Decision

To award £184,221 in Levelling Up
Partnership funds to the Boston Volunteer Centre Charity (charity
number 1069816) for the purpose of capital renovations to the Len
Medlock Centre in Boston.

In line with the Levelling Up Partnership Scheme’s Investment
Plan agreed with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government, an allocation of £184,221 was approved for this
purpose within the District’s Investment Plan. This decision
is for the decision to formally enter into contract for these funds
and to deliver the Scheme in Financial Year 2025-6.

Reasons for the decision

To award funds to the above recipient in line
with the agreed Investment Plan for the Community Organisations
package within the Boston Levelling Up Partnership
Programme.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing – Doing nothing would risk
the Council not meeting commitments made under the Levelling Up
Partnership Scheme Investment Plan, resulting in the realisation of
an underspend on the Programme. The resultant underspend may have
to be returned to Central Government, resulting in a loss in
investment in Boston. This would pose both a reputational risk to
the Council and would be a ‘missed opportunity’ in
terms of local growth/economic impact.

Similarly, this would result in a missed opportunity to make a
significant investment in a building which is home to a number of
voluntary and community organisations in Boston Borough. This
package of support is targeted at enabling the charity which runs
the building to update, redecorate and upgrade the building to make
it more accessible and attractive to its users, utilising Levelling
Up funding to support community organisations in Boston. Not
undertaking this investment would therefore present a significant
‘opportunity cost’ for local community groups.