The Cabinet of Boston Council met on Thursday 16 January 2025, where they discussed recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding car parking in Boston and the annual joint scrutiny of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership. The council noted the contents of the partnership scrutiny report.

Car Parking Review Recommendations

The Cabinet considered five recommendations from the Environment and Performance Committee, which had reviewed car parking in Boston. These recommendations, developed by a task and finish group, aimed to improve the council's car parks and parking services.

The recommendations included:

• Focusing the green strategy on car parks and increasing volunteer time for maintenance.
• Allocating resources to reline the Cattle Market car park to offer larger, improved spaces and enhance customer amenities.
• Undertaking a signage review to better direct visitors to council-owned car parks.
• Conducting a fees and charges review, exploring the introduction of shopper and commuter passes through the permit system in new machines.
• The portfolio holder actively promoting the working group's recommendations.

Councillor Anne Dorrian, Leader of the Council and Chair of the Cabinet, welcomed the recommendations. For recommendations one, two, and three, she requested they be considered as part of the town centre strategy, with financially viable delivery options to be brought back to the Cabinet at its next review. Regarding recommendation four, a review of fees and charges has already been undertaken, with proposals to be included in the upcoming budget report. Councillor Sandeep Ghosh, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Economic Growth, stated that officers would be asked to develop shopper and commuter permit options for his review, focusing on the associated costs.

Annual Joint Scrutiny of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership

The Cabinet received the report on the annual joint scrutiny of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership. Boston Borough Council chaired this year's review, which rotates among the three partnership councils. The scrutiny panel met with leaders, senior officers, and the staff forum, and conducted a survey with members to gather feedback. The report, which included themes from member consultations, presented a series of recommendations for the partnership councils' consideration.

The Cabinet noted the contents of this report, with Councillor Dale Broughton, Deputy Leader of the Council and Vice Chair of Cabinet, seconding the motion. The decision was carried.