Highways Issues

Highways England will be working on the A14 between Claydon and Copdock during January and February for about 10 days. As they install, move, and remove the contraflow there will be diversions via the B1113.

Keep up to date on Covid 19

https://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/news gives you the top level of Mid Suffolk’s news.  There are links to Covid grant information, processes and forms for businesses and individuals who need help or information.

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/   gives advice on home to school travel and tier 2 restrictions.

https://www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/jsna/coronawatch holds up to date numerical and graphical information for Suffolk and at national level on the pandemic.

Biodiversity

The rate at which we are losing our diversity of creatures, including those that pollinate our crops, is alarming.  At SCC Full Council, following cross party action at the District our LDGI Group proposed and all councillors agreed:

• Delivery of an SCC biodiversity strategy.
• Assessment of how SCC can lead partner organisations in this field.
• Adoption of biodiverse land management options on SCC land.
• A call to the Secretary of State for a clear and ambitious national biodiversity strategy.

Pavement Parking

The Government is consulting on reforms to the law on pavement parking.  The LDGI group support a nationwide roll-out of a London-style restriction.  

People are unsure whether it is better to block the roadway or the pavement and end up half on and half off disrupting both.  Pedestrians, wheelchair, and buggy users cannot pass without risking moving into the road.  It’s not safe and has been made worse by narrow roads limited parking in new developments.

Number of SCC Councillors

The Boundary Commission is looking to reduce the number of SCC councillors and re-arrange division boundaries.  My group object to the proposed reduction in councillor numbers as Suffolk’s growing population is increasing councillor workload. That discourages younger people with a job from taking part.

We are concerned that some of the proposals from the boundary commission look like gerrymandering.  They also destroy efforts to align County Council divisions with District Council wards.

OFSTED report on SEND services

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have checked the support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The initial finding is that services were maintained.  The stress level of young people and families had risen, but the County Council has established dedicated services to provide support,

District News- CIFCO

The property investment company that Babergh and Mid Suffolk have set up, CIFCO Capital Ltd have purchased this month three further properties outside Suffolk: two warehouses and an office building leased to the NHS costing £10.5m total.  The intention is to bring in future rent income avoiding council tax increases. 

The Green and Liberal Democrat Group believe that we should not expose residents of Mid Suffolk to the risks of failing companies re-negotiating rents at lower levels and possible falls in property values.  The Government has now changed the rules of the Public Works Loan Board to switch off investments of this nature but it is still possible to borrow from other sources so we will see where this goes.

john.field@suffolk.gov.uk.     07545423808