Canvassing always feels a bit strange “will you vote for me?” but it is good to talk to people who are studying the options and not making their decisions lightly.  Explaining that there are two district councillors in Bramford and Blakenham and one MP for Central Suffolk North Ipswich prompts questions about the County.  Why both the Parliamentary and District election but not the County?   Why am I not having to fight for my county council position.  How is it that there is a Labour candidate for Parliament but not for the district?

What is the district responsible for?  It is easy to overlook those that are managed without problems.

The List is

Waste Collection

Council Housing: managing the letting of the existing stock and organising decoration and upgrades.

Planning, determining where we would like development and then assessing proposals against policies and saying yes or no.

Environmental health particularly checking places where food is processed or sold.

Leisure facilities such as Stowmarket Leisure Centre and sports grounds.

Licencing of pubs and clubs

Does the council try to ensure developments protect the environment, are energy efficient, well insulated and use renewable energy?  It does but it is an up hill struggle to get improvements that increase cost, even by a small amount.