Launched in 2010, the awards puts the spotlight on the efforts being made by people across Suffolk Coastal to add to the district’s quality through new projects that have helped conserve historic buildings, create new top-notch designs, or helped benefit the local landscape, nature, local community or community spirit.

“This district has a proud record of excellence on show, which this Council’s commitment to encouraging high quality design and conserving the best of our district has played its part in delivering,” said Cllr Andy Smith, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Planning.

“There has been a trend in recent years for projects in our district to eventually gain national recognition and what we are trying to achieve with this award scheme is to help laud locally the quality of design and conservation on our doorsteps.

“We have introduced an additional category this year to specifically take account of those developments which have contributed to local facilities and community spirit, and I hope we again attract a high standard of entries for our judges to consider,” added Cllr Smith.

The awards aim to recognise and encourage an interest in the quality of the built and natural environment in Suffolk Coastal, while promoting an awareness of the need for high standards in all forms of design.

Entries are invited in four categories, building conservation, design, nature/landscape, and community project. Entry is free and nominations should be submitted by 4.45pm on Friday, April 27, and they will be judged on the basis of the quality of design, detailing, and workmanship, as well as materials and sustainability.

The project must be within the Suffolk Coastal area and have been completed between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011, except for the nature and landscape category whose start date is January 1, 2007 in recognition of the time it takes for such work to be established.

Full details, along with an entry form, can be found on www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/planning/policy/qualityofplace where there is also information about, and pictures of, previous winners. People can also email conservation@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk or call 01394 444296.

A panel of professional and lay judges, chaired by a district councillor, will review the nominations and visit the shortlisted sites. Winners will receive a bronze Quality of Place plaque at a special ceremony in the summer.

People in the two districts, and the rest of Suffolk, can boost the chances of better speeds by proving to the Government and suppliers that there is genuine demand in Suffolk and taking part in this survey is a way to do that.

Leader of Waveney District Council Cllr Colin Law said: “Superfast broadband will not be rolled out across the country at the same time and it is clear that some regions will get to the front of the queue quicker than others. This is why it is vital that everyone in Suffolk completes this survey to show that the demand is there and that investment is desperately needed. I call on the people of Waveney to stand up and be counted and help the County by just taking a few minutes to fill out the form. It really could make all the difference.”

The county has one of the poorest broadband networks in the country, with an average speed of under 5 megabytes per second, but an ambitious £41.7 million project supported by local councils, businesses and national government is set to bring the area into the 21st century.

Cllr Ray Herring, Leader of Suffolk Coastal District Council said: “There is already significant cash backing for this vital project, with up to £10m set aside by the county council and £11m from the Government, while our Local Strategic Partnership has also put in funding. But the next vital step is that we have to prove that our communities want the improved service, which is why need everyone to go online and give their support. Resources are limited and we need to show that we not only deserve them here but that the demand is here to make it worthwhile for the investment to come our way,” added Cllr Herring.

This survey follows a similar exercise undertaken with Suffolk businesses, which is also still live, and can be completed in a number of ways. For full details head to the dedicated web page set up by the County Council on behalf of the countywide broadband partnership:
http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/broadband

Joint press release issued by Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils

A simultaneous meeting of the two Cabinets at Wenhaston agreed a scheme that will affect all parts of the planning services offered by the two Councils, merged in a move that is both expected to mean better performance and bring shared savings of over £800,000.

The Councils’ Cabinet Members for Planning, Cllr Andy Smith at Suffolk Coastal and Cllr David Ritchie at Waveney, are delighted. Cllr Smith said: “The Government has made significant changes to the way planning needs to operate in the future and we intend to be ready to adapt and support the new localised ethos and be even more responsive to the communities we serve.

“We are looking to bring in not just an organisational restructure but also a complete cultural change to the way our planning services work, which will improve the delivery of our service to our customers and make the most of new technologies.

“Our Councils have been pioneers in many ways recently, such as our shared Chief Executive and our slimmed down joint management team, or our Coastal Management initiatives, and these radical changes to our planning services will again lead the way in offering further improved, efficient services,” added Cllr Smith.

Philip Ridley has been the shared head of the two Councils’ planning services since November 2008, and has overseen the creation of the merged Coastal Management team, as well as being at the forefront of the development and introduction of shared working.

The next major task is to bring together the expertise of the Development Control, Planning Enforcement and Building Control teams, who in all number over 50 people.

A substantial investment will be needed to bring Suffolk Coastal up to the same modern computer system standards for administering the planning process as currently used at Waveney, which also offers more comprehensive and easily accessible information to Town and Parish Councils, and the wider public, regarding planning applications.

“The aim is by April to create three teams covering the north, south and central part of the combined area of our two districts, to cover all the issues regarding planning applications, enforcement, or safeguarding new structures through building control. These teams will be responsive to the individual needs of the communities they serve,” said Cllr Ritchie.

“These changes will make currently good services even better – both Councils are among the better performers in terms of all the key indicators such as speed and quality of dealing with applications. The sharing of knowledge and expertise across our districts, and the development of high calibre staff to meet this exciting challenge, making the most of the plethora of new technology now available, will help us deliver a modernised service, responsive to the needs both of our communities and those who want to invest in our area.

“As well as a modernised service to meet their future needs, our residents will also be delighted to know that these proposals will also deliver large and much-needed savings. We expect that the total savings of our shared planning team will be nearly £850,000 since 2008 when Philip Ridley took on the management of both teams, which is proving vital in helping our Councils bridge their budget gaps,” added Cllr Ritchie.

The next steps will be to merge the Planning Policy services, both of which have been heavily involved in the production of their district’s respective Local Development Frameworks, and also the Design and Conservation and Administration teams.

Also, a joint Major Projects Team will be created, to focus on maximising the benefits of potential projects such as offshore renewable energy, Sizewell, BT’s Adastral Park, regeneration in Lowestoft and the Port of Felixstowe, while protecting the local environment and obtaining the necessary housing and infrastructure such projects require.

The new single team will then work alongside the Coastal Management team, itself a move which places the Councils at the forefront of the new integrated Coastal Management that is set to become the norm nationally.

A joint press release from Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils

While the countywide Don’t be a Tosser campaign, led by BBC Radio Suffolk, will soon be marking its fifth year of combating litter across the county, Suffolk Coastal is highlighting the financial and environmental cost of rubbish.

“There really is no excuse for dropping any litter or fly-tipping anywhere in our district as there are so many easy ways to properly dispose of any items, whether it be in one of the thousands of litter bins or recycling banks, or at one of the household waste recycling centres,” said Cllr Andrew Nunn, Cabinet Member for the Green Environment.

“The thoughtless actions of just a few people are costing us all £600,000 a year, as that is what this Council has to spend on its street cleaning service, money which in these tough financial times could be much better spent.

“Discarded litter, whether it is a cigarette butt or chewing gum, or food cartons, cans or bottles, all have an environmental impact on our district as well. I would strongly urge the few who are costing us all so much to be more responsible and as the campaign says, to stop being a tosser. I would also warn those who are littering that they risk being fined,” added Cllr Nunn.

The Council’s energies have recently been concentrated on tackling litter caused by motorists, with over 80 caught since April and issued with Fixed Penalty Notices for dropping litter.

Keeping the stretches of the A12 and A14 within the district clean of litter is one of the thankless tasks facing the Council’s Suffolk Coastal Services teams. A dedicated crew covers these main routes on a continuous basis routinely collecting litter that has come from passing vehicles.

“It must be a soul-destroying job for our SCS team who are doing such a great job clearing these main roads of quite often unpleasant litter. They know that they will have more to start collecting again once they return to the same stretches of these main roads.

“I really hope that the message gets through at last to all motorists and everyone else dropping litter that enough is enough. Please just bag up your rubbish and throw it away or recycle it as there are so many ways that this can be easily done,” added Cllr Nunn.

Free pocket ashtrays for cigarette butts are on offer from SCS – call 01394 444000 or email scsltd@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk, which are also the contacts details for anyone wanting to report someone dropping litter or fly-tipping.

Anyone caught dropping any sort of litter can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of up to £80, or risk having to pay £2,500 if taken to Court. The penalties for fly tipping are even stricter, with the upper limit being £50,000 or even imprisonment.

The sessions have been set up as part of Suffolk Coastal’s innovative Change Makers project and will be held fortnightly on Thursdays from 9.30am to 11.30am to recruit and encourage volunteering in the Woodbridge area.

“Three people have come forward to offer to run this venture and so hopefully inspire more people to give up their time and do something positive in their community to make a difference in the day to day lives of their fellow residents. The event is being run with help from Framlingham Volunteer Centre and the library and I hope it becomes a real success,” said Dr Wil Gibson, Board member of the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).

“Anyone can come along and find out what groups are doing in their area and what opportunities there are for people to offer voluntary support to make their activities even more effective. Voluntary work can be incredibly satisfying as you are playing a direct role in providing much-needed services to people that need them in your own community.

“Volunteering is also an excellent way of gaining new skills and of showing to potential employers that you are someone who is ready and willing to take on fresh challenges. So whether you have just a few spare hours a month, or could commit to a few days a week, there are local groups who can make use of your talents and time, whether in Woodbridge or elsewhere in the district,” added Dr Gibson.

Alison Jordan is the campaign coordinator of Change Makers which provides support and guidance to local people who want to make a difference in their community, helping people turn their big idea into reality and so provide something new that could really add a special little extra to the local quality of life.

The scheme is specifically targeted at those who want to start something new, or make something better or just put it right. It could include setting up a club or group, or organising an activity, learning or teaching new skills, or just generally helping people in the local community.

Alison Jordan can be contacted on 01473 273273 or 07531 852 112, or by emailing Alison.jordan@savo.co.uk or by writing to her at SAVO, Dickson House, 43a Woodbridge Road East, Ipswich IP4 5QN. Alison is funded by the SCLSP and supported by the Suffolk Coastal Resource Network (SCRN), another SCLSP backed project.

The SCRN recently called on all volunteers and voluntary groups in Suffolk Coastal to register on Do-It.org, an online database that helps the Voluntary and Community Sector to get the volunteers they need.

Organisations should register their details with Volunteer Ipswich and Volunteer Centre Framlingham & District. Those groups on the west side of the A12 should register with Volunteer Centre Framlingham and the east side with Volunteer Ipswich, while groups in the Woodbridge area can register with either body. Volunteers can also tell either centre about skills and availability, so they can be matched up with local groups.

The registration forms for volunteers and for local groups can be obtained by calling Kirk Jackson, Volunteer Support and Development Officer at Volunteer Ipswich on 01473 261116 or emailing volunteer@ipswich-cvs.org.uk . Volunteer Centre Framlingham & District’s contact is Jan Wright, available on 01728 621210 or by emailing framlingham@volunteercentressuffolk.co.uk

Press release issued on behalf of the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership

The gap between the Council’s income and the cost of its current services will rise to £2.8 million, largely because of a 30 per cent cut in the amount of Government grants it gets, despite all the measures it has taken since 2001 which has seen it save £10 million.

“With our long-term commitment to providing value for money services that our residents want, I think we have a proud record of delivering efficiencies while also maintaining and even improving services,” said Cllr Ray Herring, Leader of Suffolk Coastal.

“However, the financial situation facing us is starker than ever. We are working non-stop with our partners to squeeze every possible efficiency out of our services by working together and so reducing costs, but we are facing some tough decisions which is why we need help from our communities.

“We need their views on what services could be cut back even further, whether some need more backing, and even if some should be stopped altogether. I hope that over the coming weeks people will let us know what they think we should do,” added Cllr Herring.

People are being asked to go online to say whether the Council’s reducing resources should be focused on priority services, if spending on some services should be reduced or kept the same, whether the service should be run by another organisation, or stopped altogether, or whether charges should be introduced or increased.

To help it face the challenges, the Council is adopting a new business plan. This will reflect not just the financial issues it faces, but also the Government’s increasing emphasis on localism and growth – giving communities more say and control in local decisions while recognising the economic necessity of creating more jobs.

“We are currently reviewing every aspect of what we do, as indeed are our colleagues at Waveney, so we can match our increasingly limited resources with the priorities of the Government and our residents.

“It is inevitable that we will have to change and our goal is to be even more modern and progressive, working in partnership with our communities to meet their priority needs. Now, more than ever, we will all have to work together for a better future for our district,” added Cllr Herring.

The Council has already been meeting with town and parish councils for their views on the way forward, and between now and December 23 will be asking the public to comment online.

Visit www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourcouncil/whatwouldyoudo to find out more about the situation facing the Council, the services that it wants views on whether to invest in or reduce spending in or withdraw, and how income can be increased.

In recent years, Suffolk Coastal has achieved savings and efficiencies of over £10m, while its sharing with Waveney is delivering savings of £900,000 a year, with one-third fewer senior management posts. The Council has also won £20m of external funding, protected priority services, is in the top ten for recycling rates in the country, and is still debt free.

Suffolk Coastal keeps 10.1 per cent of the Council Tax it collects from local residents. In addition to the near £3m cut in Government grants, it has to face the challenges of rising inflation and unemployment, an ageing population, changes in housing benefit management and funding, and also changes to planning regulations, and increased demand for services.

It is expected that

around a third of the blue lidded recycling and grey lidded household rubbish rounds will operating as normal and
around half of the brown bin (food and garden waste) rounds will operate as normal
“It is unfortunate that such a key service for our residents is going to be affected but I would ask all our residents who are due for a collection on Wednesday to please put your bins out as normal, and to leave them out until they are emptied,” said Cllr Andrew Nunn, Cabinet Member for the Green Environment.

“Your bin might be emptied as normal on Wednesday, or our recycling and refuse teams may visit on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. While we cannot say exactly when Wednesday’s bins will be emptied, we are certain that they should all have been emptied by the end of Saturday.

“I would also reiterate that our recycling and refuse collection service will be operating as normal on Thursday and Friday, so please put your bins out on your scheduled day,” added Cllr Nunn.

The on-foot street sweeping service, and litter and dog bin emptying, are expected to be unaffected on Wednesday. Mechanical street sweeping services will however be at a reduced level.

The Council will try to ensure that any disruption to its other services is kept to an absolute minimum but there may be some impact on some of the services. Residents are reminded that many of the Council’s services are also available online at any time of the day on www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk