After Finance Portfolio Holder Jonathan Noble recommended to Full Council a balanced budget described as ‘ambitious for the Borough’, it was approved by a majority vote.
Boston Borough Council agreed last night (Monday, March 1) that the coming year’s Council Tax should increase by 2.57 per cent. Households in an average Band B property, the most common in the Borough, will pay 32p more a month towards the Borough’s share of their Council Tax.
The Borough Council is the collecting authority for Council Tax but the bulk of the total Council Tax is retained by Lincolnshire County Council and the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner. Boston town ward residents also pay a special expenses rate to the Boston Town Area Committee and those living in the villages pay a parish council rate.
Councillor Jonathan Noble, Portfolio Holder for Finance said: “It is never an easy decision to increase Council Tax, especially this year with the impact that Covid-19 has had on everyone in our community. This is a balanced, recovery budget which enables us to continue our good work despite the financial restrictions which we face.
“The Council has a record of notable successes in recent years and continues to support major developments in the Borough: the installation of the £100 million plus Boston Barrier, the £21 million funding for Accident & Emergency services at the Pilgrim Hospital, and the expected award of up to £25 million from the Government’s Towns Fund to develop an innovative regeneration plan for the town. We have ongoing, positive house building numbers, progress with the Quadrant development, assisted by the release of Housing Infrastructure Fund monies, and the construction of the new community football stadium.
“This balanced budget enables us to continue the delivery of all existing services whilst only increasing the Borough tax level by 2.57 percent which equates to £4.95. We acknowledge that we will face monetary challenges in the years ahead but savings can be achieved with continued, careful financial management. The Council is presently in a healthy financial position.”
The County Council is increasing its precept, its part of the Council Tax, by 1.99 per cent which equates to £26; the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner has approved a 5.9 percent increase which is £14.94.
This image shows how your payments are divided across the different authorities