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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Boston councillors call for new Town Council

Proposed by Conservative councillor James Cantwell, the motion emphasises transferring ownership of key assets—such as car parks, parks including Central Park, and the civic regalia—to the new council as the best way to preserve them.

Councillors are calling for the establishment of a town council for Boston in response to central government’s plans to bring about major political change.

A motion instructing the chief executive of Boston Borough Council to advance a community governance review for the ‘unparished’ area of Boston with the aim of creating a town council. It will be presented at the next full council meeting on Monday, January 20.

In December, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner outlined plans for reorganisation in a devolution white paper. The proposal involves replacing the current two-tier county-district model with larger unitary authorities, each serving populations of at least 500,000.

Proposed by Conservative councillor James Cantwell, the motion emphasises transferring ownership of key assets—such as car parks, parks including Central Park, and the civic regalia—to the new council as the best way to preserve them.

“These assets, by right and tradition, belong to the people of Boston,” he explained. “Should these assets go to a council based in Lincoln, Sleaford, or Spalding, reclaiming them for the town and people of Boston would become far more complicated.”

He also highlighted that creating a town council would help preserve the historic role of the Mayor of Boston.

Independent councillor Stephen Woodliffe stated that Cllr Cantwell’s motion “mirrored” his position, which he raised in his manifesto for the 2023 local elections.

Seconding the motion, Cllr Woodliffe urged officers to act swiftly to establish the new authority.

Currently, the Boston Town Area Committee (BTAC) operates as a group with its own tax precept but has little power and is answerable to Boston Borough Council, with its decisions often requiring full council approval.

Cllr Woodliffe argued that Boston needs a town council independent of borough council oversight.

“I’m strongly in favour of having a town council and have been all along,” he said. “The plans to abolish district councils have effectively brought this issue to the forefront, and we need to act quickly to establish it.”

When asked about the possibility of Boston Borough Council effectively merging with its two partnership councils—East Lindsey District Council and South Holland District Council—to form a new unitary authority, Cllr Cantwell argued that the combined area does not meet the 500,000 population threshold required.

“If you stick to the 500,000-unitary model, there’s no sensible way to reorganise local government in Lincolnshire,” he said, adding that ministers are effectively turning local government into “semi-regional government” that people will struggle to connect with.

Coun Woodliffe echoed this view, asserting that such a model would not work for a large, rural county like Lincolnshire.

“This plan may fit in places like Manchester and Birmingham, but it doesn’t work for a county like Lincolnshire,” he said. “District councils are the best option here, but the government wants to destroy them.”

This discussion follows comments from South Holland Independents leader Rob Gibson, who stated that a town council would be necessary for Spalding. These thoughts were shared by Spalding & District Civic Society chairman John Bland, who said the sooner work starts on establishing the town council “the better.”

A new town council was established in Grantham last year.

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