The Borough of Boston is a local government district with borough status in Lincolnshire, England. Its council is based in the town of Boston. The borough also covers an extensive rural area, including the villages of Kirton, Wyberton, Sutterton, Algakirk and Hubberts Bridge.

The borough borders South Holland to the south, North Kesteven to the west, and East Lindsey to the north. To the east, it has a coast onto the Wash.

History The town of Boston had been incorporated as an ancient borough in 1545. It was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836.Municipal Corporations Act 1835

The modern borough was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, by merging the municipal borough of Boston with Boston Rural District. The new district was named Boston after its only town. Boston's borough status passed to the enlarged district from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Boston's series of mayors dating back to 1545. The borough covers the northern part of Holland, one of the three traditional Parts of Lincolnshire. Holland had been an administrative county between 1889 and 1974.

In 2020 the council agreed to share its management and other staff with neighbouring East Lindsey District Council. South Holland District Council joined the partnership in 2021, which is now described as the "South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership".

Under current local government reorganisation plans, all district councils in Lincolnshire, as well as the county council, will be abolished in 2028, with the district being combined with others and forming part of a Lincolnshire unitary authority.

Governance

Boston Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Lincolnshire County Council. Much of the borough is covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.

Political control At the 2023 election, a majority of the seats were won by local party the Boston Independents. In July 2025, most of the party's members left to form a new Progressive Independent group, which subsequently formed a coalition with the 20-20 Independent group and the Conservatives to run the council, led by Dale Broughton of the Progressive Independent group, formerly deputy leader of the Boston Independents. As of September 2026, all cabinet positions are held by members of the Progressive Independent group, the Conservatives and the Blue Revolution councillor.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows: (Put "Boston" in search box to see specific results.) Party in controlYears 1974–2007 2007–2011 2011–2015 2015–2019 2019–2020 2020–2023 2023–2025 2025–present

Leadership The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Boston. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2000 have been:

Councillor Party From To Joyce Dobson Nov 2000 2006 Mary Wright 18 May 2006 May 2007 Richard Austin 24 May 2007 May 2011 Peter Bedford 25 May 2011 15 May 2017 Michael Cooper 15 May 2017 15 Jul 2019 Aaron Spencer 15 Jul 2019 20 Jan 2020 Paul Skinner 3 Feb 2020 May 2023 Anne Dorrian s 22 May 2023 20 Jul 2025 Dale Broughton 20 Jul 2025

Composition Following the 2023 election, and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to September 2026 the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors 23 4 1 1 1Total 30

Fifteen of the independent councillors sit together as the "Progressive Independent" group. The Liberal Democrat and five of the independent councillors sit together as the "20-20 Independent Group". The other three independent councillors form the "Boston Independents" group.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2015 the council has comprised 30 councillors representing 15 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. A map of the wards is available, NB Councillors named are as of 2021 as is a map showing the Local Government Boundary Commission for England's final recommendations for ward boundaries, October 2012.

The wards, and their numbers of councillors, are:

Coastal (2) Fenside (2) Fishtoft (3) Five Villages (2) Kirton and Frampton (3) Old Leake and Wrangle (2) Skirbeck (3) St Thomas' (1) Staniland (2) Station (1) Swineshead and Holland Fen (2) Trinity (2) West (1) Witham (2) Wyberton (2)

Premises The council is based at the Municipal Buildings on West Street in Boston. The building was built in 1902 for the old borough council to the designs of architect James Rowell.

Parishes

Much of the borough is covered by civil parishes, the exception being the pre-1974 municipal borough of Boston, which is an unparished area. The parishes are:

Algakirk Amber Hill Benington Bicker Butterwick Fishtoft Fosdyke Frampton Freiston Holland Fen with Brothertoft Kirton Leverton Old Leake Sutterton Swineshead Wigtoft Wrangle Wyberton

2016 EU referendum

On 23 June 2016 the Borough of Boston voted in the UK-wide Referendum on membership of the European Union (EU) under the provisions of the European Union Referendum Act 2015. In a turnout of 77%, over 75% voted to leave the EU, the highest leave majority of the 382 UK voting areas. The local MP Matt Warman, a Conservative, had campaigned for a "Remain" vote.

United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, 2016 Borough of Boston Choice Votes % Leave the European Union 22,974 75.56% Remain a member of the European Union 7,430 24.44% Valid votes 30,404 99.96% Invalid or blank votes 12 0.04% Total votes 30,416 100.00% Registered voters and turnout 39,963 77.27%

+ Borough of Boston referendum result (without spoiled ballots):Leave:22,974 (75.6%) Remain: 7,430 (24.4%) ▲

Freedom of the Borough The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Boston.

Individuals Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam: 21 March 2022. David Medlock: 17 April 2023.

Military Units RAF Coningsby: 16 May 1963.

Arms

References

External links