First some good news. The Babergh Locality Award scheme which I implemented last year, has reopened for the 2021/2022 tranche and I would encourage community groups in Shotley and Erwarton looking for small amounts (from £250) to get in touch with me to discuss what they need and how to apply.

Among the awards I gave last year was £365 towards the Shotley Open Spaces' mobile defib, situated on the Bristol Arms wall which can mean the difference between life and death, as we witnessed from the shocking collapse of Christian Eriksen during a recent Euro 2020 match.

Face to face meetings are now back in full flow for decision making processes, although briefings, workshops and working group meetings can still be held virtually.

At Cabinet we agreed two biodiversity schemes with tree canopy survey and bio mapping initiative. We have also trialled anew electrocoagulate (EC) system at Kingfisher pool, as part of our carbon saving initiative.

During debate on whether Holbrook Academy should be allowed to increase its capacity to 600 pupils, which is another step towards its bid to have 800 students at the academy, and to be given nearly £240 CIL money in order to refurb the former caretaker's lodge and increase the size of the science block, there was a robust discussion about our policy on allowing a disproportionate amount of students being bussed into schools. It emerged more than 250 students (some 40%) are bussed in from as far as Felixstowe in the east, Needham Market in the west, along with pupils from Manningtree, Claydon and other areas of Ipswich, which is having a hugely damaging effect in terms of parking issues, carbon emissions and other environmental problems. There are also question marks regarding the Academy's re;ationship with the community, especially in light of the restrictive use of what was once the Peninsula Sports Centre.

I attended the Share Revenue Partnership meeting at Ipswich Town Hall last night, and it was cheering to see how brilliantly our staff had handled the issues with both council tax and business rates revenue.

Babergh District Councillor

Ganges ward (Shotley & Erwarton)