A BUDGET TAKES SHAPE.

The headline point here is that Babergh Cabinet can propose a balanced budget to Council for adoption on 20th February. The cost of delivering services is set to rise by almost 20% to £12.45 Million, whilst running and maintaining the housing stock has already increased by 50%. Our savings and investment income help balance the books. A relatively small figure is proposed to come from reserves. The net effect is a proposal to increase Babergh's share of Council Tax by 2.99% during 2023/24. That's very similar to the last three years, an increase of £5.30 for the year (Band D) or 10p a week. For comparison, the Police Commissioner proposes a £15 a year increase. Suffolk CC will obviously be the largest total increase, making up nearly 75% of all Council Tax. We collect the Council Tax, for everybody, Suffolk, Police, District and Parish. About 9% of that goes to Babergh.

Council tenants will see a 7% increase in rents, after years where they came down by 1% annually. It's a shame, but nowhere near the increases that would be (AND have been) faced from any other provider.

Our Council Tax Reduction Scheme has recently been simplified, allowing up to a maximum 100% reduction for those on the lowest incomes. We know that everybody is feeling the squeeze, but these figures are far lower than nearly all others we all face. The potential deficit challenges to be faced in the next three years remain very worrying though.

HOUSING ISSUES.

You may have seen that Babergh have been given a Regulatory Notice by the Regulator of Social Housing. It's not a prosecution and no statutory action is going to be taken. Why? We started a programme of improvement works on the housing stock last summer, overhauling our compliance procedures. When we identified the out of date surveys issues, we reported ourselves and provided a complete action plan to address the shortfalls. Tenants at every home have been contacted and urgent work has been underway throughout the period so far. For perspective, it affects just over 5% of our properties, mostly over required electrical safety reports. 98% of District and Borough Councils are in similar positions. This should take a matter of weeks and we're treating it extremely seriously as a responsible landlord. 

A12 DIVERSIONS TO A137.

Although this isn't a district matter, it's very much on the villages mind and I've been working on the matter. After last year we, as a community, tried to engage with National Highways  who are very much in the driving seat (sorry!) on this. We suggested things they could do to reduce all the problems caused. Vague noises were made. The Parish, and the County Councillor made further specific suggestions to receive no response. At the last minute, we've received word that some things (not all) will be done. Why couldn't these have been included in the notification letter though? We're all going to be watching this and National Highways will need to raise their game in community engagement.

VOTER PHOTO ID.

To solve a non-existent problem, voting for Parish and District elections at polling stations will require photo ID. There's going to be an extensive publicity campaign on what will qualify as such. There virtually no evidence of 'personation' in UK elections, so you might think this is likely to make people less likely to vote. The actual problem is trying to make people more likely to vote. Local elections rarely reach 40% turnout. The eligible list starts at Passports and goes down to bus passes (some anyway). You can also apply for a gov.uk voting ID. I'll write more closer to the time, but I'd note that postal votes (from Babergh) are unchanged and also easy to arrange.

LOCALITY BUDGET.

I've now fully allocated the current years budget for the Ward. The full £2000 has been shared between Brantham Leisure Centre (Youth Provision), the Methodist Church Hall (Warm Spaces), Meet Up Wednesdays at the Bull (Social Isolation), Brantham Village Hall (Kitchen Improvements) and the Brantham Bugle. There will be a new budget after the May election, but village groups can always approach the Parish Council.

AND FINALLY

I draw your attention again to our End of Term report which you can find here, or from me by email. https://tinyurl.com/bdh7mvwp

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

If you need to tell me anything important, or ask about something, please just phone or email me. Should you spot any of my bike stable, come over and say hello. Happy to talk, as we all know.

Alastair McCraw. 07812 564188 or 07548 154296 [email protected]

Facebook: Alastair McCraw, Independent Councillor