Boston council tax rise approved amid 'challenging' times
Presenting the borough council's report, Councillor Sandeep Ghosh said the challenges were "driven not by worldwide events, as we have previously seen, but by government and policy changes". "This means we are receiving significantly less government support than in previous years with the removal of the rural services delivery grant," he added.Ghosh referred to internal drainage board levies as an "ever-increasing pressure" and noted a rise of £102,000 for 2025-26.The total bill for the levies would rise to £2,927,050, a 45% increase since 2021-22, he said.Meanwhile, the portion of the bill dedicated to the Boston Town Area Committee will rise by 72p to £81.09 a year for a Band D home, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.Lincolnshire County Council approved a 2.99% rise in its portion of council tax, which will rise to £1,625.85 per year for a Band D property, while the police precept will rise to £318.15.Last month, borough councillors voted to increase council tax support in order to "ease the financial burden" on struggling families. Dorrian said the move would "lift approximately 400 families out of poverty".Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
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BBC News
25-06-2025
- BBC News
Yorkshire Dales approves ban for new properties as holiday lets
Rules to prevent new houses in the Yorkshire Dales from being used as holiday homes have been Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) is proposing that any new housing must be used as the occupier's permanent to the 2021 census, around 22% of up to 13,100 homes in the park area were either vacant, holiday lets or second Twine, chairman of YDNPA, said that was an "exceptionally high level of under-occupied housing" when compared to a national average of 6%. "Everyone would recognise that house building must be done particularly sensitively in a national park [and] we've worked hard to identify and allocate land for development," he said."What our Local Plan policy for permanent occupancy means is that on sites of two or more dwellings, new homes will be restricted to principal occupancy only."This will avoid loss to the holiday market and ensure that new homes are lived in by people who can be socially and economically active in local communities, which is what we need."At a meeting at the YDNPA headquarters in Bainbridge on Tuesday, members agreed to submit the new Local Plan - which would run until 2040 - for approval to the government's Planning authority also formally adopted a set of objectives for an updated management plan, which include an aim to reduce the proportion of so-called under-occupied homes in the park to fewer than 20% by to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, it is hoped North Yorkshire Council's premium on council tax for second homes will work with the new occupancy restriction to help meet this target. The management plan aims to guide the work of all the organisations that operate in the national park during the next five Twine added: "The Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan is a genuine partnership plan."It sets out an ambitious – but necessary – programme of work to which many local organisations have committed their support."Whilst it rightly focuses on tackling the challenges of climate change and the continuing decline in nature, it also identifies other opportunities to foster the social and economic wellbeing of local communities, by setting out objectives for more affordable housing, hyper-fast broadband access, and support for viable farming businesses."Mr Twine said he hoped that with each five-year review, the management plan would become more embedded in the culture of all organisations working in the park. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- BBC News
Reform council brings in 'British values' flag rules in Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Council's new Reform leadership has scrapped the authority's flag flying policy in its first cabinet move, approved at a meeting on Thursday, means a previously agreed schedule of flags to be displayed outside County Hall in Glenfield has been list included flags to mark events celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month and Windrush Reform council leader Dan Harrison said the changes to flag-flying protocols were "to celebrate British values that unite us all". Some staff groups at the council, where Reform formed a minority administration following May's local elections, raised concerns about the described the eight-minute cabinet meeting, which had only the flag-flying policy on the agenda, as "historic".He said: "People will rightly ask why are we changing this protocol?"It's important to understand the importance of recognition of national identity, our heritage and culture and celebrate British values [which] is what unites us all."This new protocol allows us to do all this." Under new rules, Harrison said the Union flag and the county council's own flag would fly permanently on two of the three flagpoles outside County St George's flag would fly from the third pole, he said, unless it was replaced with the county Lord Lieutenant's flag when they were in the said a fourth flagpole in County Hall's quadrangle could be used to mark events such as Armed Forces Day, Commonwealth Day and Armistice on flying all other flags are be delegated to council chief executive John Sinnott after discussion with the leader. In a joint letter, representatives of LGBTQ+, disabled and BAME staff said they had not been properly consulted on the change."We feel that the lack of time between our understanding of this event, and the meeting taking place, has hampered our ability to communicate and promote the voices of those in our staff networks and beyond," they said they represented more than 400 council staff and asked the administration to consider the impact of changes on employee letter added: "We would recommend the cabinet members reflect on the purpose of flying flags as a local authority. "It is an example of the Public Sector Equality Duty, our legal requirement to foster good relations between people who share protected characteristics and those who don't."Opposition Conservative group leader Deborah Taylor called the meeting "very strange" and said "staffing groups support a number of staff here and should be listened to". She added: "Staff that are committed to the Leicestershire residents and Leicestershire County Council have not had their voice heard and I think that's terrible."Harrison said he would meet staff group representatives to discuss the new protocol.
Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Telegraph
Oxford could become first city in 20 years to launch congestion charge
Oxford, which has many narrow medieval streets, has been named as one of the most congested cities in the UK. The county council, run by the Liberal Democrats, has previously taken controversial steps to tackle the issue, including launching low-traffic neighbourhoods in parts of the city. Its cabinet will vote on the congestion charge proposal on June 17. If approved, a public consultation will begin on June 23, with the measures potentially being introduced by the autumn. The scheme would be enforced using automatic number plate recognition cameras at six key locations in the city but would only apply to cars. Other motor vehicles, including vans, HGVs and coaches, and cars with a permit, would be exempt. The council said it would help improve bus services in the area and make it easier for those with permits, including carers, traders and blue badge holders, to travel by car around the city. It insisted the charge would be temporary and would eventually be replaced by traffic filters, which limit through-traffic along a section of a road to certain modes of transport such as cars. A fine of £70 would apply to those who break the rules. The filters are intended to be introduced when Botley Road, a major street in the city that has been closed for more than two years, reopens in August 2026. Councils clash Oxford city council, a separate local authority, criticised the scheme. Susan Brown, the council's leader, said on Monday: 'There has been no engagement with businesses, residents or the city council until today – yet again the city is being done to rather than engaged with in preparing transport proposals. 'We are concerned that this scheme allows people who can afford to do so to buy access to our streets. Those who can't will struggle.' Andrew Gant, the county council's transport chief, described the city council's comments as 'disappointing'. He added: 'They may be reassured as they learn more about proposals to manage traffic in and around the city. The city council has asked us to take action and that is exactly what this is. 'The recommendation is to engage with businesses, residents and organisations on this idea for a congestion charge to improve bus services and travel around the city for everyone. 'Any revenue from this scheme would by law be spent on improving travel. This is a bespoke idea for Oxford, it is not the same as a London congestion charge.'
