The State of the District Debate was on the agenda at Tuesday's Council Meeting. This is held every year and is part of the policy and budget making framework of the Council.
This year we were asked to discuss the likely consequences of the downturn in the economic climate for Babergh with a view to seeing whether we can do anything directly or indirectly to mitigate its effect.
The most important impact on the Council’s plans is of course the fact that many housing developments, on which Babergh was relying to deliver its affordable housing targets, are now on hold. Chilton Woods is of course the largest of these, and it is worth noting that, despite the fact that the first planning application was supposed to be made in September, nothing has been seen to date. In addition Ashwood’s recently acquired partners in the scheme, Redrow, are known to be in financial difficulties. This is bad news for all those on Babergh’s housing list who were looking to this major scheme to provide them with much needed accommodation.
It is hard to see what Babergh can do about this apart from concentrating on, and perhaps accelerating, its own schemes with housing associations. This will not make a huge difference to the numbers of houses built however. There were differing opinions as to whether the Council could, or should, once again build its own council houses. On balance however I do not think that there is the political will, or funds available for this.
Councillors were well aware that the current situation is making life very difficult for poorer people in the District. It is they who are bearing the brunt of higher fuel and food bills. I took the opportunity to plead the case of Sudbury Citizens Advice Bureau, with which I have been associated for a number of years. I told the Council how a queue of some 19 people was waiting to see an advisor when the doors were opened on one day last week, and subsequently I have heard that 43 people were helped during the course of that day. The Sudbury Bureau, as I wrote recently, has severe capacity constraints due to the size of the offices, and it is hoped that funding may be forthcoming to allow some outreach activities.
This will all inevitably take time, but certainly Babergh Councillors appreciate the work that the Bureau does for people in the District. The Council is already the main funder for the organisation, and its support is much appreciated by the Trustees, employees and volunteers. It really is public money well spent.
