Here is a summary of the scheduled discussions for the Boston Town Area Committee (BTAC) meeting on 25 September 2025. The agenda included a review of the financial position for the first quarter of 2025/26, an update on the BTAC Small Grant Scheme, and a discussion of the committee's work programme. Also on the agenda was consideration of whether to exclude the public and press from the meeting for a discussion of the BTAC Working Group recommendations.

2025/26 Quarter 1 Financial Position

Brendan Arnold, Interim Director of Finance, was scheduled to present the 2025/26 Quarter 1 financial position, which covered the period ending 30 June 2025. The report included a summary of the current financial position for BTAC and a forecast for the year's end. BTAC members were asked to note the forecast position, which indicated a £907 overspend for 2025/26, as detailed in Appendix A - BTAC Q1 Finance Report 2025-26. They were also asked to note the forecast reserve balance to 31 March 2026.

The 2025/26 Quarter 1 Financial Position report broke down the finances of different service areas.

• Open Spaces & Play Areas: This service area had an approved budget of £111,373, with a forecast overspend of £12,130, due to additional employee costs moved from Events.
• Central Park: This service area had an approved budget of £192,224, with a forecast underspend of £8,734, because the gate locking service ceased in August 2025.
• Public Conveniences: This service area had an approved budget of £168,129, with a forecast overspend of £11,339, due to a projected shortfall in income combined with higher than anticipated costs.
• Events: This service area had an approved budget of £160,128, with a forecast underspend of £22,676, because employee costs were moved to Open Spaces and additional income was received for space hire.
• Town Centre Maintenance: This service area had an approved budget of £114,519, with a forecast underspend of £39, with forecasted expenditure below budget allocation.
• Administration: This service area had an approved budget of £58,296, with a forecast underspend of £26,144, primarily related to the street cleaning service review.

The report also detailed the current and forecasted reserve levels for BTAC. The opening balance of the BTAC reserve on 1 April 2025 was £293,825. The forecast balance of reserve was £289,192, reflecting planned use throughout the financial year. This included the minimum required reserve balance of £70,000, based on the Section 151 Officer's recommendation¹.

BTAC Small Grant Scheme

Maddy Eyre, Community Leadership Officer and BTAC Grant Administrator, was scheduled to present the recommendations of the BTAC Grants Working Group regarding grant applications submitted in Round 2 25/26 of the BTAC Small Grant Scheme. The BTAC Small Grant Scheme report noted that the BTAC Grants Working Group met on 28 August 2025 to review applications. Four eligible applications were received in Round 2 of the scheme. Details of each applicant, project details, the amount requested, and the Working Group funding award recommendations were to be shown in Appendix 1, which was listed as an exempt appendix because it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular people. The report stated that the BTAC Grant Scheme supports the council's corporate priorities, including Healthy Lives, Safer and Resilient Communities, and the Environment.

The finance proforma stated that the balance of the BTAC Small Grants was £13,790.23 as of 24 July 2025. £3,925.00 in applications were being considered, which would leave a balance of £9,865.23.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to discuss and update its work programme for the current year. The Work Programme 20256 included:

• BTAC Q4 2024/25 Financial Outturn report
• BTAC Small Grants
• Biennial update from Lincolnshire Police, with Inspector Ian Cotton of Lincolnshire Police scheduled to attend
• BTAC 2025/6 Events
• Biennial update from Lincolnshire Housing Partnership, with Anthony Read, Chair, scheduled to attend
• Proposed BTAC Budget 2026/27 and MTFS to 2030/31²

The work programme also listed a review of the status of Ingelow Park, Boston, and the Boston Town Centre Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2027 Annual Review 2025 (Year Two) as pending confirmation for potential addition to the Work Programme.