Minutes:
31.1 It has been a relatively short period of time since our last Full Council meeting and so I have focused my announcements this month on our recent successes.
However, I do also want to start by praising our Emergency Services, and in particular the Suffolk fire service who have been under such pressure and been so fantastic during this recent spell of extreme heat.
It has been a busy few weeks of significant milestones for our companies and Council projects, with the Range being confirmed as the first occupier at Gateway 14, and completion of the first phase of 32 new homes and a new Co-op store at Chambers Green in Needham Market. A further 60 homes will follow as part of phase two which is expected to start later in the year.
Cabinet have also agreed to fund the development of detailed designs, and public engagement, of a potential new wellbeing and leisure hub for Mid Suffolk. The project will provide new and improved facilities for a wide range of sports, leisure and health organisations, all brought together across a single site in Stowmarket.
The hot weather has also coincided with the start of school summer holidays and I am really proud that we are able to provide, alongside our partners, an array of activities. Explore Outdoor will again be getting children out and about in nature, while Kinetic Science will be encouraging children to learn through fun with some hands-on experiments. There will also be a variety of cooking lessons provided by The Food Museum, Explore Outdoor and Debenham Sports and Leisure – all supporting our ambition to combat holiday hunger.
There will also be sessions for swimming, football, arts and crafts, dodgeball, and filmmaking workshops. Free places are available for all of the activities for those most in need.
We are also continuing to tackle issues in relation to housing and homelessness. Through our newly adopted Empty Homes Policy we will be reducing the number of long-term empty properties in Mid Suffolk. This includes our Empty Homes Renovation Loan. This is an interest free loan of up to £20,000 to help owners to renovate properties that have been empty for more than six months.
I am also really pleased that alongside Councillor Hicks and Councillor Passmore as part of the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders Group, we have been able to create a new climate change fund. The £150,000 Suffolk Climate Action Community Match Fund is available for all not-for-profit organisations looking to deliver community-based carbon reduction projects. These could include improving the energy efficiency of buildings, promoting walking and cycling, using sustainable/recycled materials and raising awareness of climate change through events.
Looking ahead to later in the year, our second Innovation Awards has been launched. The awards are a celebration of all types of innovation across businesses in all sectors. It showcases how our businesses are using innovative approaches to deliver their products and services, ranging from customer services to new technologies.
There are 10 categories across a range of sectors that celebrate the best of innovation in the high street, healthcare, construction, customer service and foods. There are also awards for young innovators, innovation in future technology and the Business Innovator of the Year. Applications for the awards close on 14th August so please do encourage and support the businesses in your wards to get involved.
I do also want to take the opportunity to mention the Local Government Association Peer Review report which has been published on our website. The report describes how we are “punching above our weight” and praises our ambition and delivery. However, we will not rest on our laurels as we all want to be even better, and to keep improving our services and the quality of life for all our residents. This has never been more important given the cost of living crisis and climate emergency. Alongside the report we have therefore published an action plan based upon the peer review’s recommendations.
Finally, I want to confirm the changes I have made to Cabinet and welcome new colleagues to the senior leadership team…
As you will be aware, Councillor Harry Richardson has taken over from Councillor Gerard Brewster as Deputy Leader of the Council. Harry has also become the Portfolio Holder for Economy, and Councillor Julie Flatman will be both Portfolio Holder for Communities and also for Wellbeing. Gerard remains on Cabinet without a portfolio. I am really grateful to Gerard for his support both as Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder; and I am sure you will all join me in sending our best wishes to Gerard’s family.
As Councillors know, we are currently recruiting to three roles within the Senior Leadership Team. In the interim we have appointed temporary support for all three roles. So, I would like to welcome Anita Cacchioli as Director of Operations and Di Robinson as Director of Communities & Wellbeing. Chris Stratford will also be joining us during August as Director of Housing. Interviews for the permanent appointments to these roles will be happening in early September.