Ganges Ward Update: So much good being done during this Covid-19 crisis

Derek Davis, Babergh District Council Report, Ganges ward

This will be a report like no other in the history of Babergh district council, as I'm sure my councillor colleagues will be finding. Hopefully, next month's report will be more focussed on how we are coming out of this crisis and our recovery.

So many stars stepping up

First of all, I must praise the outstanding work so many people have done within Ganges ward. Volunteers, council officers and contractors, NHS staff and key-workers, including the amazing shop staff at Manish's Premier Store and Post Office, have stepped up to help the most vulnerable.

Gavin the milkman, our various posties, everyone at Shotley surgery and dispensary and the skeleton staff manning the lock at Shotley marina. The marina has also provided vital personal protection equipment, which I took to Endeavour House and was taken in by a Royal Navy lieutenant, drafted in to support county council staff.

Our takeaways have been able to lift villagers' spirits and provided much needed hot meals, so thank you to Ali at the Lasan and Mark for stepping in to do a delivery service, Sarah and Jamie at the Shotley Rose and Shane at the Bristol Arms, who has also responded to Coastguard call outs.

The unsung stars though, has to be all those helping out with the Shotley & Erwarton Good Neighbours scheme who have been delivering food parcels, shopping and prescriptions, among other things, and other individuals that have stepped up to help out without fuss. They have been supported by Kate, our Babergh locality officer who has been coordinating the whole peninsula.

Our tangible support locally

Babergh has been playing its part in the Ganges ward too, just as it has across the district. We have given emergency grants of more than £3,000 to Shotley & Erwarton outreach projects to support their good work as part of our £80k hardship funding initiatives. I have also helped businesses access grants totalling tens of thousands of pounds to help them through these tough times and will continue to offer support wherever I can.

Outstanding communities team work

As Babergh cabinet member for communities, I have been closely involved in the wider strategic approach to dealing with the fall out of the Covid-19 crisis and I'm very fortunate to have a wonderful communities team, that has stepped up and gone above and beyond in everything that has been asked for them

Kate, for example has dealt with hundreds of cases, while juggling with home schooling and her efforts have been replicated across the district by other officers, supplemented by others drafted in from other departments to help put.

Along with the economic team, Babergh has handed out grants to more than 2,500 businesses, which is almost 68% of eligible businesses, but that leaves more than 1,000, including sports clubs, and community buildings, still entitled to the cash.

If you have not yet applied go to Babergh's business grants page and it is a grant, not a loan.

Our brown bin collections start again next week so all those with lots of garden waste can have a clear out, but please be patient and understand our crews may not be able to take all of it in one go.

Although it won't be business as usual, probably ever again, Babergh has tried to maintain its properties, dealt with numerous housing issues, including homelessness. It is anticipated construction will resume in earnest soon, and I'm keen that work starts on the new homes in Queensland as soon as possible.

Regular remote meetings

Throughout the lockdown cabinet members have had regularly briefings using Skype, remote public meetings have been given the green light, and Babergh has held its first remote planning meeting, and we are holding a livestream Cabinet meeting today, which you can access via Babergh's YouTube channel.

We have been strong as a cabinet, indeed strong as a local authority with good leadership and direction with actions speaking louder than words from senior councillors and officers.

Good communications

I feel our communication team has been on the ball throughout and the information has been constant and fulsome, if somewhat overwhelming at times, but through our own Babergh social media and website, regional television and radio broadcasters and news outlets, including my own Nub News, we have kept you informed.

A mention too for my fellow peninsula councillors, Jane, Mary and Alistair who I know have had a wide range of issues to deal with and have been front and centre whenever needed.

Doing my day job

On a more personal note, thank you for all the kind messages thanking our efforts and asking about my welfare. Although I do have an underlying medical condition I 'm fighting fit and trying to do my bit. I started a new job as Suffolk Regional Editor for Nub News and that is doing very well in providing up to date information, facts and interesting articles for our communities on the peninsula, and we have now extended into Felixstowe.

None of this has lessened my commitment as your ward member for Ganges, and as cabinet member for communities serving the wider district and I remain available to help in any way I can.

Communities rise and fall together, we have risen to this challenge, and will continue to rise. Stay safe...