The Overview & Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss several key policies and review performance. The committee will consider the election of a vice-chairman, housing standards policies, a revised housing allocations policy, a social media policy, a tree and hedgerows strategy, and performance reports. They will also discuss the work programme and forward plan, and an exclusion of the public and press to discuss exempt minutes.

Key Topics for Boston Council's Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Housing Standards Policies

The committee is scheduled to discuss three draft housing standards policies: the Empty Homes Policy, the HMO Licensing Policy, and the Housing Standards Enforcement Policy. These policies are intended to be aligned across the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP).

The draft Empty Homes Policy aims to bring empty homes back into use, monitor the number of empty homes, establish relationships with owners, use enforcement action, and reduce the negative impact of empty properties. The report pack states that the main source of data for identifying empty homes and their owners is Council Tax records, requested under section 85 of the Local Government Act 2003. The report pack also mentions that the latest available information for Boston for 2024, identifies 828 vacant dwellings across all tenures. The report pack includes an Empty Homes Scoring and Rating Matrix, which will be used to evaluate properties.

The draft HMO Licensing Policy outlines the council's approach to licensing houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) under the Housing Act 2004. The report pack states that the council recognises the importance of the private rented sector in providing valuable good quality accommodation and meeting housing need. The report pack also states that the council's primary role is to educate and advise owners, landlords and agents on the standards they are expected to meet in their properties, to seek to assist tenants in understanding their rights and responsibilities, and to encourage dialogue between parties to resolve issues amicably and without recourse to formal action. The report pack includes a number of appendices relating to fees and charges, HMO licence conditions, amenity and space standards, and fit and proper person criteria.

The draft Housing Standards Enforcement Policy details how the council will deliver private sector housing enforcement and what landlords and tenants can expect from the department.

Revised Housing Allocations Policy

The committee is scheduled to discuss a revised Housing Allocations Policy for Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council. The report pack states that the review has been approached as an opportunity to undertake an evaluation of the existing policy, to ensure alignment with current statutory requirements while enhancing the policy's capacity to serve residents effectively and support strategic housing priorities of both Councils. The report pack states that the Allocation of Housing (Qualification Criteria for Victims of Domestic Abuse and Care Leavers) (England) Regulations 2025, effective from 10 July 2025, require all local housing authorities in England to remove local connection and residency requirements when determining eligibility for social housing allocations for victims of domestic abuse who need to relocate because of that abuse, and care leavers (eligible, relevant, or former relevant children) up to the age of 25. The report pack also states that the revised policy introduces a £60,000 financial resource limit and more detailed exceptions, sets a £500 housing related debt threshold and requires 8 consecutive weeks of repayment, and includes more structured and time sensitive banding for homeless applicants.

Tree & Hedgerows Strategy Action Plan

The committee is scheduled to discuss the Tree and Hedgerows Strategy Action Plan. The report pack states that the strategy sets out how the council intends to manage, plant and promote trees and hedgerows across the sub-region of East Lindsey, Boston and South Holland. The report pack also states that the strategy is underpinned by the three core objectives of Protect, Plant and Participate. The report pack states that a baseline mapping exercise has been undertaken using I-tree canopy software which showed that approximately 6.5% of land in South and East Lincolnshire is classified as tree cover, and just 1.5% is classified as hedgerows. The report pack also states that woodland opportunity mapping for the sub-region undertaken by Friends of the Earth based on existing habitat and landscape character has outlined the potential for future woodland creation opportunities in each District.

Social Media Policy

The committee is scheduled to discuss the draft Social Media Policy. The report pack states that the policy sets out how each of the council's social media channels will operate and provide clear and defined roles, both for how residents interact with the council, and how the council will manage comments and replies. The report pack states that the policy proposes to create a set of 'house rules' which will be published via each of the three council's website and regularly cited to remind followers of their obligations when posting and interacting on the council's channels. The report pack also states that the Communications Team will collaborate with Customer Contact colleagues to prepare scripts, stock responses and FAQs around subjects, with a Teams Chat to be established between the two teams to allow officers to easily and quickly reach out for advice on potentially contentious or uncertain responses.

Quarter 2 25/26 Performance Report

The committee is scheduled to receive a report on Quarter 2 performance, covering the period to the end of September 2025. The report pack states that there are 92 KPIs for Boston Borough Council in 2025/26, set out by priority. The report pack also states that there are 27 targeted indicators where performance is within the direct control of the Council, with past data or comparisons available on which to base those targets.

Work Programme and Forward Plan

The committee is scheduled to consider its current Work Programme and the Council's Forward Plan. The report pack states that the Work Programme is populated through to March 2026 but contains space for additional scrutiny items. The report pack also states that the Forward Plan provides visibility of key policy decisions scheduled for Cabinet consideration over the coming months.

Annual Scrutiny Report 2024/2025

The committee is scheduled to receive the Annual Scrutiny Report 2024/2025. The report pack states that the report gives an overview of the activities undertaken during the 2024/2025 municipal year by both the Environment & Performance Committee and the Corporate & Community Committee.

Election of Vice-Chairman

The committee is scheduled to elect a Vice-Chairman following the resignation of Councillor Drayton from the position.