The Overview and Scrutiny Committee scheduled a meeting to discuss a highways update, a flooding investigation report, and the committee's work programme and forward plan. The meeting was scheduled to take place on 4 September 2025 at the Municipal Buildings, West Street, Boston.

Flooding Investigation Report

The committee was scheduled to review a Section 19 Flooding Investigation Report concerning the flooding that impacted Boston in January 2025. The report, prepared by Christian Allen, Assistant Director – Regulatory, focuses on the internal flooding of 38 residential properties on Wyberton West Road and Park Road. Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 places a duty on Lead Local Flood Authorities¹ to investigate the causes of flooding events. Lincolnshire County Council commissioned Geosmart Information Ltd to produce the report. It was submitted to the council on 30 June 2025, and amended following feedback from Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board (IDB) and the Environment Agency (EA). The revised version was re-issued on 30 July 2025.

The report identifies the causes of the flooding, the relevant risk management authorities, and stakeholders. It also makes a series of recommendations. According to the report, the flooding was caused by substantial rainfall and tidal flows in the South Forty Foot Drain.

The report makes several recommendations to reduce the risk of future flooding:

• Residents of affected properties should consider implementing flood resistance and resilience measures.
• Residents of Wyberton West Road and Park Road should create a flood action plan, with support from Boston Borough Council and the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum.
• The Environment Agency should review the hydraulic modelling for the South Forty Foot Drain.
• The Environment Agency should review the potential for a Flood Warning service for the downstream reaches of the South Forty Foot Drain.
• The Environment Agency and Black Sluice IDB should review the operation of their assets during heavy rainfall events.
• The Environment Agency should raise the wall sections along Wyberton West Road to reduce the potential for future overtopping.

The report states that:

Members are invited to consider how, through the scrutiny functions of the Council, we seek to ensure that Risk Management Authorities identified as responsible for the recommendations in the report, deliver on those recommendations.

The report also notes that Boston Borough Council provided emergency assistance grants of £1,000 to 24 residents whose properties were internally flooded, at a total cost of £24,000.

Highways Update

The committee was scheduled to have a discussion with the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Lincolnshire County Council.

Work Programme and Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider its current work programme and the council's forward plan to identify future areas for scrutiny.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025–26 lists several potential items for future review, including:

• The South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Safeguarding Policy
• The Annual Crime and Disorder Report
• The Pension & Pension Discretions Policy
• An update on the Community Lottery
• The Quarter 2 25/26 Performance and Risk Report
• The HMO Policy Review
• Budget Scrutiny

The Forward Plan lists decisions expected to be taken by the cabinet in the next twelve months.