Cllr Dale Broughton, the Leader of Boston Borough Council and Cllr Sandeep Ghosh, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Economic Growth were at the House of Commons last night.
Boston Borough Council is one of 40 authorities from across England who are working together to lobby the Government for a fairer funding system that supports the vital work of Internal Drainage Boards, including those that serve the borough.
The Council is part of a Special Interest Group for Internal Drainage Board Special levies. A special levy is something the Government imposes on councils in IDB areas like Boston to pay to fund them. Due to rises in such things as electricity that power the pumping stations at times of flooding and sustained heavy rain, the special levy amount has been increasingly significantly in recent years.
This levy is paid out of council tax received from residents, which means less money for essential council services such as waste, planning and environmental health. The event is an opportunity to lobby MPs and Government Ministers about the impact of the special levy and inform than about the impact on services in Boston.
Cllr Dale Broughton said: “Boston is the second highest local authority in the group where the levy has increased the most in four years. The rise in this cost to councils is likely to keep on increasing due to utility price rises and the demand on pumping stations.
“It is important we are here tonight and provide the voice of the Borough to MPs and representatives of other authorities and organisations on this important issue.
“All the IDBs in the borough provide excellent service to the residents of Boston and in protecting farmland that feeds the nation. They are supportive of the efforts by the Special Interest Group.
“It is only fair that they are funded in a more sustainable way that does not impact on the essential services we provide to residents.”
Cllr Sandeep Ghosh said: “Over the past four financial years, the special levy in Boston Borough has risen by £809,000 — a 38% increase. Currently, one third of all the council tax we raise for local services is being redirected to cover this levy.
“This situation is not financially sustainable. Unlike councils outside Internal Drainage Board (IDB) areas, Boston Borough is obliged to fund extensive drainage and water management works, including the pumping of water to protect homes, businesses and farmland. While these are vital services, they place a disproportionate financial burden on our residents, who effectively pay twice — once through their council tax, and again through the reduced services that result from budget cuts. Other councils, which do not have IDB responsibilities, are able to dedicate a much higher proportion of their council tax income to essential local services such as waste collection, street maintenance, housing and community support. Here in Boston, our budgets are being significantly eroded by costs over which we have very little control.
“Unless a fairer funding model is introduced, this increasing levy will continue to undermine our ability to provide frontline services for residents. We are therefore calling on the government to recognise the unique pressures faced by drainage board areas and to work with us to find a more equitable and sustainable solution.”
