Proposed 20mph residential speed limits
The LDGI Group supported by Labour Group proposed a default 20mph speed limit for roads in residential areas across Suffolk towns and villages, with 30mph limits retained in exceptional circumstances.
We felt that by rejecting this idea, the Administration lost a massive opportunity to improve the lives of their residents, to make the air cleaner, to get more people walking and cycling, and to reduce deaths and injuries on our roads.
SCC has separately announced a publicity campaign “to encourage walking and cycling” that will consist of posters and radio adverts, along with £235,000 funding for Quiet Lanes Suffolk for which parishes can apply
Highways Issues
I have made some progress and Barham Parish have put up a new Vehicle Activated Signs funded by all your councillors but it’s still difficult to get answers on issues like problem parking and closed Zebra crossings.
Keeping up to date on Covid-19
The Suffolk Resilience Forum involving the County Council, District and Borough councils, emergency services, public health, and the NHS. Is fully active again.
Regular bulletins give the current situation: https://www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/jsna/coronawatch
Home, But Not Alone Phoneline
The free phoneline, 0800 876 6926 is up and running again. It supports vulnerable people who lack a network of family or friends to call upon to get food and medicine deliveries and emergency support.
It will be staffed from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. It complements the Suffolk Advice and Support Service on 0800 068 3131 which helps those with debt, benefits, employment, or housing worries.
Self-isolation support payments
Residents on low-incomes and unable to work because they have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, can now claim a £500 payment to compensate for loss of earnings. See: https://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/benefits/coronavirus-money-and-benefits-advice
The Babergh MSDC Local Plan
The Joint Local Plan has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate after we agreed it on 11th Nov.
The plan works with the National Planning Performance Framework and locally produced Neighbourhood Plans. It will guide how housing, important infrastructure, and essential employment is delivered in Babergh and Mid Suffolk until 2037.
It has been overseen by a cross party task force but that does not mean there is total agreement, just that we all must compromise to get progress. The intended housing delivery remains skewed towards the A14 and A12 corridors and the Ipswich Fringe. Requirements on environmental performance of buildings, biodiversity and sustainable transport are less firm than we would like with many “if appropriate” and “where possible” phrases.
However, in just one more year, we will say goodbye to the “our plans are out of date” issue that has been biasing planning decisions.
Biodiversity
Councillors have agreed a set of environmental measures, developed by a cross-party task force to tackle climate change: we are making progress!
Community Infrastructure Funding
£312,507 CIL was allocated to 29 Mid Suffolk Parish & Town Councils for April to September 2020.
We have agreed to consult on revised CIL charges to cover increasing costs, so the sums available are likely to increase.
Solar Farms
There are now two proposed 50Mwatt solar farms and two 50Mwatt batteries proposed between Bramford, Somersham and Flowton.
These are vital to allow a switch away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources but that must be at a reasonable cost to food production and to residential amenity.
john.field@suffolk.gov.uk. 07545423808