Monthly Report Jul & Aug’26 - Sproughton & Pinewood Ward
GENERAL UPDATES
Devolution & Local Government Reorganisation: The Suffolk LGR Programme has successfully completed its Discovery Phase and is now progressing through Gateway 1, focusing on reviewing findings, agreeing design principles, and advancing transition planning. Governance arrangements are being established to support the creation of three new unitary councils from April 2028. Implementation Boards have been established across Suffolk. Programme Management Office (PMO) all council services which are nearing the end of the discovery phase developing design principles for future authorities. The draft Structural Changes Order (SCO) is being finalised, confirming council names, councillor numbers and ward arrangements. Joint Committees established for each future unitary council area. Preparatory work progressing on workforce, finance, IT, governance and election arrangements. Suffolk County Council's Judicial Review remains unresolved, with the Government contesting the claim and court proceedings continuing – hopefully this will be heard in November. Monthly assurance meetings continue between MHCLG and the Suffolk Implementation Board. Work continues to complete the Gateway 1 review and agree design principles, develop detailed operating models for future councils, progress shadow authority and election preparations. Continue readiness planning and risk management activities across all councils. underway, and no significant delivery issues identified. JUST AS I WROTE THIS REPORT THE GOVERNMENT PULLED THE RUG FROM UNDER OUR FEET – VERBAL UPDATE AT OUR PC MEETINGS.
July Cabinet Meeting: The meeting focused heavily on financial performance (money is tight), community infrastructure investment, housing performance, climate action and regulatory compliance. The Cabinet approved substantial investment in leisure, play facilities, library improvements and accessibility projects across the district, while noting that the Council remains financially stable despite ongoing pressures and preparations for Local Government Reorganisation. We approved the new Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Air Quality Strategy and I presented the Climate Action Report.
July Council Meeting: The main item was the proposed expansion of the East Bergholt Conservation Area and adoption of a new Conservation Area Appraisal (CAA). The (unanimously approved) proposal created the East Bergholt, Constable Heartland and Flatford Conservation Area 2026, significantly extending the current 1968 conservation area to include Flatford, Constable-related landscapes and other heritage assets currently outside the protected area. The review was especially timely as 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of Constable’s birth. This approval follows hot on the heels of the new conservation area for Sproughton approved in the July meeting. I was not allowed to sit in on the Sproughton CA discussion so had to sit in the public gallery – but Cllr Sallie Davies did a good job in presenting that for me and talked about the history of the Wild Man of Sproughton!
August Cabinet Meeting: Some council meetings are cancelled in August but not our Cabinet!!. The Cabinet's business was largely focused on strengthening housing management policies and improving support for tenants. We considered and approved four new policies covering Temporary Moves (Decants), Good Neighbourhood Management, Hoarding, and Hate Crime. These policies are intended to improve consistency, meet updated social housing regulatory standards, provide clearer guidance for officers and tenants, and strengthen support for vulnerable residents. Overall, the meeting concentrated on improving tenant wellbeing, safety and neighbourhood standards, while ensuring Babergh's housing services remain compliant with the latest regulatory and consumer standards.
PORTFOLIO The Council's Climate and Nature Recovery team continues to deliver a wide range of projects across Babergh focused on biodiversity enhancement, sustainable travel, climate resilience and community energy.
On sustainable travel, work is underway to update the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), including improvements to accessibility, mapping and the integration of walking, wheeling and cycling routes into future planning decisions. Officers are also helping to develop improved sustainable transport links as part of the Sudbury "Story of Place" project and are supporting improvements to Sudbury Bus Station through a £250,000 funding programme. Officers are working on habitat creation projects, parish tree planting applications, a new habitat brokerage scheme, river walk improvements in Hadleigh, and biodiversity enhancements linked to major development proposals including Wolsey Grange at Sproughton and schemes in Hintlesham and Brantham. A Local Development Order designed to simplify approval of projects that deliver biodiversity and water management benefits is also being advanced. Practical conservation projects are continuing across the district. Meadow management programmes have been completed for the summer, officers have been assessing pond restoration opportunities in Long Melford, reviewing future management of open spaces in Great Cornard and supporting the Old Hall Growing Project in East Bergholt, where refugees and volunteers have been planting fruit trees and developing community food-growing initiatives. Discussions are also progressing on guided nature walks and greater public access to wildlife sites.
A new biodiversity initiative will see swift nesting boxes installed on council-owned housing, using a combination of volunteer labour, Men's Shed groups and tenant engagement teams. The aim is to increase nesting opportunities for this declining species while reducing installation costs by coordinating work with scheduled housing maintenance programmes. Following this summer's prolonged dry conditions and wildfire incidents across the UK, the Council has launched new wildfire awareness communications and is reviewing additional preventative measures on its own land, including wider firebreaks on suitable grassland sites. Parish councils are expected to receive further guidance through future communications. Community energy remains a key focus. Officers are working with local energy groups along the Bramford to Twinstead corridor to explore larger-scale renewable energy projects and funding opportunities through National Grid, Local Giving and the Great British Energy Local programme. The Council is also supporting community buildings to access CIL funding for renewable energy installations. The successful Switch Together scheme continues to generate strong interest. In Babergh, 341 households have registered for solar panels, battery storage or electric vehicle charging systems, 27 residents have already accepted installation recommendations and 25 have paid deposits. Eleven participants have also expressed interest in EV chargepoints. Separately, the Solar for Business programme has contacted almost 800 businesses, resulting in several projects entering legal agreement stages.
Looking ahead, preparations are well advanced for the third annual Schools Green Skills Summit on 13 November 2026. Participating Babergh schools include Ipswich High School, Royal Hospital School, East Bergholt High School, Stour Valley Community School and Holbrook Academy. The summit will give students the opportunity to take part in climate debates, meet employers in the green economy and explore future career opportunities. The Council is also updating its Climate Action Plan, revising its latest greenhouse gas reporting, developing a Local Climate Impact Profile to assess future climate risks, and working with Suffolk partners to ensure environmental priorities are reflected in Local Government Reorganisation planning.
The Ward Itself
Parking at Suffolk One: The plan is still the two step process: - 1) Extend existing double yellow lines at particular junctions. This needs a legal agreement called a TRO to be put in place – this process requires a period of public consultation. Ballpark cost at around £15,000 most of which goes on legal & admin fees. Our county councillor has agreed to fund half the cost. Highways Suffolk have said they do not have the money to fund the remainder. Which means money needs to come from elsewhere – I am looking for funding sources for this at the moment. 2) Implement single yellow lines with a parking restriction period. Similar to 1) in terms of process as a TRO is needed & public consultation. Funding is still a tbd. I am focussing more on (1) at the moment – once that is being designed I can work on (2).
Traffic Solutions 4 Sproughton: Cllr Barber and myself met with Melanie Hall from Highways Suffolk and spent some time on Lower Street and the High Street looking at the traffic issues. The conclusion was that we needed to consult on the proposed changes and to get agreements from impacted residents – probably around 60-70% of residents need to agree to go onto the next step. Based on the results of the survey we are looking at parking & passing spaces on Lower Street and a combination of parking/passing places on the High Street coupled with a priority traffic scheme i.e. one direction has priority over the other. The second option for traffic lights was thought to be very expensive – £250 500k. If support is forthcoming we would then proceed to feasibility.
Gipping River Path: The Sproughton sleeper bridge has now been repaired and the stretch of footpath reopened. Greenways want to do a bit more work on the riverbank but this time hope to access it via the Millennium Green.
Ipswich Flood Barrier: I am chasing SusTrans to see when they can start work on the feasibility study that would determine approximate costs & issues.
If you ever have an issue to raise with me please use the contact details below.
Councillor Helen Davies: District Councillor for Sproughton & Pinewood Mobile: 07514 951190 E-mail: Helen.Davies@ babergh.gov.uk Facebook: Cllr Helen Davies X: @HelenDSproughtn