Agenda item

(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.