Officials look for saving of £1.3m to balance the council's budget books

CONCERN ALSO THAT BOSTON WILL LOSE ITS LOCAL VOICE UNDER NEW SYSTEM IF PARISH COUNCILS AREN'T 'SECURE' ENOUGH

- BY OLIVER CASTLE Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCIL officials say they're trying to find more than £1 million in savings to help balance the books.

Members of Boston Borough Council's overview and scrutiny committee heard that the authority needs to find £1.3 million in its 2026/27 budget proposal in order to remain financially sustainable.

The borough council is currently putting together its budget for the 2026/27 financial year and is considering its funding allocations for services - and whether it should increase its share of council tax.

At a meeting on Thursday, January 15, Russell Stone, director of finance for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership which covers Boston, said: "The key point I'm making is this is where we are today and what we've arrived at is a position where we're currently around £1.3 million short of reaching a fully-balanced position.

"In previous years we've split that between general efficiencies and IDB (Internal Drainage Board) efficiency requirements, but in total, that is the gap that we're currently looking at.