The Boston Town Area Committee (BTAC) met on Thursday 26 March 2026 to review its financial position, discuss its work programme, and consider applications for small grants. The committee approved a budget for the upcoming financial year and supported the submission of a Green Flag Award application for Central Park.

2025/26 Quarter 3 Financial Position

The committee received a report detailing the financial position for the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The forecast indicated an underspend of £22,786, which was projected to be transferred to reserves, bringing the total reserve balance to £312,885 by the end of March 2026. This figure was comfortably above the minimum required reserve balance of £70,000. The report detailed expenditure across various service areas, including Open Spaces & Play Areas, Allotments, Central Park, Public Conveniences, Events, Town Centre Maintenance, and Administration. Notable variances included overspends in Public Conveniences due to door replacements and reduced income, and in Open Spaces & Play Areas for repairs and replacements of play equipment. Conversely, the Events service showed significant savings due to staff cost reductions and reduced expenditure on supplies and services following a service review.

Draft Budget Setting 2026/27

The committee considered the draft budget for 2026/27 and the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2026/27 to 2030/31. The proposed precept requirement for 2026/27 was £779,470, resulting in a Band D Council Tax charge of £82.44, an increase of 1.67%. This increase was noted as approximately 3 pence per week for most households. Members discussed the necessity of this increase, with some suggesting a lower rise, while others cautioned against it, highlighting the importance of long-term financial stability and the potential impact of unforeseen expenditure, particularly in light of the ongoing Community Governance Review. The committee also discussed and recommended an increase in the minimum reserve level from £70,000 to £100,000. The committee recommended the budget and MTFP to Cabinet and Full Council for approval.

Central Park Green Flag Application

The committee supported the submission of a Green Flag Award application for Central Park. This national benchmark assesses public parks on criteria such as safety, maintenance, biodiversity, community engagement, and environmental management. The application followed a previous ambition expressed by the committee in July 2023, with a detailed report in February 2024 and the development of a Central Park Management Plan. The award of a Green Flag was seen as a way to gain national recognition, increase community involvement, and support future investment. Members praised the transformation of Central Park and its importance as a significant green space in the region. The application deadline was 2nd February 2026, with results expected in July 2026.

BTAC Small Grant Scheme

The committee reviewed recommendations from the BTAC Grants Working Group for Round 4 of the 2025/26 Small Grant Scheme. Four eligible applications were received, and the committee was asked to approve the funding award recommendations detailed in an exempt appendix. The report highlighted that the BTAC Grant Scheme supports corporate priorities such as Healthy Lives, Safer and Resilient Communities, and the Environment. The financial implications indicated a revenue cost of £3,980 for this round, with a remaining balance of £1,925.23 in the small grants fund.

Work Programme

The committee received an update on the current and forthcoming items for the Boston Town Area Committee's Work Programme for 2025/26 and the draft programme for 2026/27. It was agreed that the Parks and Open Spaces Review would be included in the next meeting. Concerns were raised about Central Park security, and it was agreed that the committee would continue to receive regular incident updates, with the Central Park Security Working Group to be disbanded. The importance of aligning the Work Programme with the Green Flag Management Plan was also highlighted. The work programme was noted, with the inclusion of ongoing monitoring of crime and anti-social behaviour in Central Park.