The Overview & Scrutiny Committee of Boston Borough Council was scheduled to discuss policing, proposed changes to employee terms and conditions, and updated data protection and records management policies. The committee was also set to review the council's work programme and forward plan, and consider a proposed change to how members can ask questions at full council meetings.

Policing

A verbal report was scheduled to be presented on policing matters, which would have included a discussion with the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police.

Terms and Conditions Alignment - Next Phase

The committee was due to consider a report by James Gilbert, Assistant Director – Corporate, regarding the next phase of aligning terms and conditions of employment across the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP). This phase aims to further standardise employment terms for staff shared between Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council, and South Holland District Council. The report outlined proposed changes to various terms and conditions, including overtime rates, car loan policies, notice periods, redundancy pay, pay protection, first aid payments, annual leave, and mobility clauses. The report indicated that these changes were intended to align policies across the partnership and were estimated to have a financial implication of £15,991.00, primarily related to overtime.

Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy

A report by John Medler, Assistant Director – Governance & Monitoring Officer, was scheduled for discussion concerning updated Data Protection and Records Management Policies. These revisions were undertaken to ensure compliance with the latest statutory requirements, including the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and the new Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA). The intention is to align these policies across the SELCP. The report highlighted key updates such as lawful access and reuse of public-sector datasets, formalisation of a complaints process, and the introduction of a reasonable search requirement for data requests. The Records Management Policy was also updated to include the management of AI-generated records and integration with digital initiatives. The report recommended that the committee consider these draft policies and recommend them to Cabinet for approval.

Council Procedure Rule 11 - Questions by Members

The committee was scheduled to consider a motion to vary Council Procedure Rule 11, which governs questions asked by members at full council meetings. The report, authored by John Medler, Assistant Director – Governance and Monitoring Officer, noted that recent meetings had shown that multiple questions from a single member could extend proceedings and limit opportunities for others. The proposed change would amend Rule 11.2 to state that a member may submit only one question to Full Council per meeting. The committee was asked to consider this proposal and make a recommendation to Full Council.

Work Programme and Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to review its current Work Programme and the Council's Forward Plan. This agenda item was for members to note and discuss the committee's ongoing work and the council's future plans. The Forward Plan, covering January to December 2026, outlines key decisions expected to be taken by the Cabinet, including items related to safeguarding, housing allocations, trees and hedgerows, and the 2026/27 budget. The committee's own work programme detailed upcoming agenda items for various meetings through to April 2026, covering a range of topics from policing and data protection to performance reports and budget preparation.