Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence and notification of substitutes (if any).

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Neil Drayton, Andy Izard, Patsie Marson and David Scoot. Councillors David Brown, Emma Cresswell, Anton Dani and Anne Dorrian were absent and no apologies for absence had been received.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

Councillors Ralph Pryke and Suzanne Welberry declared interests as Board Members of Public Sector Partnership Services Ltd (PSPS) in relation to Agenda Item 4 – Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2027/28 Consultation.

To sign and confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 4^th June 2026 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

To answer any written questions received from members of the public no later than 5 p.m. two clear working days prior to the meeting – for this meeting the deadline is 5 p.m. on Monday 13^th July 2026.

No questions had been received from the public

(A report by Christian Allen, Service Director – Regulatory)

The Chairman introduced the item and invited the Environment and Sustainability Officer to present the report.

The Environment and Sustainability Officer provided an overview of the Council's carbon footprint for the reporting periods FY22/23, FY23/24 and FY24/25.

The Committee was advised that the report monitored progress against the Council's commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2040, including an interim target of a 45% reduction in emissions by 2027. It was explained that previous delays in reporting had arisen as a result of changes to the Carbon Trust methodology and reporting systems. However, a revised approach had now been established that would allow consistent future reporting.

The Committee heard that significant reductions in emissions had been achieved since the baseline year and that the Council had recorded an overall reduction of 44.25%, placing it close to achieving its interim target. Members were advised that reductions had been achieved through a combination of operational improvements, energy efficiency measures and asset improvements across a range of Council services.

Following the presentation, the Chairman invited questions and comments from Members.

Members sought assurance regarding the methodology used to calculate emissions and the reliability of the information presented. Discussion focused on the categories included within the carbon footprint, the distinction between direct and indirect emissions, and the treatment of leased buildings within the reporting framework. Members highlighted the importance of ensuring that carbon reduction data remained transparent, understandable and consistent to allow meaningful comparison between reporting periods.

The Committee also considered the implications of Local Government Reorganisation and questioned how the Council's carbon reduction programme and reporting arrangements would continue following the creation of a successor authority. Members expressed concern that the progress achieved to date should not be lost as part of future organisational changes and emphasised the importance of ensuring that the work undertaken by officers continued to inform future environmental activity.

Further discussion took place regarding the Council's long-term Net Zero target and whether future authorities would continue to work towards similar objectives. Members acknowledged the considerable progress that had already been achieved and recognised the importance of ensuring that environmental improvements continued to be delivered alongside financial benefits. Attention was drawn to the fact that many of the improvements undertaken had reduced energy consumption and generated operational savings for the Council.

Attention was also drawn to leased buildings and the challenges associated with reducing emissions from assets that were not operated directly by the Council. Members sought clarification regarding the methodology changes referred to within the report and the impact those changes had upon year-on-year comparisons. The Committee considered whether changes in methodology affected the overall reduction achieved and sought assurance that reporting remained robust.

The Committee considered the suitability of existing Council assets and discussed the potential role of future asset rationalisation, building improvements and replacement facilities in supporting long-term carbon reduction objectives. Members also explored whether the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership had assisted in the delivery of environmental improvements and the sharing of expertise across the Partnership.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

(A report by Phil Norman, Service Director – Planning & Strategic Infrastructure)

The Chairman introduced the item and invited the Executive Director - Economic Development, supported by the Lead Finance and Section 106 Monitoring Officer, to present the report.

The Executive Director provided an overview of the role of Section 106 agreements in securing contributions from new developments towards infrastructure and community facilities. The Committee was advised that the report summarised the Council's monitoring arrangements, audit findings and the collection, allocation and expenditure of developer contributions over an extended period.

Members were informed that robust monitoring arrangements were in place and that the Council had performed strongly in the collection, management and reporting of Section 106 contributions. It was further noted that many obligations were directed towards external organisations, including Lincolnshire County Council and the NHS, rather than the Borough Council. The Committee was advised that the report focused primarily upon the monitoring, collection and allocation of contributions already secured through planning obligations.

Following the presentation, the Chairman opened the item for discussion.

Members considered the relationship between developer contributions and the delivery of infrastructure within local communities. Attention was drawn to concerns regarding health provision, education capacity and the visible impact of development upon local services. Members sought assurance that appropriate mechanisms existed to ensure that contributions were secured and utilised effectively and questioned whether the level of contributions achieved was sufficient to address infrastructure pressures arising from new development.

Discussion also focused upon the role played by external agencies in determining and receiving contributions. Members highlighted the importance of transparency where obligations were amended, reduced or reallocated following planning approval and considered whether reporting could more clearly distinguish decisions made by external bodies from those made by the Borough Council. Attention was drawn to situations where contributions relating to highways, education and healthcare had been amended following advice provided by statutory consultees and partner organisations.

The Committee scrutinised the collection and monitoring of contributions and sought assurance regarding any outstanding payments. Members were advised that monitoring arrangements were undertaken on a regular basis and that officers actively tracked development triggers to ensure that contributions were collected when due. Assurance was sought and received that the Council remained up to date with the collection of contributions secured through existing agreements.

Members examined examples where obligations had been modified and questioned the rationale for reductions associated with specific developments. Discussion focused upon amendments relating to The Quadrant development and land north of Old Main Road, Old Leake. Members sought clarification regarding the reasons for those changes and the level of contributions affected. Concern was expressed that it was not always immediately clear from the report whether decisions had been made by the Borough Council or by external organisations such as Lincolnshire County Council. The Committee considered that future reporting should provide greater clarity in this regard.

Attention was drawn to the outcome of the recent audit review and the terminology used within the assurance findings. Members queried whether descriptions such as "effective processes" adequately reflected the standards achieved and sought further information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

(A Report by the Review of the Town Centre Task & Finish Group)

The Chairman advised that this item had been brought forward on the agenda. He introduced the item and invited the Chairman of the Town Centre Review Task and Finish Group to present the report.

The Chairman of the Task and Finish Group provided an overview of the review and explained that the Group had examined a range of issues affecting the vitality, accessibility, presentation and promotion of Boston Town Centre. The review had been undertaken with the aim of identifying practical recommendations that could support ongoing regeneration activity and improve the overall attractiveness and sustainability of the town centre. Particular attention had been given to vacant properties, the public realm, town centre accessibility, place promotion and the effectiveness of existing governance arrangements. It was noted that the review had built upon previous scrutiny work relating to town centre parking and sought to contribute to wider regeneration and place-making initiatives already underway. Members also acknowledged the contribution of officers and Members who had participated in the review process.

Following the presentation, the Chairman opened the item for discussion, and the Committee proceeded to undertake a detailed debate.

Members acknowledged the considerable work undertaken by the Task and Finish Group and broadly welcomed the findings of the review. Significant discussion centred upon the increasing number of vacant properties within the town centre and the impact these had upon public confidence and perceptions of the area. Whilst recognising that progress had been made in bringing some prominent buildings back into active use, Members expressed concern that additional premises had become vacant during the period of the review.

The Committee considered opportunities to encourage alternative and temporary uses for vacant properties, including educational, cultural and community initiatives, and highlighted the importance of maintaining active frontages and improving the appearance of empty premises. Members recognised that visible vacancy could negatively affect perceptions of the town centre and discourage investment and footfall.

Discussion also focused on the definition of the town centre. Members supported the view that the traditional town centre boundary no longer reflected how residents and visitors used the area and agreed that a broader, functional definition would provide a stronger basis for future planning, investment and regeneration activity. Reference was made to retail and commercial destinations that formed part of the wider town centre offer but sat outside the existing boundary.

A substantial proportion of the debate focused on the promotion and marketing of Boston. Members raised concerns regarding the fragmented nature of existing promotional activity and considered that the Borough had not always marketed itself as effectively as neighbouring authorities. The Committee highlighted the need for a more joined-up approach that would bring together tourism, heritage, culture, events, regeneration and economic development activity under a clear and coordinated framework. Members considered that Boston had a significant number of heritage, cultural and visitor assets which were not always promoted effectively. Attention was drawn to the importance of visitor information, promotional materials and digital content in strengthening the town's profile and supporting both residents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

(A report by Russel Stone, Executive Director - Finance (Section 151 Officer))

The Chairman introduced the item and invited the Deputy Head of Revenue and Benefits (PSPS) to present the report.

The Committee received an overview of the current Local Council Tax Support Scheme together with the proposal to retain the existing arrangements for 2027/28, subject to annual uprating by the Department for Work and Pensions and any necessary legislative amendments.

Members were advised that the report formed part of the consultation process and sought feedback prior to consideration by Cabinet and Full Council. The Committee heard that the current scheme provided varying levels of support based upon household composition and income and was intended to balance assistance for vulnerable residents with the financial sustainability of the scheme. It was further noted that, following a comprehensive review undertaken in previous years, the current arrangements continued to provide support whilst remaining affordable and administratively practical.

Following the presentation, the Chairman opened the item for discussion.

Members acknowledged the importance of providing support to residents facing financial hardship but sought assurance regarding the controls in place to prevent misuse of the scheme. Attention was given to the verification of household circumstances, income and expenditure, and the processes used to ensure that assistance was awarded appropriately. Members highlighted the importance of maintaining public confidence in the scheme and ensuring that support was directed towards those entitled to receive it.

The Committee considered the methods used to identify potential inaccuracies and fraudulent claims and sought further information regarding review arrangements and investigation outcomes. Members discussed the use of tracing agents, data-matching exercises and single person discount reviews and questioned the effectiveness of such activity. There was recognition that effective verification and enforcement arrangements were necessary both to protect public funds and to ensure fairness for legitimate claimants.

Discussion also focused on the future of the scheme in light of Local Government Reorganisation. Members considered the likelihood that a single Council Tax Support Scheme would ultimately be adopted by any successor authority and questioned the extent to which further changes at the present time would be beneficial. The Committee recognised the importance of providing certainty and consistency for claimants during a period of significant organisational changeand considered that unnecessary amendments could create confusion for residents.

Members noted that the current scheme had been subject to a number of previous reviews and generally agreed that, given the anticipated introduction of future county-wide arrangements, retaining the existing scheme

represented a pragmatic and proportionate approach whilst consultation and wider reorganisation work progressed.

In response to the discussion, officers confirmed that applications were subject to detailed verification procedures, including assessment of household income, expenditure and personal circumstances. In respect of other council tax discounts more generally, it was explained that regular reviews were undertaken and agencies were utilised where appropriate to assist in identifying discrepancies. Officers further advised that the recent single person discount review exercise had identified fewer issues than in previous years, suggesting improvements in data quality and increased accuracy of claimant information.

Officers also confirmed that retaining  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

(A report by James Gilbert, Service Director-Corporate)

The Chairman introduced the item and invited the Group Manager - Insights and Transformation to present the report.

The Group Manager provided an overview of the Quarter 4 Performance Report for 2025/26 and explained that the report formed part of the Council's regular performance monitoring arrangements. The Committee was advised that there were no indicators currently reporting as red and only a small number reporting as amber. Members were reminded that the report also provided an opportunity to identify service areas that may warrant future scrutiny through the Committee's work programme.

Following the presentation, the Chairman opened the item for discussion.

Members welcomed the overall performance position and acknowledged that most indicators continued to perform well. The Committee recognised the positive position reflected within the report and welcomed the absence of any red indicators.

Discussion initially focused on the indicators currently reporting as amber. Members sought assurance regarding the actions being taken to improve performance and return those indicators to target levels. Attention was given to industrial unit occupancy, fly tipping response times and complaints performance.

The Committee considered the industrial unit occupancy indicator and noted that only a small number of units remained vacant at the end of the reporting period. Members welcomed the progress being made and recognised the importance of maintaining high occupancy levels to support economic activity and income generation.

Discussion also focused on fly tipping response times. Members acknowledged that performance had fallen below target during the quarter and sought assurance that this represented a short-term issue rather than a developing trend. Officers advised that staffing resources had temporarily been redirected to support waste collection services during the reporting period and confirmed that performance continued to be monitored closely.

Members paid particular attention to the complaints indicator and highlighted the importance of customer satisfaction and timely responses to complaints. The Committee discussed the distinction between the outcome of a complaint and the speed with which it was handled and emphasised that both were important in maintaining public confidence in Council services. Members sought assurance regarding how learning from complaints was shared across the organisation and considered it important that complaints were not resolved individually but were used to identify recurring themes and opportunities for service improvement. The importance of ensuring that departments understood the causes of complaints and implemented lessons learned where appropriate was also highlighted

In response to the discussion, officers confirmed that complaints were reviewed through dedicated officer sessions which examined complaint trends, outcomes and opportunities for improvement. It was explained that lessons learned were shared across services and, where appropriate, used to improve procedures, communication and service delivery.

Members then turned their attention to market performance and sought clarification regarding occupancy figures and the impact of the Farmers and Makers Market. The Committee recognised the contribution that markets made towards town centre vitality and footfall and expressed an interest in understanding longer-term performance trends. Discussion focused on whether the Farmers and Makers Market was positively influencing occupancy levels and visitor numbers. Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

(For Members to note/discuss the Committee’s current Work Programme and the Council’s Forward Plan)

The Service Director - Regulatory introduced the Work Programme and Forward Plan and provided an overview of the Committee's current Work Programme together with the Council's Forward Plan of decisions. Members were advised that both documents remained flexible and could be amended to reflect the Committee's priorities, emerging issues and areas identified through future scrutiny activity. The Committee was reminded that the Forward Plan provided an opportunity to identify items for pre-decision scrutiny and that the Work Programme remained the principal mechanism through which Members could develop and pursue areas of interest for future consideration.

Following the introduction, the Chairman opened the item for discussion.

Members considered the number of longstanding items that continued to appear within the pending section of the Work Programme and expressed concern that several topics had remained outstanding for a considerable period without progressing to formal scrutiny. Discussion centred upon whether items that had not progressed over an extended period should remain on the programme indefinitely. Members recognised that, whilst some topics continued to be of interest, there needed to be a clear justification and commitment to pursue them if they were to remain under consideration.It was also suggested that, where there was no prospect of progression, items should be removed from the programme and reintroduced at a later date if a renewed need for scrutiny was identified.

In response to the discussion, the Chairman advised that the pending section of the programme was already under review and confirmed that outdated or inactive items would be removed where appropriate. It was further explained that any issue removed from the programme could be reintroduced later should Members identify a renewed need for scrutiny.

The Committee also revisited the issue of Member development and highlighted the importance of refresher training to support effective decision-making and governance. Members noted that discussions throughout the meeting had reinforced the need for ongoing training, particularly in relation to declarations of interest and Members' governance responsibilities. The Committee emphasised the importance of ensuring that all Members remained familiar with their responsibilities and the procedures governing Council meetings. It was considered that refresher training would assist in promoting consistency, confidence and effective participation in the scrutiny process.

The Committee recognised the importance of maintaining a focused and deliverable Work Programme that reflected current priorities whilst retaining sufficient flexibility to respond to emerging issues. Members further acknowledged the value of ongoing Member development in supporting effective scrutiny.

In drawing the discussion to a close, the Chairman thanked Members and officers for their contributions and noted that the Work Programme would continue to be reviewed and updated as required.

Resolved:

That the Work Programme and Forward Plan be noted.