2021-22 budget-Council Meeting 11^th Feb

After a long debate in which the LDGI Group put alternative ideas in a budget amendment the Conservative budget was approved.

Full details are at https://committeeminutes.suffolk.gov.uk/DocSetPage.aspx?MeetingTitle=(26-01-2021),%20The%20Cabinet

I had a range of concerns that I expressed in detail last month.  In brief there is a budget gap that is heading for £158.6 million cumulative by 2024-5.  However, the administration’s budget deals with just this year, outlines the future problems, and hopes service “transformation” will dramatically lower costs.  They also hope the Government will deliver funds from central taxes but there is no evidence they will.  How will the gap be filled?  through substantial cuts I fear.

Our amendment

We proposed the council did as the Government assumes and takes the full 3% social Care precept allowed.  That would be painful for us all, £13.41 per year at Council Tax band D but honest and necessary.  Without it how will the needs of people with health problems and disabilities be met?

The planning application for the ENSO solar farm that would dominate Flowton village has been submitted but that for the EDF proposal which includes battery storage is still in a consult and modify phase.  Both are for 50Mwatt installations (25,000 electric kettles worth) with battery storage.  The planning officer has attended several parish organised meetings as have your councillors to ensure your voices are heard and you understand the decision process.  We need renewable energy but must take care we don’t damage food production and destroy peoples home environment.

These farms would dominate the village of Flowton and the road between Somersham and Flowton

A number of you have asked for grants from my county locality budget and  I intend to have them processed and delivered to you this month

The budget is not exciting, but it set the services available for the year.  The County provides vital care for the elderly, for adults and children with disabilities for those with special educational needs.  Also, Highways, the Fire and Rescue service, Trading Standards and disposal of the waste District Councils collect.

The considerable cost of Covid-19 has been offset by Government grants.  However, there is much uncertainty about next year’s income.  Job Losses will impact Council Tax, business failures will impact Business Rates and commercial income will reduce.

There are a range of government grants for issues as wide ranging as domestic abuse, troubled families, school transport, social housing decarbonisation, roads maintenance and upgrades for cycling.  For all these the Suffolk shares are not yet known.

The County suffers inflation of some 3.4% and demand increases of 3.5% per annum due to an increasing and aging population, a total of some £40M and saves between £10M and £20M.

Council Tax, the bulk of the council’s income, will rise by 2% plus a “Social Care Precept” of 2%.  Add business rates which increase by CPI and charges at +3% and we get a total increase in income of about £12M so there is a considerable gap.

The hope over recent years is that “Transformation” projects could bridge the gap.

Transformation helps people regain capability to support themselves and provides digital means to maintain contact without travel.  Much of this transformation is sound but I am concerned that an element of the “demand management” is just refusing to meet the needs of people desperate for help, often at a cost to the NHS or their families.

Covid has delayed transformation as staff were diverted to meet the immediate need but it is hoped to recover over the next three years.

Some £22M Reserves will be used to tide us over the short-term problems, an appropriate move but there are clear long term funding issues to resolve that will need clarity and courage.

Unless it is fully satisfied that issues have been addressed, the LDGI Group will be proposing amendments.

Suffolk Streets Guide

SCC is running a consultation on its proposed Streets Guide, which will assist with the design of new residential developments.  It will show how best to create sustainable transport layouts that promote walking and cycling.

There is a survey which closes at 5pm on 10th February at: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/planning-waste-and-environment/planning-and-development-advice/suffolk-design-streets-guide/.

Climate Change Action Plan

SCC has been running a consultation on the Suffolk Climate Action Plan and has been inviting comment on the following areas:

• Sustainable Buildings
• Large Industrial & Commercial Energy Users
• Transport & Air Quality
• Small Industrial & Commercial Energy Users
• Energy & Planning
• Community Action & Schemes

I am sure we all understand that, on occasion, work that will be highly inconvenient has to done and that for its duration there is no alternative but to tolerate the disruption.  However, we need to get Highways to understand that people need time to re-plan.  A meeting with local councillors, Parish, District and County, would improve understanding and might find fewer problematic compromises.

Council Status

The pandemic clearly requires a change in where and how we work.  Essentially 100% of the council staff are working from home and almost all work is online.  The overall response to the pandemic is managed through the emergency response structure.  A number of management “Cells” each look after a specific service area.  County, District and other agency staff are working together: some have been re-deployed to teams where demand is high.

Officers have risen to the Covid 19 challenge, the senior staff really have a grip on their areas, have a command of their subjects and are doing a good job.

There are some services where it is difficult to be sure what issues exist and why.  The spread of the virus in care homes is such an area, but action to put the necessary testing in place has been taken. We are told that residents leaving hospital are now assumed to have the virus and are isolated until testing proves otherwise.

The Government has reported the number of care homes which have suffered Covid 19 outbreaks.  In Mid Suffolk it is 55%.  There were some 91 deaths in care homes across the county between April 4th and May 1st.  When Scrutiny looks at quality of the Covid-19 response, we will examine these numbers and make comparisons.

The take up of school places for children of essential workers and those from disadvantaged families is low.  That is a concern and the Children and Young People service is trying to establish if the numbers can be improved.

Latest Government and SCC advice is available online.

Council meetings in the COVID-19 era

Committee meetings ceased when lockdown commenced but briefings switched online.  Now its legal to hold meetings online we are functional again. We held the` first online Scrutiny meeting on Tuesday 12th May.

Online meetings appear to work well, certainly briefings and pre-meetings do.  You will be able to participate in public meetings via the system we are using, Microsoft Teams Live.  The link will be published on the committee agenda.

Walking and Cycling

Walking and Cycling are vital for exercise and a safe way to get to work.  To ensure that residents can exercise safely and maintain social distancing, my group are encouraging the Council to close roads that are used by walkers and cyclists to get their daily exercise.  It has responded by closing Ipswich Waterfront to through-traffic for 3 weeks.

Government grants are available for these actions and as I wrote this Grant Shapps was extolling the virtues of such action and of cycling and walking to work.

If you have suggestions for roads that could benefit from a closure, please let me know and I will pass it on to the Cabinet Member.

District

During this period no one will be evicted for not paying council tax or rent to Mid Suffolk and the Communities team is giving help wherever it is needed.  Families struggling with financial hardship are to be given further support to reduce council tax bills, with letters due to more than 4,000 households in Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

If you have any queries, please ring 07545423808, 01473831306 or Email john.field@suffolk.gov.uk.