Monthly Report October’25 - Sproughton & Pinewood Ward
GENERAL UPDATES
Devolution & Local Government Reorganisation: The government consultation has started now – closes on 11Jan26. To have your say go to Consultation on Proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Norfolk and Suffolk - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - Citizen Space To remind yourself of the two options on the table go to Welcome – Three Councils For Suffolk and One Suffolk. One Council. One Stronger Future. - One Suffolk Council
Marks & Spencer @ Copdock: This application is being heard on 17th December and has been recommended for approval.
2026/27 Budget: The draft budget has been completed. After an initial round of looking for savings the numbers were rerun and directors were asked to make a further round of savings – the budget has to be balanced i.e. we cannot run at a loss – any shortfall is likely to need to be made up from reserves. Government funding is still outstanding – if funding is reduced we will have to look for further savings, we have to provide statutory services but other services are discretionary. We will hear about government funding early in the New Year so will have a better understanding of what needs to be done to finalise a balanced budget then.
Better Recycling (formerly known as Simpler Recycling): Simpler Recycling has been renamed Better Recycling because it isn’t really simpler but it is better in the sense that more is being collected for recycling. This new style of collection goes live in April next year with the introduction of food waste collection and restructuring of the remaining waste collections. Surveys have been done to determine who will need assistance &/or different sized bins/bags and a publicity campaign is being launched to update people on what is happening when. More information can be found at Future changes to bin collections - Babergh District Council - babergh.gov.uk / midsuffolk.gov.uk-
PORTFOLIO
Climate Change: I have met with the climate change lead to follow-up on the second ‘Green Skills for Schools Summit’ (10th October at the Royal Hospital School) with a view to what we can do with schools throughout the year until the next summit.
Biodiversity: I attended the launch event of the Norfolk & Suffolk Local Nature Reserve Strategy in October at Carlson Marshes. The tool that is available online for people to decide where to plant and what to plant to maximise the impact & level of BNG see Suffolk Local Habitat Map. I have also had agreement from the other Suffolk environmental portfolio holders recently to look at a common process for Habitat Banks ( a unit of land that developers can use to offset the impact of development from the biodiversity perspective.)– this will take a lot of work but makes sense given the upcoming unitaries.1 Our Biodiversity Working Group has commented on the first iteration of the draft plan, another will be presented in December. An agreed version will go to cabinet in the New Year – then the officers start work on it!!
Greenhouse Gas Report & Carbon Management Reduction Plan: The 2024/25 GHG report has now been drafted and shows a 42% reduction in carbon emissions since 2019 and a 14% reduction in the past year. So we are moving in the right direction. The CRMP contains the plan on how we continue to manage our reductions. The Overview & Scrutiny Committee have reviewed the plans and thankfully essentially passed them although we need to incorporate a few suggestions into the report. We continue to aim for net-zero in 2030.
THE WARD ITSELF
Parking at Suffolk One: The officer I spoke to stated that she would be submitting the paper to the appropriate team for design & costings in 2/3 weeks. I will chase for a response………….
Traffic Solutions 4 Sproughton: We are reasonably close to submitting this paper – there were many responses to the suggested measures which is good as this gives us a good evidence base so Highway know that the proposed solutions are backed by residents. Highways know that this paper is on the way.
Sproughton Nature Reserve: The agreement is going back and forth like a yo-yo it seems. Babergh are now updating the legal agreement with info received from Ipswich BC & our Biodiversity officer. It will then go back to IBC for final review & signing (I hope). I did ask if we could have it done before Christmas but I’m not holding my breath.
Gipping River Path: I had a discussion with the Environment Agency & SusTrans to see what we could do about the Old Ipswich Flood Barrier which presents an obstacle to walkers – especially those in mobility scooters or with pushchairs. It appears the land is owned by the Environment Agency and there was a discussion with SCC regarding funding for removing the barrier. I hope to get an understanding of where the discussion was left to guide how this is taken forward.
If you ever have an issue to raise with me please use the contact details below. I look forward to hearing from you. Helen Davies
Councillor Helen Davies: District Councillor for Sproughton & Pinewood Mobile: 07514 951190 E-mail: Helen.Davies@ babergh.gov.uk Facebook: Cllr Helen Davies X: @HelenDSproughtn