The Boston Town Area Committee (BTAC) met on Thursday 30 January 2025 to discuss community resilience and emergency planning, the financial position of BTAC, and the proposed budget for the upcoming financial year. The committee also considered an upgrade to footway lighting.

Community Resilience and Emergency Planning

Steve Eason-Harris, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Officer from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, presented on building a stronger, more resilient community. He highlighted the importance of community emergency planning groups, particularly in areas susceptible to flooding, and noted that Boston currently lacks such groups within the town itself, despite their presence in surrounding areas. The initiative aims to encourage communities to work together before, during, and after crises to maintain local welfare. This involves providing communities with emergency kits, telemetry kits for early warning systems, and training in areas such as first aid and operational response.

Councillors expressed strong support for the initiative, with Councillor Dorian suggesting that each of the seven town wards should aim to identify at least one community group to work with. Councillor Dorian also proposed exploring partnerships with schools to educate children on flood preparedness, a concept that Mr Eason-Harris endorsed, citing the success of children in breaking down language barriers during past emergencies.

Discussions also touched upon the challenges of engaging with Boston's diverse and transient population, and the effectiveness of different alert systems. While the government's emergency alert system and text notifications were acknowledged, concerns were raised about the potential for misinformation on social media. The possibility of reinstating klaxons was discussed, though the technology was deemed outdated. The use of local radio stations like Endeavour FM and engagement with supermarkets for distributing information were also suggested as ways to reach a wider audience. The committee was urged to help identify and engage with community groups within Boston to establish these resilience plans.

BTAC Projected Financial Position

Jennifer Mackin presented the quarter two finance report for the 2024-25 financial year. The projected outturn for BTAC was a net cost of £49,516, which would need to be charged to reserves to achieve a breakeven position. This was attributed to minor cost variances in utilities, overspends in public convenience staffing due to agency cover, and a small amount of additional income from Mayfair. An efficiency savings target of £36,455 was also included. The opening balance of the BTAC reserve on 1 April 2024 was £207,611, with usable reserves of £137,611 after accounting for a recommended minimum reserve balance of £70,000. Further savings opportunities of approximately £18,000 were identified but not yet reflected in the current position.

During the discussion, councillors raised questions about the cost of mobile phones for staff, with the explanation that many staff working within the BTAC area use them as part of their roles. The suggestion of creating official advertising boards for events to generate income was welcomed. Concerns were raised about the high cost of public convenience staffing, with a commitment to review potential efficiencies in this area. The legibility of the report was also highlighted, with a request for larger print and improved formatting for future documents.

BTAC Draft Budget 2025-26

Jennifer Mackin also presented the draft BTAC budget for 2025-26, noting that its creation had been challenging due to inflationary pressures and changing needs. The committee was asked to recommend a precept and band D levy for properties in the BTAC area. A proposed 0.9% increase in the BTAC band D annual charge would result in an increase of 72 pence per year, or 1 pence per week. The report detailed assumptions and scenarios for income and expenditure, with a projected carried forward reserve balance of £139,955 at the end of the 2024-25 financial year, including the £70,000 recommended reserve.

Councillor Gilbert supported the proposed 0.9% increase as a sensible compromise, acknowledging the financial pressures on residents. The question of the £70,000 minimum reserve was discussed, with it being confirmed as a prudent, locally determined level rather than a mandatory requirement. Councillor Ghosh inquired about a decrease in the tax base rate, which was explained as a result of the government's formula for calculating tax bases, taking into account discounts and the prevalence of lower band properties in the BTAC area.

The committee recommended to the Cabinet and Council the level of its special expense precept for 2025-26 at £769.058 and the council tax charge of £81.09 for a band D property.

Footway Lighting Upgrade

Councillor John Baxter, Portfolio Holder for Housing, presented a report on the funding of footway lighting for the BTAC area. The proposal was to upgrade 21 existing footway lights to 18-watt LED fittings at an estimated cost of £7,350 plus VAT. This upgrade was presented as an invest to save initiative, with potential annual savings of £610 due to reduced electricity consumption, leading to a capital payback period of approximately 9.69 years. The report also highlighted that the LED fittings have an average lifespan of 15 years and would contribute to reducing the council's carbon footprint.

Councillors generally supported the proposal, citing the environmental benefits and long-term cost savings. Councillor Gleeson noted that while the payback period was long, the reduction in electricity usage and carbon footprint made it a worthwhile investment. Concerns were raised about the cost per fitting, but it was explained that this included the cost of machinery hire, temporary road closures, and the operative's time. The lifespan of the LED heads and the potential for increased electricity costs further strengthening the case for the upgrade were also discussed. The committee voted to approve the recommendation for the footway lighting upgrades.

BTAC Review Programme and Work Programme

Phil Perry provided an update on the BTAC review programme, stating that it had already been covered at the start of the meeting. The work programme for the next meeting on 27 March was outlined, including BTAC Small Grants, Central Park Security Update, an update on the Pride event, and a quarter three finance report. Councillor Dorrian suggested adding a placeholder for the community governance review, which would significantly impact the committee. Councillor Gilbert proposed inviting a representative from Lincolnshire County Council's Highways department to discuss improving the town's appearance and amenity, particularly the approaches to Boston on the A16. Councillor Gilbert also requested an inventory of BTAC's assets and their value. Councillor Dorrian suggested adding an item to the agenda to hold the committee accountable for establishing flood volunteer community groups in each ward. A request was also made to arrange a meeting of the Green Flag Group to progress its work.