This week in Boston:

• The Boston Borough Council's cabinet met to discuss the council tax support scheme, counter fraud policy, contract procedure rules, and financial forecast.
• The Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed housing standards, a social media policy, and environmental strategies.

Unknown committee - Wednesday 10 December 2025

The Boston Borough Council's cabinet met to discuss the 2025/26 quarter two performance and risk, contract procedure rules, counter fraud policy, financial forecast, and council tax support scheme. The cabinet approved recommendations for an updated counter fraud policy, contract procedure rules, the award of a contract for leisure facilities, the quarter two performance and risk report, the quarter two forecast outturn, and the local council tax support scheme for 2026/27. The recommendations now go to the full council for approval.

Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/27

Cabinet recommended that full council approve changes to the local council tax support scheme for 2026/27, with a maximum support level of 90% for lone parents, 80% for couples with children, and 75% for all other households, uprated in line with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer¹ has been delegated authority, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to develop the 2026/27 scheme rules, including making prescribed, administrative, and minor changes. These recommendations followed a consultation that took place between 23 September and 8 November 2025, the results of which are detailed in the Consultation report. The consultation sought views on three options:

• Retain the current maximum level of support for households with children at 100% and other households at 85% and find savings elsewhere.
• Reduce the maximum level of support to 90% for lone parents, 80% for couples with children, and 75% for all other households.
• Reduce the maximum level of support to 90% for lone parents, 80% for couples with children, and 70% for all other households.

The report noted that 65 responses were received, with 35% supporting option one, 18% supporting option two, 25% supporting option three, and 22% supporting none of the options.

The report stated that Lincolnshire County Council responded to the consultation saying that, as a major preceptor², they would support an option which does not look to increase the cost of the scheme, as this reduces the council tax collected to pay for local services. The Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner's response noted the options being consulted on, adding it is supportive of proposals which provide for the comparability of council tax support schemes given the proposals for local government reorganisation.

The report stated that almost 43% of respondents supported a reduction in the level of support, but that a reduction in the level of support provided is likely to have significant consequences for many low income / benefit households. It was noted that the council has discretion to provide further support for households experiencing 'exceptional' hardship, however unlike the cost of the council tax support scheme, which is shared with major precepting authorities with Boston's share being around 13%, any discretionary award would be at 100% cost to this council.

Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy

Cabinet approved the updated Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy and delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer, Russell Stone, to make minor amendments to reflect changes in legislation, statutory guidance, or contact details, following consultation with the portfolio holder.

The council has a zero-tolerance approach to fraud, corruption, theft, and bribery, and the policy outlines clear responsibilities for officers, members, and partners. The policy was developed using the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) guidance and the CIFAS five principles to fight fraud.

The Draft Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy was presented to the Audit & Governance Committee on 17 November 2025, and the committee supported the recommendations set out in the report.

Proposed Amendments to the Council's Contract Procedure Rules

Cabinet recommended that full council adopt the revised Contract Procedure Rules and approved the Revised Delegations to Officers.

The council's current contract procedure rules were approved in January 2023, and the proposed rules reflect changes in public procurement legislation, including the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 in February 2025. The Key Changes document outlines the key changes being proposed.

The draft contract procedure rules seek to ensure that the council meets the basic principles of public procurement, including ensuring all stages of the procurement process are open and clearly documented, ensuring fairness and equal treatment in allocating public contracts, being consistent with the highest standards of integrity, achieving best value for public money spent, complying with all legal requirements, and supporting the council's corporate and departmental aims.

Quarter 2 2025/26 Forecast Outturn

Cabinet noted the forecast revenue position of a £0.571m deficit for 2025/26, as detailed in Appendix A - BBC Q2 Finance Revenue Report 2025-26, and the need for continuous focus on the savings and efficiency programme. Cabinet also noted the amendments to the Capital Programme at Appendix B - BBC Q2 Finance Capital Report 2025-26 and recommended to full council that they be approved.

The report set out a summary of the current financial position for the council at the end of the second quarter of 2025/26. The key variances are attributable to increasing income pressures across service areas including planning, cremation and commercial waste, partially mitigated by savings from senior leadership officer posts, reduced computer costs and anticipated additional car parking income. The forecast outturn position assumes 51% of the efficiencies (£0.733m) have been identified including the £0.654m Internal Drainage Board (IDB) funding received. The forecast balance of specific and general fund reserves is £18.371m, reflecting planned use of reserves from the capital funding reserve, transformation reserve and funding volatility reserve.

The council held a £1.000m long-term lender option borrower option (LOBO) with State Street, due for repayment in 2051. On 11 July 2025, this loan was settled with a one-off payment of £1.500m and replaced by a £1.000m five-year loan from Public Works Loan Board (PWLB). This has generated a saving of £28k for this financial year. This follows on from discussions at the Audit and Governance Committee meeting on 13 October 2025, where the committee received an update on the repayment of the State Street loan, and Councillor Anne Dorrian requested that the final note on the State Street Loan include the year it was taken out, that the methodology of taking out such a loan could rely simply on one single officer making that decision on their own without bringing that decision through political leadership or indeed field council, and the total amount that it's cost this council in the lifetime of the loan.

As of 30 September 2025, capital expenditure totalled £8.155m against a full year budget of £38.563m. Due to the nature of capital projects, it is not uncommon for the timelines of large scale projects to be revised over the medium term, requiring changes to the approved capital budget totalling £0.100m.

Quarter 2 25/26 Performance and Risk Report

Cabinet noted the quarterly performance and risk monitoring information for quarter two of 2025/26.

South and East Lincolnshire Council's Partnership - Contracting of Leisure Facilities with an external operator as agent for service delivery

Cabinet agreed to the recommendations as set out in the exempt report.

Council / Public Sector Partnership Services Transformation and Service Modernisation Programme

Cabinet agreed to the recommendations as set out in the exempt report.

Unknown committee - Tuesday 09 December 2025

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss a range of topics, including housing standards, a social media policy, and environmental strategies. The committee was also scheduled to review past performance and plan for future work.

Election of Vice-Chairman

Following the resignation of Councillor Neil Drayton from the position, the committee was scheduled to elect a new Vice-Chairman.

Housing Standards Policies

The committee was scheduled to consider three draft housing standards policies: the Empty Homes Policy, the Houses in Multiple Occupation Licensing Policy, and the Housing Standards Enforcement Policy. These policies were reviewed and updated to ensure they are easily accessible, understood by officers and members of the public, and compliant with current legislation and guidance. The report pack states that adopting these policies would allow the council to discharge its statutory duties in relation to housing enforcement, licensing of HMOs, and dealing with empty homes.

The draft Empty Homes Policy sets out the options available to the council to encourage homeowners to bring empty properties back into use. It also refers to the possibility of enforcement action.

The draft HMO Licensing Policy relates to the licensing of houses in multiple occupation, and states that the council must maintain a register of licensed HMOs for public viewing.

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 service.

Revised Housing Allocations Policy

The committee was scheduled to discuss a revised housing allocations policy for Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council. The report pack notes that recent changes in national guidance and legislation on social housing allocations prompted a review of the shared policy. The aim of the revised policy is to ensure compliance with statutory requirements, improve outcomes for residents, and support the council's strategic housing objectives.

The report pack mentions that the Allocation of Housing (Qualification Criteria for Victims of Domestic Abuse and Care Leavers) (England) Regulations 2025, effective from 10 July 2025, requires all local housing authorities in England to remove local connection and residency requirements for victims of domestic abuse and care leavers up to the age of 25.

Other proposed changes to the policy include:

• More explicit exemptions for domestic abuse victims and care leavers regarding local connection requirements.
• Clarification that reasonable preference alone does not guarantee high priority.
• Introduction of additional preference for armed forces members, care leavers, terminally ill applicants, and exceptional risk cases.
• Introduction of a £60,000 financial resource limit and more detailed exceptions.
• Setting a £500 debt threshold and requiring 8 consecutive weeks of repayment for housing-related debt.

Social Media Policy

The committee was scheduled to consider a draft Social Media Policy for the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership. The policy sets out how each of the council's social media channels will operate and provides clear and defined roles for how residents interact with the council and how the council will manage comments and replies.

The policy includes house rules for followers, outlining acceptable behaviour on the council's social media channels. These rules prohibit abusive, obscene, bullying, harassing, unlawful, libelous, discriminatory, spam, deceptive, or promotional content.

The policy also sets out a strategic framework for social media messaging, based on the CORE principles: changing behaviour, operational effectiveness, reputation management, and explanation of policies, actions, and campaigns.

Tree & Hedgerows Strategy Action Plan

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Tree and Hedgerow Strategy Action Plan. The Tree and Hedgerow Strategy Action Plan sets out a medium-term plan for managing, protecting, and enhancing tree and hedgerow cover in South and East Lincolnshire. It is a step towards reaching net zero targets and supporting nature recovery and community participation.

The Action Plan is based around three core objectives: Protect, Plant, and Participate.

The report pack notes that a baseline mapping exercise 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, against an England average tree cover of 12.8% and hedgerow cover of 2.5%. It also states that over 80 kilotonnes of carbon is sequestered annually in trees in South and East Lincolnshire, with an estimated economic value of over £18,000,000.

The report pack also references woodland opportunity mapping undertaken by Friends of the Earth, which outlined the potential for future woodland creation opportunities in each district:

• East Lindsey: 908 hectares
• Boston: 11 hectares
• South Holland: Less than 1 hectare

Annual Scrutiny Report 2024/2025

The committee was scheduled to review the Annual Scrutiny Report 2024/2025, which provides an overview of the activities undertaken during the 2024/2025 municipal year by the Environment & Performance Committee and the Corporate & Community Committee. The report summarises the work of both committees, including items considered, key discussions, and recommendations made.

Quarter 2 25/26 Performance Report

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on Quarter 2 25/26 performance, covering the period to the end of September 2025. The report includes key performance indicators (KPIs) for Boston Borough Council, set out by priority, and trend indicators providing context for policy decisions and resource allocation.

The report pack identifies the following key areas:

• Amber Indicator: Industrial Unit Occupancy
• Red Indicator: Homelessness Decisions
• Red Indicator: Household Waste Recycling

Work Programme and Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider its current Work Programme and the Council's Forward Plan. The Work Programme outlines the committee's planned activities and scrutiny topics for the coming months, while the Forward Plan provides visibility of key policy decisions scheduled for Cabinet consideration.

The report pack notes that areas identified for potential scrutiny included homelessness performance, recycling targets, and industrial unit occupancy.

The Forward Plan December 2025 to November 2026 includes items such as the Plan for Neighbourhoods submission, the Destination Management Plan, and updates on housing standards and environmental strategies.