Agenda item

(The Committee’s work programme for the current year for discussion and/or updating.)

Addressing three items rolled over from previous meetings the following was agreed:

The first item carried over was that of Footway Lighting.  Committee were advised that a report would be presented at the next scheduled meeting, enabling members to decide if initial costs to allow changes to the current system could result in reduced costs overtime.

The second item carried over was that of the schedule of attendance by the Police at BTAC meetings.  It was agreed that the Police be invited to attend on a bi-annual basis. Members were advised that the detailed annual Crime and CCTV reports would be tabled at the forthcoming Scrutiny meeting and where Police representatives would be in attendance.  As all Councillors would have sight of these reports, should anything specific evolve from that meeting, then BTAC could re-visit if necessary.

The final items carried over was that of the promotion of BTAC within the local community groups and alongside the various charities within the town centre.  The initial suggestion had been to inform the public of the role of BTAC and how it could help them with suggestions including inviting them to a statutory meeting to invite questions. However, it was felt that two individual meetings be scheduled to take the idea forward, with full inclusions the support of officers working with the communities the charities who had definitive lists and valuable knowledge to offer the committee. The Chairman also sought publicity of such events via social media and other streams to promote and explain the remit of the committee. It was agreed further discussions were needed prior to taking this item further. 

The following suggestions / requests for future reporting and BTAC support were tabled:

• Road signage for the town. A member noted that whilst Parish Councils took responsibility for their own signage, BTAC did not, and whilst the member had personally restored damaged signs, which reflected badly on the town, additional help and support was required.  The signs were a valuable asset and those on the arterial roads deteriorated quickly due to the elements.  A maintenance routine was required moving forward to ensure they were fit for purpose.

It was agreed that the subject could be raised with the community groups to seek any voluntary support of the maintenance, and the BTAC operatives were also available to assist with such matters.

• A review be carried out on the protocol required to invoke a Town Council, should the County become unitary in the forthcoming years.  It was advised that a previous reviews had taken place over recent years, but it had been felt that if a Unitary Council be agreed, then by de-fault of that, Boston would become a Town Council.  Whilst members acknowledged the outcome, should a Unitary Council be returned, they felt that BTAC needed to be ready in advance of that occurring, by having all the facts and a protocol in place.  A member noted that the question of why the Council did not have a Town Council, arose within the recent Peer Review.

• A review and audit of all BTAC assets be undertaken, providing a conclusive list for the committee, enabling the committee to know exactly what it within its remit and responsibilities.  It was agreed this would be a significant piece of work to undertake and the Lead Officer for the committee would investigate further.

• A review / working group to investigate the possibility of generating income streams for BTAC. A comment tabled noted that whilst BTAC paid for maintenance of Central Park, it did not receive income from external event organisers, with the Council receiving such income.

A suggestion was made to align the review of assets, with a review of BTAC’s parameters and boundaries as a committee of the Council, but with its own precept. This was to identify and ensure BTAC had the right to receive income.  Any review looking into income streams to be held in abeyance until confirmation of the parameters had been established.

§  In response to a question seeking an update from the new contractor for the Geoff Moulder Leisure Centre, members were advised that BTAC had no control over the service.  The contract procedure for the new facilitator had been taken through the committee process with Cabinet approval, following member briefings and scrutiny consideration.  Any further reviewing would be through that process.

• On requesting BTAC to engage with businesses and visitors, the Lead Officer confirmed that it was not BTAC’s role to duplicate work already ongoing within other areas of the Council, including liaison with businesses by the Boston Town Strategy, with member briefings being provided to update all councillors.  The Chairman confirmed that he sat on the board as BTAC’s representative.

• Requesting a report on the disposal of waste and where it was recycled, along with information on the street cleansing regimes and options of waste disposal bins and improved recycling bins, the Lead Officer confirmed that whilst Boston Borough Council had the responsibility for collection, Lincolnshire County Council were the responsible body for disposal. While BTAC had historically funded new bins for the town centre, it had no role nor responsibility with the service which was the responsibility of the Council.  A detailed report had been taken through Scrutiny 18 months previously, detailing the street cleaning regime.

The Lead Officer concluded the item by updating on BTAC’s recent agreement to seek Green Flag status and advised that a meeting would be scheduled prior to July to allow the group including members, officers and any co-opted representatives, to meet and outline the review, prior to the group undertaking a visit to Lincoln to see how status had been achieved and initially facilitated by the group from Lincolnshire County Council.