Alastair McCraw

Babergh District Council report to parishes FIRST AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE FOR 10 YEARS. I'm very pleased to be able to report that the new social housing on the corner of Ipswich Road and Gravel Pit Lane has been completed. Cllr Jan Osborne, Cabinet member for Housing and I, as ward member, were present to receive the keys from DCH Construction in mid January. In essence, this project has received my support from the start. Two underoccupied and out of date council houses and their huge gardens are replaced by nine modern homes. There are three two-bedroom houses and six one-bedroom flats, with three properties secured for residents with a Brantham connection, the most possible. The quality of construction seems high and I was impressed with some of the interior work I saw, harking back to my days in building supplies and fittings. Some residents have already moved in. I'd like to take the opportunity of welcoming these new villagers and wish them a happy future in their new homes. After all, we are going to be near neighbours.

Overall, in 2021 Babergh have continued to build new social and affordable homes in the district. There was a 20-25 year gap of these until the last few years, despite the massive need that existed and built up. Key provision of these has also taken place in Hadleigh, Shotley, Sproughton, Cockfield and Great Waldingfield. There is more to come in Babergh's short and long term plans. The Council have been reviewing our entire housing operation. With our services being based in-house, we will be project-managing future schemes with our own staff to ensure we retain control of the entire process.

Also in Gravel Pit Lane, and elsewhere across the district, we're using a £1.9M government grant to improve energy efficiency in 80 of our worst affected homes across both districts. Here, this is in the form of new external insulation, but can include heat pumps and solar panels in other properties.

BUDGET & COUNCIL TAX 2022-23

This years Budget proposals to go to the Council in February are based on a 2% increase in the Babergh component of your Council Tax. That equals £3.48 per year for the average Band D property. That's lower than some recent years where it was £5, the maximum. Since it only forms about 10% of all the Council Tax, it makes a small impact. The Parish precept increase is also 2%, an increase of just over £1 a year. Indications from Suffolk, who receive three quarters of the Council Tax that Babergh are responsible for collecting, are that a 3% increase is likely. With the Police precept increase at £10 per year (Band D) or 4.2%, the end effect will probably be roughly 3%. From my years on Scrutiny, Audit and now Cabinet I can state that our finances seem very sound, unlike some of the horror stories you may read about elsewhere. This is a cautious and careful council in these areas. This year we project a small surplus, but face potential rising deficits in the next three. Uncertainty in future funding from Westminster is the biggest issue, but we're always taking steps to maintain (even improve) services, while we look to be make better use of the resources we do have. That matters because really badly run councils can find Westminster appointing their own people to take over some areas. Would you really want that local control being lost completely?

CONTACT POINTS

Gov.uk. / Babergh.gov.uk. / 0300 123 4000 / Suffolk.gov.uk/ tendringdc.gov.uk

If you need to tell me anything important, please just phone or email me. I can guarantee a response there. I'd also like to know if there's anything you'd like me to cover here or ask directly. The electrified and illuminated Claud Butler and I will be seen in the usual places and around the village. I'll always be happy to speak to you.

Alastair McCraw. 07812 564188 or 07548 154296

[email protected]

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