The Overview & Scrutiny Committee of Boston Council met on Thursday 30 April 2026 to discuss the Section 19 Flooding Investigation Report for Wyberton West Road and Park Road, Boston, and to review the Council's scrutiny arrangements. The committee also received an update on the Quarter 3 2025/26 performance report and discussed the Work Programme and Forward Plan.

Section 19 Flooding Investigation Report, Wyberton West Road, Park Road, Boston

The committee received a detailed report and presentations regarding the Section 19 flooding investigation following the January 2025 event that internally flooded 38 properties on Wyberton West Road and Park Road, Boston. Representatives from key risk management authorities, including Lincolnshire County Council, the Environment Agency, and the Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board, were present to explain their responses to the report's recommendations.

Matthew Harrison, Flood and Water Manager for Lincolnshire County Council, explained the Section 19 investigation process, noting that while recommendations are made, the council has no power to compel organisations to act on them. He highlighted the increasing frequency of flooding events across the county and the availability of a £1 million grant from Lincolnshire County Council to support property flood resilience measures, though uptake had been low. He also introduced Project Groundwater, which aims to better understand groundwater flooding and offers free telemetry installation for early warning systems.

Morgan Ray, Area Flood Risk Manager for the Environment Agency, detailed the agency's actions, including the creation of a bespoke flood warning area for the downstream reaches of the South Forty Foot Drain (SFFD) and a review of the SFFD's hydraulic modelling. He confirmed that the modelling from 2016 was reviewed and found to be broadly aligned with recent findings, with catchment conditions like frozen ground being significant factors in the January 2025 event. The agency has also secured funding for investigation works into flood defences in Boston, which may include addressing seepage and settlement.

Daniel Withnall, Chief Executive of the Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board, explained how the board had upgraded its telemetry system to remotely control pumping stations and set emergency profile levels, allowing them to hold back water more effectively. He also mentioned ongoing discussions about linking systems to better manage pumping near Boston during tide-locked conditions.

Kim Pickett, Community Resilience Officer for Lincolnshire, and Steve Eason-Harris, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Officer for Boston Borough Council, discussed community resilience initiatives. They highlighted the importance of community emergency plans, volunteer support, and the provision of emergency kits. They acknowledged the low uptake of some resilience measures and expressed a desire to understand the reasons behind this.

During the public question session, Andy Robinson, a resident of Wyberton West Road, shared his experience of the flooding and the subsequent challenges, including the complexity of the Property Flood Resilience Grant application process. He stressed the need for better communication and transparency from the council and other authorities. Councillor Barry Robert Andrew Dacia, County Councillor for Boston South, also raised concerns about coordination between authorities and the need for transparency.

The committee noted the report and agreed to revisit the topic in six months to review the implementation of recommendations.

Scrutiny Arrangements Review

The committee received a report on the review of the Council's scrutiny arrangements following the move to a single Overview and Scrutiny Committee model in May 2025. The review, based on consultation with members and officers, indicated a strong preference for continuing with the single-committee structure, with 80% of respondents supporting this model. Key benefits cited included improved visibility of scrutiny activity, greater continuity, and a more manageable workload due to fewer meetings and less duplication. The report recommended continuing with the single committee, focusing on refining existing practices rather than returning to a two-committee model.

The committee noted the report and agreed to continue with the single Overview and Scrutiny Committee model.

Quarter 3 2025/26 Performance Report

Suzanne Rolfe, Group Manager for Insights and Transformation, presented the Quarter 3 performance report, covering the period up to December 2025. She explained that 27 KPIs had set targets, with all currently green (on or better than target) or amber (within tolerance). The remaining 65 indicators were trend measures without set targets. Councillor Andy Izard raised concerns about the council tax collection rate, noting it had only met the target on two occasions. Suzanne Rolfe explained that the target was a stretch target and that the commentary in the report provided further information on recovery work. Councillor Ralph Pryke questioned whether the targets were sufficiently stretching, given the number of green indicators. Suzanne Rolfe and Christian Allen, Service Director – Regulatory, explained the annual process for reviewing and setting KPI targets, involving assistant directors and portfolio holders, and acknowledged that the current number of green indicators was unusual and would be reviewed. Councillor David Scoot inquired about the collection of business rates from empty properties, which was to be clarified.

The committee noted and commented on the report.

Work Programme and Forward Plan

Christian Allen, Service Director – Regulatory, presented the Work Programme and Forward Plan, noting that this was the last meeting of the civic year. Councillor Alison Austin proposed that the committee continue to scrutinise the implementation of recommendations from the flooding report every six months. Councillor Andy Izard supported this and also requested that council tax and business rate collection rates be included in more depth in the work plan. Councillor Austin also proposed adding a review of indelible labelling on alcohol cans and a broader discussion on public engagement strategies to the work programme. The committee agreed to note the Work Programme and Forward Plan, with the proposed additions to be considered.

The meeting concluded with the committee agreeing to revisit the flooding report in six months and to incorporate the proposed additions into the Work Programme. The committee also agreed to continue with the single Overview and Scrutiny Committee model.