Council tax increase agreed by Boston Borough Council

It represents a 7p a week increase for the average band D property, almost 90 per cent of properties are rated below this and will pay less.

The rate was set at a full council meeting on Monday night, with five councillors voting against the increase and 21 in favour.

The borough council is the collecting authority for council tax but the bulk of the total council tax collected is retained by Lincolnshire County Council and the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner. Boston town ward residents also pay a special expenses rate to Boston Town Area Committee and those living in the villages pay a parish council rate.

The county council is increasing its part of the council tax bill by 3.5 per cent. The rise consists of a 1.5 per cent increase, plus a further two per cent specifically for adult social care. Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner has approved a 4.1 per cent increase.

Cllr Martin Howard, the council’s finance portfolio holder, said: “The council has a proven record of notable successes in recent years including the Boston Barrier Project, adoption of the Local Plan, delivering savings of £3 million per year as part of the transformation programme. The balanced budget will continue to deliver services and recognises challenges to be faced in future years, whilst only increasing borough tax levels by 2.05%.”

Leader of the council, Cllr Paul Skinner, said: “This is a very good budget which manages to continue the good work despite restrictions.”