New town clerk aims to modernise council

Kevin Martin, 58, has worked part-time for the authority for the last two years on a number of projects and said: “I have had a long desire to become a town clerk, having experienced working life at district council and being involved with county council. I always felt I could bring something back down to that third tier.”

Mr Martin looked forward to serving the town’s residents and fostering closer relationships with other bodies.

He said: “I want to help deliver modernisation and improve the status and standing of the council.

“There are only a few things that we must do by law, but we are closest to the people and have a range of powers to do more, delivering services for the town.”

With discussions of council mergers he saw town and parish councils as a safety net to catch what might be overlooked, such as playing fields and public toilets.

The 58-year-old Cornishman has been married to Susan for 37 years and has two children. With a background in accountancy, he worked for North Cornwall District Council for 11 years before moving to live in Grantham in 1988. He has been a financial services and housing solutions manager at South Kesteven District Council for 26 years before spending the last three years in the housing department in Boston Borough Council.

With a budget of around £750,000 a year, the clerk is responsible for a team of nine services operatives and six office staff, some part-time, tasked with maintaining allotments, numerous open spaces, trees, graveyards, street lights, cleaning and emptying of up to 300 bins for a population of nearly 18,000.

Mr Martin reported the skatepark on Boston Road now had its £13,000 floodlights fitted and they would be looking again at refurbishment. Eastgate car park needs improvement, as do the cemetery toilets. And he saw the council’s new offices as a fresh start in a community asset.

The council is forming a neighbourhood plan on its visions for future development in the town.