors, I know, seek to do the best they can for the Ward they represent and the wider Borough. I truly believe that Boston Councillors will now receive an allowance that properly reflects the tremendous responsibility we all have.

2.  Question to Councillor Callum Butler from Councillor Stuart Evans

The “COMMUNITY SKIPS” Trial in town, announced and then implemented in Aug, Sep & Nov 2024, said that… "Following the pilot we will review the results. Subject to what those results show, a permanent, regular service could be introduced, with the potential to bring community skips to other areas of Boston and our villages.”

I understand the Portfolio Holder has been given a final report. When can we expect to see the trial results and when will we have some  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

The Chief Executive confirmed that no questions had been received from members of the public.

To receive the draft Minutes from the meeting held on 27^th January 2025.

Councillor Barrie Pierpoint, Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee, presented the draft Audit and Governance minutes from the meeting held on 27^th January 2025, which was for councillors to note.

Councillor Pierpoint highlighted: (i) page 14 of the minutes and the comments of the engagement director from KPMG who had advised that positive assurance could be taken by the Committee on the status of the organisation now and in the future; and (ii) positive comments by the internal auditor who had advised that the performance dashboard was 80% completed, that the internal audit plans had been delivered and that they had commented on good progress. There had been a 100% feedback response from officers on all audits.

Councillor Pierpoint indicated to Council that the two new lay members on the panel had been exceptionally good, were asking the right questions, understood all the papers and were a credit to the Committee.

(A report by Christine Marshall, Deputy Chief Executive Corporate Development (S151))

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 Portfolio Holder – Finance, Councillor Sandeep Ghosh, presented a report by the Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate Development (S151), setting out the detail of the Annual Budget Report 2025/26, the 5-year Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) from 2025/26 to 2029/30, Capital Programme, Capital Strategy, Treasury Management Policy/Strategy and the Annual Delivery Plan for 2025/26.

Members noted that the report also included the recommended level of Council Tax for 2025/26 taking into account pressures including that of the Internal Drainage Board (IDB) levy.

The budget included efficiencies that had been identified to support the short and medium term financial strategy and the remaining efficiency target still to be achieved against which a plan of activity had been developed.

Before presenting the Budget Report, Councillor Ghosh provided an overview of the position since his appointment. He confirmed that in the financial year 2022/23, there had been a budget shortfall of £282,000 without a proactive plan to address efficiencies. In the financial year 2023/24, there had been a budget gap of £664,000 and a dire need for a planned approach. Efficiency targets had been established before every Budget and had been acted on religiously. For the financial year 2024/25, 78% of those targets had been achieved by Quarter 2 and nearly all the debt left by the previous administration had been paid back. All directorates had been informed to make budgets based on previous data and avoid mid-year unplanned pressure on the budgets.

More efficient ways of working for all the services had been encouraged by working closely within the partnership and the special interest group created had resulted in receiving £5 million for this financial year, which was £2 million more than last year.

Improvements in the town and supporting vulnerable residents had been prioritised.

Engagement in communities and businesses was occurring to a greater degree.

There had been challenges and unlike before, where there had been challenges from worldwide events, the current challenges had arisen from changes to Government policy, including significantly less Government support, the removal of the Rural Services Delivery Grant and changes to business rates. Local Government Reorganisation would also result in future challenges.

The enhanced section 25 statement at the end of Appendix 1 set out the risks within the Budget and contingencies. The Internal Drainage Board (IDB) continued to be a pressure, with increased contributions to them of £102,000 included in the Budget resulting in a 45% increase since 2021/22. Lobbying of Government had occurred since October 2022. The national sum provided for IDB support had increased the national sum to £5 million but it was still only a third of the increase seen by councils since 2021/22.

Efficiency targets had been introduced in the Budget since 2022/23 as a result of the legacy of the last administration, reductions in Government funding and the impact of the IDB levy.

The savings target for 2025/26 would be £510,000 and the IDB related target would be £913,000, which would be challenging. A multi-year efficiency plan had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

(A report by Christine Marshall, Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate Development (s151))

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 Portfolio Holder – Finance, Councillor Sandeep Ghosh, presented a report by the Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate Development (S151), setting the amounts of Council Tax applicable for 2025/26 for each

valuation band and in each part of the Borough.

The Boston Borough Council budget for 2025/26 was considered by Cabinet on 19th February 2025 and its recommendations set out the band D Council tax at £223.65, a £7.56 (3.50%) increase on 2024/25. The Budget report was based on the finance settlement advised by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Councillor Ghosh set out the details of the Council Tax Setting documents within the agenda pack. The band D charge of £223.65 was a fraction of the County Council proposed band D charge of £1,625.85 and less than the Police and Crime Commissioner charge of £318.15. He indicated that the charge to be levied on the Council Taxpayers of Boston for services provided in their town (Boston Town Area Committee) would be £769,057 for 2025/26. This equated to a Band D equivalent charge of £81.09 (£80.37 for 2024/25), a 0.90% increase.

Members discussed the report and the following comments were made:

·         Comparisons were made with the less favourable position in other local authorities.

·         Concerns were expressed about the charges levied by the Police and Crime Commissioner and the performance of Lincolnshire Police.

·         Councillor Anne Dorrian thanked Christine Marshall for her sterling work on behalf of the Council and the support which she had provided.

·         The Monitoring Officer indicated that Full Council was required to vote on the slightly revised Appendix A which had been made available to them. This document has been appended to the Minutes.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Sandeep Ghosh and seconded by Councillor Anne Dorrian.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the formal Council Tax resolutions for 2025/26, as set out in the revised Appendix A and summarised at 4.1, be approved; and

2.    That the charge to be levied on the Council Taxpayers of Boston for services provided in their town (Boston Town Area Committee) be approved at £769,057 for 2025/26. This equated to a Band D equivalent charge of £81.09 (£80.37 for 2024/25), a 0.90% increase.

(A report by Rob Barlow, Chief Executive)

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Anne Dorrian, presented the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/2026 which, under section 38 of the Localism Act 2011, was required to be produced annually and for approval by Council, as had been a requirement since 2012/13. Councillor Dorrian confirmed that the statement set out the authority's policy for the financial year relating to the remuneration of chief officers, the remuneration of the lowest paid employees, the relationship between chief officers’ remuneration and that of the other officers.

Members discussed the report and the following comments were made:

·         Councillor Dorrian confirmed that Brendan Arnold had been appointed as the Interim Financial Director.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Anne Dorrian and seconded by Councillor Dale Broughton.

RESOLVED:

That the Pay Policy Statement 2025/2026, at Appendix 1, be approved.

(A report by James Gilbert, Assistant Director – Corporate)

The Chief Executive presented a report on the Designation of Section 151 Officer. The Council had an obligation to designate a suitably qualified Section 151 Officer and that the existing Section 151 Officer, Christine Marshall, would be leaving the Council in March. The report sought the designation of an interim Section 151 Officer to ensure the statutory functions associated with the role were fulfilled. Members noted that at present, the role would be undertaken on a shared basis across the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership.

Brendan Arnold had recently been appointed as Interim Director of Finance and it was recommended that be designated as the Council’s Section 151 Officer with effect from 31^st March 2025

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Anne Dorrian and seconded by Councillor Dale Broughton.

RESOLVED:

That Brendan Arnold, the Council’s Interim Director of Finance, be designated as the Council’s Section 151 Officer with effect from 31^st March 2025.

(A report by John Medler, Assistant Director – Governance (Monitoring Officer)

The Chief Executive presented a report on the Appointment of Returning Officer, Local Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer. Members noted that John Leach, Deputy Chief Executive – Communities, had been appointed to these roles by Council on Monday 18^th September 2023. Following his decision to leave the authority in March, the Council was required to make a new appointment to these roles.

The Chief Executive advised that Andy Fisher, the Joint Deputy Chief Executive and Programme Delivery and Assistant Director – General Fund Assets, had previous experience working in elections acting as a Deputy Returning Officer and was willing to take on the roles.

Councillor Anne Dorrian commended John Leach on the sterling work which he had undertaken on behalf of the Council.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Anne Dorrian and seconded by Councillor Dale Broughton.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Andy Fisher, Joint Deputy Chief Executive and Programme Delivery and Assistant Director – General Fund Assets, be appointed as Returning Officer (including appointment as Local Returning Officer for the Boston Borough area for Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Mayoral elections) and Electoral Registration Officer to the Council with immediate effect; and

2.    That an indemnity be granted to Andy Fisher for any personal liability arising from these appointments by the Council.

(A report by John Medler, Assistant Director – Governance (Monitoring Officer))

Leader of the Council, Councillor Anne Dorrian, presented a report by the Assistant Director – Governance & Monitoring Officer which sought approval to commence a Community Governance Review for the unparished area within the Borough of Boston.

The report was a result of the Leader’s commitment given at Full Council on 20^th January 2025 to consider the governance arrangements for the unparished areas of Boston Borough. It set out the terms of reference for the proposed Community Governance Review, should Full Council decide to proceed. If accepted, the following five members of the Boston Town Area Committee (BTAC) would sit on the Community Governance Review Working Group: Councillors Anne Dorrian, Barrie Pierpoint, Emma Cresswell, Mike Gilbert and Paul Gleeson. The Working Group would consider the responses received during the two public consultations and then submit recommendations to Full Council.

Members discussed the report and the following comments were made:

·         The importance of the work being undertaken in a timely manner was highlighted to avoid (i) asset stripping of the assets of the Borough Council to a distant unitary authority; and (ii) uncertainty about future Government plans for local government re-organisation.

·         The Community Governance Review would give an improved status to the work of the Boston Town Area Committee.

The report was proposed by Councillor Anne Dorrian and seconded by Councillor Dale Broughton.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Terms of Reference for a Community Governance Review, attached at Appendix 1, for publication and stage 1 consultation be approved;

2.    That Councillors Anne Dorrian, Barrie Pierpoint, Emma Cresswell, Mike Gilbert and Paul Gleeson, members of the Boston Town Area Committee (BTAC) be appointed to a Community Governance Review Working Group to consider the responses received during the two consultation stages of the review and to present draft proposals and final recommendations to the Full Council for determination;

3.    That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive to undertake the Community Governance Review, including making and publishing any necessary modifications (if any) to the Terms of Reference; and

4.    That an initial allocation of £50k from the Funding Volatility Reserve to support delivery of the review be approved.

We the undersigned hereby request that the following Motion be submitted to the meeting of the Council on the 3^rd of March in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14:-

Motion: Preservation of Fenland Landscapes and Recognition of Boston Borough as a Critical Food Producing Area

This Council notes:

1)    The unique and valuable characteristics of the Fenland landscape within the Borough of Boston, which not only provides a distinct natural heritage, but also contributes significantly to local biodiversity and the identity of our area.

2)    The critical role that Boston Borough plays as a key food-producing area, supporting both local and national food security, and contributing significantly to the agricultural economy.

3)    The potential impacts of national significant infrastructure projects planned for our area, specifically those related to energy generation and distribution at significant scale, which threaten to distribute and alter our valuable landscape.

This Council believes:

That it is essential to preserve the Fenland landscape to maintain its ecological balance, scenic beauty, and historical significance.

That protecting our agricultural lands is vital for the continued prosperity of local farmers and the broader agricultural industry, ensuring ongoing food production capacity and the nationally significant role that our area plays in feeding the country.

That any development or infrastructure project within our district must be carefully planned and executed to minimise adverse impacts on our landscape and agricultural productivity.

This Council:

Urges the relevant national authorities and infrastructure project planners to recognise the importance of the Fenland landscape and Boston Borough's role as a food-producing area.

Advocates for the implementation of mitigation strategies to minimise the visual and ecological impact of infrastructure developments, including the consideration of alternative technologies and routing options.

Encourages local stakeholders and residents, to engage in consultation processes to ensure their voices are heard and their concerns addressed in the planning and development processes.

Recognises initiatives that promote the sustainable development of energy infrastructure while balancing the need to preserve our natural and agricultural heritage.

Supports collaboration with other local authorities, including our partners within the South and East Lincolnshire Council's Partnership, to present a united front in the protection of our landscapes and agricultural interests.

By passing this motion, we reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the Fenland landscape and ensuring the sustainability and productivity of Boston Borough as a vital food-producing area for the benefit of current and future generations.

Proposer: Councillor Claire Rylott

Seconder: Councillor Stuart Evans

The following Motion was received:

Preservation of Fenland Landscapes and Recognition of Boston Borough as a Critical Food Producing Area

 This Council:

·         Urges the relevant national authorities and infrastructure project planners to recognise the importance of the Fenland landscape and Boston Borough's role as a food-producing area.

·         Advocates for the implementation of mitigation strategies to minimise the visual and ecological impact of infrastructure developments, including the consideration of alternative technologies and routing options.

·         Encourages local stakeholders and residents, to engage in consultation processes to ensure their voices are heard and their concerns addressed in the planning and development processes.

·         Recognises initiatives that promote the sustainable development of energy infrastructure while balancing the need to preserve our natural and agricultural heritage.

·         Supports collaboration with other local authorities, including our partners within the South and East Lincolnshire Council's Partnership, to present a united front in the protection of our landscapes and agricultural interests.

·         By passing this motion, we reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the Fenland landscape and ensuring the sustainability and productivity of Boston Borough as a vital food-producing area for the benefit of current and future generations.

Councillor Claire Rylott outlined the context of the Motion. She indicated that Boston Borough was faced with the threat of multiple Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), which if granted, would remove colossal swathes of land from crop production. Boston Borough was classified as the best and most versatile land in the country, something that should not be understated. It was crucial that as a local authority, Boston Borough Council should present a united front to make its stance on NSIPs clear.

The motion was moved by Councillor Claire Rylott and seconded by Councillor Stuart Evans.

Members discussed the motion and the following comments were made:

·         The role of members on the Planning Committee was considered. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that the motion was a general motion and that members of the Planning Committee could participate in the debate on the Motion provided they did not speak about specific planning applications, spoke in general terms and determined future applications with an open mind and in accordance with existing policies.

·         Councillor John Baxter confirmed that the Council had appointed an NSIP project manager, with responsibility for looking at NSIPs. He advised that the Assistant Director – Planning & Strategic Infrastructure had decided that such projects would be considered by the Planning Committee rather than by officers.

·         The impact of national policies on local communities was considered by several members, in addition to the absence of a financial benefit to the Council from NSIPs.

RESOLVED:

That this Council:

Urges the relevant national authorities and infrastructure project planners to recognise the importance of the Fenland landscape and Boston Borough's role as a food-producing area;

Advocates for the implementation of mitigation strategies to minimise the visual and ecological impact of infrastructure developments, including the consideration of alternative technologies and routing options;

Encourages local stakeholders and residents, to engage in consultation processes to ensure their voices are heard and their concerns  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.