County November Report
County Report for the parishes of Hoxne & Eye - November 2024
The Government’s new housing targets must put infrastructure first
Suffolk County Council has raised concerns in its response to the government’s proposed reforms for planning policies for England.
In particular, it expresses fears about the lack of clarity around infrastructure, such as schools, transport, waste and community facilities when new housing developments are approved.
Last week, the government closed its consultation on plans to change the National Planning Policy Framework and other parts of the planning system.
The proposals include a significant increase in the number of new homes to be built across Suffolk – the government’s own figures suggest that East Suffolk alone would see an 87% increase in the number new homes, compared those currently planned.
Councillor Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy, Planning and Waste, said:
“Such a significant uplift in new homes in Suffolk, if not accompanied by the correct funding for affordable homes and infrastructure, will ring alarm bells with local residents.
“We’ve already seen from the new government that they are showing scant regard for Suffolk - with the approval of the Sunnica solar farm, the cancellation of our £500 million county deal and the withdrawal of Winter Fuel Payments. This cannot continue with huge pressure placed on the county with the new government’s housing targets, without the appropriate infrastructure to sit alongside it.
“In my own division, the villages of Bramford and Great Blakenham have grown considerably, and many residents have commented that roads and other infrastructure only come after the homes, if it comes at all.
“This is simply not sustainable – infrastructure must be delivered in a timely manner. If residential developments emerge that are not included in local plans because of the new government’s policy, then the onus must be on the developer to confirm how infrastructure will be delivered.”
Suffolk County Council is already very active in securing developer contributions and delivering infrastructure. It secures Section 106 contributions as well as funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy from district councils - but this is to maintain a baseline level of service rather than make a positive overall improvement to infrastructure.
In its response to government, the council said that the simple question of “who pays” for the infrastructure needs to be answered when permissions are being granted. Local planning authorities should not be allowed to assume that other authorities and agencies will make up any difference.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and Trading Standards honour their heroes
Firefighters, staff, and volunteers have been honoured at Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s annual awards ceremony.
More than 50 long service and good conduct medals and clasps plus accolades and certificates for outstanding service to the community were presented in the ceremony at Trinity Park Showground in Ipswich on Wednesday October 2.
The awards also recognise the work of Suffolk County Council Trading Standards and emergency planning.
The Miles Hammond Trophy, awarded for excellence by an individual or team during an emergency incident, has been awarded to Firefighter Matthew Brown.
He was sitting in his car in Lowestoft when he saw a teenage girl knocked down as she crossed the road.
She was thrown into the air and landed 10 metres away. Matthew gave her CPR until an ambulance arrived. He also aided the driver of the car to prevent him becoming a target of hostility at the scene of the accident.
The Excellence in Community Safety Award was won by the Suffolk Trading Standards ‘No Cold Calling Zone’ team for its work in reducing doorstep crime and promote confidence in people who may have been subject to doorstep crime or who are more vulnerable to it.
There are now 217 such zones across Suffolk and since the launch of the first, in 2009, more than 34,000 households have been protected from cold callers, either by living in a zone or through stickers provided to individual households which give legal effect to the displayed ‘no cold calling’ request.
The Cabinet Member Award for Volunteer of the Year went to the Salvation Army, whose volunteers provide refreshments for firefighters at the scene of major incidents.
The team are on stand-by 24 hours a day to crew a response vehicle kept at Stowmarket fire station. On receiving the call they mobilise to buy fresh food and get to an incident within 40 minutes.
Over the years the team have provided thousands of firefighters with tens of thousands of hotdogs, sandwiches, soups, and hot drinks.
The Alan Soards Award for Best Fire Staton went to Debenham fire station for its work in the aftermath of Storm Babet, despite being flooded itself.
A Lifetime Achievement award was made to Nigel Howlett of Suffolk Trading Standards in recognition of his 44 year career with the organisation which has seen him successfully investigate numerous rogue businesses.
They include car-clocking cases, where many miles were taken off vehicles; an investigation into a business producing counterfeit goods which required a visit to Dublin to obtain evidence; and the prosecution of a rogue builder for fraudulent trading against consumers on home improvement work.
A dozen Certificates of Merit were presented by Yvonne Gilchrist-Mason OBE, the High Sheriff of Suffolk, while Certificates of Long Service were presented by Councillor Liz Harsant, the Chair of Suffolk County Council.
Chief Fire Officer Jon Lacey and Becky Heginbotham-Blount of Suffolk Resilience Forum presented awards marking the work of the forum, a multi-agency group providing strategic and operational guidance for major incidents.
His Majesty’s Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, Mark Pendlington, presented HM The King’s Long Service and Good Conduct Medals, which are awarded for 20 years service to Firefighter Neil Bonham, Watch Manager Kevin Chambers, Firefighter Bryan Cooper, Crew Manager Gareth Cossey, Area Manager Henry Griffin, Firefighter Gary Nayler, Crew Manager Richard Plant, Firefighter Shelly Pleasance, Watch Manager Kirsten Thorpe, Firefighter Carl Vearer and Firefighter Darren Wood.
30 Year clasps were awarded to Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dan Fearn, Firefighter Les Field, Crew Manager Peter Goodhand, Watch Manager Steve Mullen (retired), Firefighter Stefan Saunders, Area Manager Andy Smith, and Station Manager Mark Walker.
40 Year clasps were awarded to Watch Manager Martyn Hazelwood, Watch Manager Paul Jolland, Crew Manager Paul Kerridge, and Station Manager Russell Punchard.
A minute’s silence was observed in memory of Firefighter Steven Fisk, an on-call firefighter with Halesworth fire station, who passed away in September.
Councillor Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said:
“I am hugely honoured to be able to help recognise the hard work and dedication to public service of this special group of people.
“It is no exaggeration to say that their hard work and devotion to what they do is what allows the rest of us to live our lives in safety. Society owes them a great deal.”
Suffolk launches pothole prevention programme ahead of winter weather
Suffolk County Council has launched a pothole prevention programme to target areas of Suffolk’s road network that could worsen when the winter weather hits.
Teams with additional resources and the latest technology have already started visiting and treating locations susceptible to deterioration or where there are smaller defects that could grow as the colder and wetter weather strikes.
Building on the success of earlier trials with the Roadmender Elastomac and Dragon Patcher machines, teams will be deployed across Suffolk to use this equipment in addition to our usual Safety Defect Service that deals with larger defects as they occur.
Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Ipswich, Operational Highways and Flooding, said:
“Cold and wet weather often wreaks havoc with our roads, which is why we have taken proactive steps and developed a targeted campaign to tackle and provide resilience to our road network ahead of this winter.
“This week we launched an additional programme of repairs in areas which pose a higher risk of potholes forming during the winter months. The aim of the programme is to treat areas of Suffolk’s roads earlier with the goal of reducing the number more substantial defects that may cause safety concerns to road users throughout the winter.
“These plans have been carefully worked up over recent months to ensure we can get ahead of pothole repairs between now and December prior to the drop in temperatures, mostly in January, February and March, where the largest number of potholes form. I look forward to sharing progress with residents.”
Highways workers using the Roadmender Elastomac system will target urban roads that are at higher risk of damage to locate cracks and smaller potholes and carry out repairs. Unlike traditional methods, which require potholes to be saw-cut, excavated and asphalt to be compacted on top, Elastomac is a flowable material used to seal the repaired area.
Once applied, this adhesive, flexible material bonds with the existing road surface, preventing water getting in the cracks and extending the road’s lifespan. The process is more sustainable and efficient, reducing material movement and waste by 90%, lowering costs and minimising disruption.
With the Dragon Patcher machines, these clean the surface of the road using compressed air, preparing it for repair with an application of aggregate and hot bitumen material, and will target rural roads.
Fuelled by biodiesel, HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), the patcher reduces raw material use, generates zero waste, and has demonstrated significant carbon savings compared to traditional patching techniques.
The locations have been carefully chosen, focusing on areas with a higher risk of potholes forming during winter. Highways teams will be working when weather conditions allow, from 7am to 5pm, moving across the county to treat the more vulnerable areas. Whilst the repairs are underway, traffic will be managed temporarily by staff on site, and there may be waiting times of up to 15 minutes.
Highways authorities up and down the country experience an inevitable rise in potholes during the winter months. Water seeps into cracks in the road surface which freezes, expands then breaks up the road surface. The purpose of this preventative programme is to seal treated areas of Suffolk’s road network to reduce water getting into cracks reduce the overall number of potholes forming.
For more information on our targeted project, please visit the pothole prevention programme page.
Council to offer interest-free loans to make homes more energy efficient
Suffolk County Council will offer interest-free loans to help make residents’ homes warmer, safer and cheaper to run.
Energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, solar panels, batteries, glazing, or heat pumps will all be possible with loans of up to £15,000 to be repaid over a maximum of 7 years at 0% interest.
The £3 million project will be open to homeowners across Suffolk from November, but you can register your interest now at Lendology.
Making homes more energy-efficient helps retain their heat and use less energy, meaning homeowners can save on their energy bills and reduce their carbon emissions. A warm home also has a positive impact on health and well-being.
Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality, said:
“This loan scheme will help hundreds of Suffolk residents to make their homes more energy efficient. It will put money back in their pockets, by saving on their energy bills.
“We all have a responsibility to ensure homes can cope with the changes in climate, keeping people cooler in summer and warmer in winter, and ultimately reducing our carbon emissions. This loan scheme is one way we’re helping people to do that – and at the same time, they are benefitting from improvements to their homes.
“One of the other highlights is that more than the initial £3 million will be generated for loans – when people make their repayments, the money goes back into the pot and is available for someone else. We hope it will be accessible for many years.”
Money for the loans comes from £3 million of funding received as part of the council’s negotiations with the previous government to secure a County Deal.
It was allocated from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to support an energy efficiency and energy generation 0% loan fund for people that cannot access grants currently available to low-income households.
The scheme supports Suffolk’s Climate Emergency Plan, by increasing the number of properties which have energy-efficient and low carbon energy measures installed.
An increase in demand for energy efficiency measures will also help support businesses providing those services, meaning jobs, skills development and investment in the green economy.
Suffolk County Council is partnering with Lendology CIC to deliver the interest-free loan scheme. Lendology CIC is an experienced Social Enterprise Lender, managing similar schemes with councils across the country.
For more information and to register your interest in an interest-free loan, visit Lendology's website.
Suffolk residents encouraged to share views on new Local Transport Plan
Suffolk's communities helped shape a new draft of the Suffolk Local Transport Plan by sharing their views back in February of this year and the county council is now seeking feedback on the final proposed document.
The plan which details activity between 2025-2040 sets out a long-term vision for transport in Suffolk and covers themes such as decarbonisation of transport, strengthening the local economy, promoting health, wellbeing and social inclusion, and creating better-connected places that encourage a range of transport choices.
Alongside this county-wide plan, the county council has produced fifteen ‘Area Transport Plans’ and a ‘Suffolk Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan’ which are the funded implementation plans for the wider Suffolk Local Transport Plan. These plans outline how the Local Transport Plan’s vision and objectives will be delivered in key locations across the county.
Councillor Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy, Planning and Waste, said:
“After engaging with Suffolk’s residents earlier this year about their travel habits, I am delighted to be able present to them an updated Suffolk Local Transport Plan for the next 15 years.
“The plan presents the county council’s vision for transport in Suffolk, highlighting the challenges and opportunities we have and the measures available to respond to them – this is why it’s important we consider the views of all before we formally adopt our fourth document and its associated plans.
“We value the views of the local community and interested parties, so please share your thoughts, even if you only wish to comment on a small part of the plans.”
The consultation is available via www.suffolk.gov.uk/LTP and the consultation will close on Monday 25 November 2024. The Local Transport Plan and its associated plans will then be presented to Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet in 2025.
Suffolk County Council set on major investment to further protect Suffolk from flooding as it calls on Government to ‘step up’
Suffolk County Council has announced its intention to invest another £1.5 million to carry out important flooding prevention work.
Council set to agree £1.5 million to deliver first phase of works identified in initial flood investigation reports
Authority calls on Government to recognise ongoing impact of Storm Babet and fund £20 million of further prevention work urgently needed
Extensive work already completed since Storm Babet including more than 111,000 drains cleared and significant road repairs.
The commitment comes as initial flood investigation reports have identified that a further £20 million is needed to complete the work – a figure that the county council can’t afford. The council has therefore written to the Flooding Minister, Emma Hardy MP, and demanded the government step up and plug the funding gap.
Examples of the kind of projects that could be delivered include:
1. Creating flood water retention ponds in land above villages and green spaces within communities to capture water and slow the flow into residential areas.
2. Installing flood doors and non-return valves on drains to stop water entering properties that are particularly at risk of flooding.
3. Help landowners with advice and guidance, especially those within responsibilities to maintain ditches and streams on their properties (known as ‘riparian ownership’).
4. Bolstering Suffolk Highways’ resources to deliver planned and reactive maintenance on the county’s roads and footpaths.
Councillor Paul West, Cabinet Member for Operational Highways and Flooding, said:
“Since Storm Babet, our teams have been working hard to repair the damage it caused, investigate what happened and to help reduce the flood risk in future. This preventative work is complex, costly and requires lots of agencies work together.
“Despite limited resources and budgetary challenges facing all county councils, we have managed to find extra money to tackle flooding and propose investing a further £1.5 million to deliver work identified in our investigations. However, this isn’t enough and - so steep is the challenge facing areas like Suffolk, who were hit hard by Storm Babet - the government must act and provide extra funding. This is why we’ve written to the Flooding Minister asking for additional money. The government needs to step up to the plate and help us ensure Suffolk’s residents don’t face uncertainty when these extreme weather events occur.
“I saw firsthand how devastating the impact of Storm Babet was for many families and businesses across Suffolk. The finished flood investigation reports give us a clear understanding of what work needs to be done and at what cost. It is right that we continue to increase our resources appropriately, but unless the government acts too we will not be able to go as far as our residents deserve.”
Storm Babet struck between October 18 and 21 last year and caused substantial flooding and disruption across Suffolk. A month’s worth of rain fell in 24 hours, flooding more than 900 homes and businesses. The impact of the storm was exceptional and demanded an urgent multiagency response.
So far, Suffolk County Council has committed more than £13.75 million for work to aid recovery from Storm Babet.
Suffolk County Council has made several achievements as part of our continued commitment to reduce flood risk.
The council has already committed £12.25 million, including:
£1 million on bringing in additional flood investigation specialists
£1.25 million for repairs to Suffolk’s highways following the flood damage
£10 million funding, which was committed in 2021, to address long-standing drainage issues over three years. This complements £2 million a year invested in drainage repairs and improvements funded from the Department for Transport maintenance grant.
The council has completed seven location-based flood investigations, with an estimated 50 to complete. This compares to an average of three or four investigations in an average year. These reports provide a detailed account of events for each flooding location and recommendations for other organisations, landowners, businesses and residents.
Carried out extensive works on Suffolk’s highways. Specifically:
Cleared 96% of highway drainage gullies across Suffolk, more than 111,000. This involves lifting the iron grates and sucking up the debris that has washed off the roads
Attended more than 3,500 emergency call outs for flooding related incidents – an unprecedented number. This includes pumping an estimated 2.5million litres of water from the roads, removing 53 tonnes of debris and clearing 121 fallen trees
Rolled out the DEFRA-funded Recovery Scheme which meant that flooded property owners could apply for up to £5,000 to make their homes and businesses more resilient to future flooding. Suffolk County Council is administering the scheme on behalf of government. Applications are open until April 2025.
The new money is set to be agreed by the council’s Cabinet on 5 November.
More time to get your Suffolk solar panel and battery storage quote
Over 3,100 Suffolk residents have signed up for a quote from the Solar Together Suffolk scheme for solar panel and battery storage installation – and the deadline for registration is now extended to 15th November 2024.
This gives more homeowners the opportunity to save on their energy bills, cut carbon emissions and boost local renewable energy generation.
Solar Together Suffolk helps homeowners feel confident that they are paying a fair price for a high-quality installation from qualified installers, without the hassle of shopping around themselves.
On offer are solar panels with optional battery storage and EV charge points, as well as retrofit battery storage for anyone who already has solar panels installed and is looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate.
Registration to the scheme is free, and there is no obligation to go ahead with an installation.
Suffolk’s councils are working in partnership with iChoosr, experts in sustainable energy transition, to make the transition to clean energy as cost-effective and hassle-free as possible, and enabling homeowners to increase their independence from the national grid.
How does it work?
Householders can register online by 15 November 2024 for free and without obligation at solartogether.co.uk/suffolk
Approved UK solar PV suppliers participate in a reverse auction. They are able to offer competitive pricing as the volume and geographic concentration makes it possible for them to realise greater efficiencies, which they pass on with lower prices for installations.
After the auction, registered households will be emailed a personal recommendation which is specific to the details they submitted in their registration.
If they choose to accept their recommendation, the specifics of their installation will be confirmed with a technical survey after which a date can be set for the installation of their solar PV system.
Telephone and email helpdesks are on-hand throughout the whole process which, together with information sessions, will allow households to make an informed decision in a safe and hassle-free environment.
iChoosr has been collaborating with UK councils since 2015 on its Solar Together scheme, aiming to accelerate the energy transition nationwide. The initiative aims to encourage residents to partake in the collective purchase of solar PV and battery storage systems. To date, Solar Together has installed 13,750 solar panels in Suffolk, reducing carbon emissions by 27,100 tonnes over 25 years – equivalent to 15,000 cars off the road in that time!
iChoosr’s schemes have been delivered in partnership with local authorities in five countries. More than 180 schemes have led to 178,000 residents installing solar PV systems.
Suffolk residents urged to share their views on local pharmaceutical services
Suffolk County Council is calling on residents to share their views on local pharmaceutical services as part of a regular review to ensure that these services continue to meet the evolving needs of the community.
The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA), which is undertaken every three years in line with statutory requirements, is a comprehensive report designed to assess current pharmaceutical services and identify any gaps or areas for improvement.
Feedback gathered through this survey will help the Suffolk Health and Wellbeing Board, NHS England, and Integrated Care Boards make informed decisions about future service provisions, including any potential new pharmacy openings.
Councillor Steve Wiles, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Protection said:
“Pharmaceutical services play a vital role in the health and well-being of our communities. It is essential that we regularly assess these services to ensure that they are meeting the needs of our residents and are accessible to everyone. By completing this survey, people can have a real say in the future of their local healthcare services, and we encourage as many people as possible to get involved.”
Pharmaceutical services in Suffolk are delivered through community pharmacies—sometimes referred to as chemists—which include those located in supermarkets, online pharmacies, and specialist medical appliance contractors. These pharmacies not only dispense medicines but also offer essential healthcare advice and support, often serving as the first point of contact for health concerns.
Residents can complete the survey online by visiting https://bit.ly/4f4PUYC. The deadline for submissions is 8th November 2024.
By contributing to this important review, residents can help ensure that pharmaceutical services in Suffolk remain fit for purpose and responsive to the needs of the community.
Suffolk Highways unveils new gritting fleet named by county’s young people
With winter approaching, Suffolk Highways has welcomed 38 new gritters to replace its existing fleet, including Kieran McSpreader, Albert Brinestein and Morgan Freezeman.
The new gritters have a digital operating system with the latest route map planning software, ensuring they are winter ready to keep Suffolk’s roads safe and moving in the event of ice or snow.
A competition to name the gritters was launched at this year’s Suffolk Show, with winning entries including Salty, Gritty McGrit Face and Grit Britain, being unveiled during a recent ceremony in Ipswich.
There are also multiple Suffolk-related names in the fleet, such as Spread Sheeran, Lizzie Gritzzini and Grit Rhys Jones in recognition of some of the county’s famous residents.
They are not the only celebrities to be honoured, as Gritney Houston, Spready Mercury, Keanu Freeze, Lewis Caploughdie, and David Attenbrrrrrr are set to grace Suffolk’s roads in the coming weeks and months.
Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Ipswich, Operational Highways and Flooding, said:
“I am delighted that Suffolk Highways has welcomed 38 state-of-the-art gritters to its fleet, with the names chosen by our county’s young people likely to raise a smile when they are spotted out and about this winter.
“Although last winter season was milder than previous years, Suffolk Highways still gritted over 3,200 miles of road, roughly the distance from London to Dubai, in response to road temperatures being forecast to drop below one degree celsius on 62 occasions.
“This is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our winter maintenance drivers, who often work around the clock or sacrifice time with their loved ones to ensure that Suffolk’s roads are gritted and ready for use by highway users. However, we all still need to play our part by driving to the conditions and preparing our own vehicles for winter.”
Whilst the weather has been warmer in recent weeks, Suffolk residents may get a glimpse of the new gritting fleet when they carry out their test grit runs in the coming days.
Further information on winter maintenance carried out by Suffolk Highways, including which roads are gritted, can be found at www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/highway-maintenance/check-which-roads-are-gritted.