Minutes:
18.1 The Chairman invited the Leader to make her announcements.
The Leader advised that she wanted to keep her announcements as brief as possible to ensure that Members had time to discuss and debate the two significant papers on the agenda.
With regard to the future of council housing in Mid Suffolk, the Leader stated that there surely cannot be a more important time - in the middle of a cost of living crisis – for the Council to be confirming how we are going to ensure we provide truly affordable, safe, warm, environmentally friendly homes for those families and individuals who are most in need in Mid Suffolk.
She then spoke about the amazing opportunity to create a holistic wellbeing hub - which would bring together education, sport, leisure and health facilities and commented that this would be a facility not just for Stowmarket but for residents and communities from across the district.
The Leader commented on the current community engagement in relation to the Parking Strategy, advising that drop in events would be happening in Thurston, Woolpit, Stowmarket, Needham Market, Great Blakenham, Debenham, and Eye. An online survey will be open on 31 July with paper copies available by telephone request.
As Councillor Fleming said in launching the consultation, the Councils’ aim is to have a parking strategy that is fit for the future, and must ensure shoppers, tourists, visitors, residents, workers, and commuters have access to sufficient, good quality, safe, welcoming and easy-to-use parking.
The parking strategy aims to reflect both the need for private vehicle parking and the Councils’ climate change ambitions, and support more sustainable transport options such as buses, trains, and cycling, to connect our communities.
The Leader reminded Members of the new Annual Residents survey. The fieldwork for the survey began this month and will last for 2 months. The results of this survey will enable the Council to measure some of its short-term outcomes such as resident satisfaction, feeling informed, influence, communication preferences, personal wellbeing, community resilience, and feelings of safety across Mid Suffolk.
She went on to say that the report is yet to be considered at Overview & Scrutiny Committee, which will be happening on Monday, but as the papers had been published, she wanted to take the opportunity to personally thank the Directors of CIFCO. The report going to Overview & Scrutiny confirms that CIFCO generated £3.75m in net income for Mid Suffolk and Babergh last year, which of course enables us to continue to deliver and improve services for our residents without resorting to increases in taxes or charges.
The Leader finished with three further thank yous. Firstly, she thanked Councillor Brewster who has stepped away from the role as Deputy Leader, and expressed her gratitude for his constant, reassuring support over the last 3 years. Councillor Richardson has agreed to take on the role of Deputy Leader.
She then thanked Gavin Fisk, the Assistant Director for Housing, and Cassandra Clements, the Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships, who will both be leaving the Council in July, and wished them the best for the future.
The Chairman thanked the Leader for her announcements.