Councillor Bobby Bennett

County Councillor for Clare Division

Date; 19th January 2022

Suffolk County Council Report

January 2022

More Scammers are operating in Suffolk – Don’t be their next victim.

See attached article

Suffolk County Council waives fees for Platinum Jubilee events

To mark the celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Suffolk County Council will be waiving fees associated with applications to close roads for street parties and other local authority led public events.

On Sunday 6 February 2022, Her Majesty the Queen will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service. To celebrate this milestone, events will be taking place across the Country, particularly over the four-day Bank Holiday weekend, between 2nd and 5th June 2022. This bank holiday gives communities and people throughout the UK the opportunity to come together and celebrate with their neighbours.

For all events on Sunday 5 June 2022, which is being referred to nationally as the ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’, Suffolk County Council will not be charging fees normally associated with road closures.

The following website has been set up for those who are looking to organise a street party as a group of residents, or as a local authority, for an event in a large public space, such as a park:

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/PlatinumJubileeEvent

As part of the main criteria for a road to be closed, the road must be residential with no through traffic (i.e. a cul-de-sac or traffic not able to access another road from the event road, etc.) and only resident traffic will be affected.

To be allocated traffic management to assist with an event, all applications must be received before 11pm on Sunday 27 March 2022. Traffic management will consist of 5 traffic cones, 1 road closure sign and an advance warning sign, which may be delivered to the chosen drop off point, up to Thursday 2nd June 2022.

If any applications are received after 11pm on Sunday 27 March 2022, these may still be processed. However, Suffolk County Council cannot cover the costs of Traffic Management for the event, nor will Suffolk County Council be able to provide any form of Traffic Management equipment. This is due to possible supply chain constraints and other operational demands.

For full details, including street party event criteria, information on insurance and licences, please ensure you visit this link https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/PlatinumJubileeEvent

Children’s services and adult care at the heart of Suffolk County Council’s new budget plans

More money to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Extra resources for adults in need of care

Additional funds to prevent flooding and fix footpaths

Suffolk County Council has outlined how it plans to spend money on public services in 2022/23, with more resources to support the health and wellbeing of everyone in Suffolk.

Under the proposals, the council’s budget for 2022-23 would rise by 4.5% (from £598.2 to £625.4m). This additional money is generated by a 2.99% increase in Council Tax, and an increase in grants received from the Government.

The proposals will be presented at a scrutiny meeting in January, then put forward for approval by councillors in February.

ct Suffolk County Councils Customer Services team on 0345 606 6171 or email customer.services@suffolk.gov.uk

Over 10,000 new LED streetlights installed across Suffolk

Suffolk’s LED replacement programme has reached a new milestone, with over 10,000 streetlights upgraded with new, sustainable LEDs as part of the project to replace all 43,400 streetlights in the county.

Bouygues Energies & Services, the contractor leading the programme has successfully installed 10,799 new lanterns and counting. These lanterns use less energy and produce a more natural and focused light than the traditional orange glow of streetlights.

The project, which is due to complete by the end of 2022 will also allow opportunity for other streetlight owners within Suffolk such as Parish and District Councils to upgrade their streetlights as part of this process.

This upgrade supports Suffolk County Council’s ambitions for becoming a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030. The benefits include; supporting a reduction in carbon emissions by saving energy and reducing light pollution, as well as providing clearer images on CCTV, traffic cameras and dashcam footage for the benefit of public safety.

The teams have been working their way through the west of the county and are making progress in Stowmarket and Sudbury.

Aside from the reduction in energy usage and minimising light pollution, the project will also bring down ongoing maintenance costs for the authority. The County Council expects to reduce its annual electricity costs on the streetlights by around 76%, saving more than £1.7 million a year.

By upgrading the lighting system with smart technology, this will increase the control the County Council has over its power consumption which will further reduce costs.

Prior to commencing in towns or parishes, Suffolk Highways is contacting those councils in case they wish to upgrade their parish-council owned streetlighting at the same time. All heritage-style lanterns which have been identified will be upgraded towards the end of the programme.