Decision

This decision approves and commits up to £395,500 from the Boston Pride in Place Impact Fund for eligible capital improvements to public spaces, town-centre assets and valued heritage facilities:

1. Town Centre Clean-Up and Improvements — up to £40,000
2. Borough High Streets Clean-Up and Improvements — up to £35,000
3. Volunteer Resources and Equipment — up to £10,000
4. Cattle Market Car Park Resurfacing and Relining — up to £81,000
5. Boston Guildhall heritage conservation project match funding — £195,000, subject to a successful National Lottery Heritage Fund award
6. Essential fire-safety works at Boston Guildhall, including associated enabling costs and contingency — £34,500

Reasons for the decision

Cabinet approved the Pride in Place Impact Fund allocation for Boston to support improvements that promote community pride, wellbeing and identity. The funding is required to be contractually committed by 31 March 2027. This decision confirms funding for the Town Centre Clean-Up and Improvements, Borough High Streets Clean-Up and Improvements, Volunteer Resources and Equipment, Cattle Market Car Park Resurfacing and Relining, and two separate Boston Guildhall allocations, in line with the Fund objectives of improving public spaces, supporting town-centre revitalisation and protecting valued local assets.

Town Centre Clean-Up and Improvements
The allocation of up to £40,000 supports eligible capital improvements at priority town-centre locations identified through the street-by-street audit, including planting, minor repairs, replacement works and associated capital activity.

Borough High Streets Clean-Up and Improvements
The allocation of up to £35,000 supports eligible capital improvements at priority high-street locations across Boston Borough, including planting, minor repairs, replacement works and associated capital activity.

Volunteer Resources and Equipment
An allocation of up to £10,000 supports eligible capital equipment and resources for volunteers involved in activity to improve the town centre and borough high streets.

Cattle Market Car Park Resurfacing and Relining
An allocation of up to £81,000 supports resurfacing and relining works at Cattle Market Car Park. The investment will improve the condition, appearance and usability of this important town-centre car park and its role as an arrival point for residents, businesses and visitors. Delivery will be subject to confirmation of the final scope and cost, capital eligibility, procurement requirements and an agreed works programme.

Boston Guildhall Heritage Conservation Project
This separate allocation of £195,000 provides match funding for the proposed heritage conservation project, which would address critical moisture management and drainage issues contributing to deterioration of the Grade I listed Boston Guildhall and complement capital investment being progressed through the Museum Estate and Development Fund. The match funding will only be used for eligible capital expenditure within the approved National Lottery Heritage Fund project and funding conditions. National Lottery Heritage Fund investment of up to £250,000 is being sought, and the Council’s match-funding commitment is required to support the application.

Boston Guildhall Fire-Safety Works
A separate allocation of £34,500 is approved for essential fire-safety works at the Guildhall, including associated enabling costs and contingency. These works are necessary to support the safe operation and continued care of the Guildhall as a registered museum and Grade I listed building.

Together, the projects will improve the town centre and borough high streets, provide eligible equipment and resources for associated volunteer activity, improve the condition and presentation of Cattle Market Car Park, and support the conservation and safe operation of Boston Guildhall. They contribute to cleaner, better maintained streets and public spaces, stronger local identity and the Council’s ongoing responsibility to maintain the Guildhall as a registered museum and Grade I listed building.

Alternative options considered

Alternative options considered included not allocating funding, reducing the scope of individual projects, or redirecting allocations to other eligible capital activity. These options were not preferred because the approved projects respond to identified needs and provide a deliverable route to improving public spaces, supporting town-centre revitalisation and protecting valued local assets within the requirement to commit funding by 31 March 2027.

A reduced scope could limit the ability to deliver coherent improvements at the priority town-centre and borough high-street locations, provide suitable volunteer equipment, improve Cattle Market Car Park, or address the conservation and fire-safety needs at Boston Guildhall. Any change in scope will be managed with regard to final costs, capital eligibility, ownership, permissions, procurement, delivery timescales and any required virement.

Redirecting the funding to replacement eligible activity carries additional approval and delivery risks within the programme timescales.

For Cattle Market Car Park, the alternative was not to allocate funding or to defer the resurfacing and relining works. This was not preferred because it would leave condition, appearance and usability issues unresolved at an important town-centre arrival point. A reduced scope may be considered following confirmation of final costs, provided it continues to deliver a coherent and eligible capital improvement.

For Boston Guildhall, the alternative was not to commit the separate £195,000 match-funding allocation or the separate £34,500 allocation for essential fire-safety works. This was not preferred because the National Lottery Heritage Fund application requires a confirmed Council contribution, the heritage conservation project would address critical moisture management and drainage issues, and the fire-safety works are necessary for the safe operation and continued care of the registered museum and Grade I listed building.

A reduced Guildhall match-funding commitment was also considered but would leave a funding gap and weaken the application. If the National Lottery Heritage Fund application is unsuccessful, the £195,000 match-funding commitment will not be drawn down for that project. The £34,500 fire-safety allocation remains separate and is for essential works, associated enabling costs and contingency.

The confirmed allocations provide a deliverable route to cleaner, better maintained streets and public spaces, stronger local identity and community pride, improved town-centre arrival points, and the conservation and safe operation of Boston Guildhall, while meeting the requirement to commit Pride in Place Impact Fund expenditure by 31 March 2027.