Rising to the Challenge... Inside Your Coastline
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November 2013 Suffolk Coastal District Council‘s newsletter Rising to the challenge... inside your coastline Despite the budget cuts spending and have frozen Where the money goes 2 being faced by all Councils, Council Tax for 3 years in a the Leader of Suffolk Coastal row.“ New homes ready 3 remains remarkably upbeat about the future. While the Government is still East Suffolk Partnership 4 reducing its rates support During this period of austerity, to Councils, Ray does see HQ review 5 when homes, businesses positives in the current and Councils alike are all situation. Better services 6 tightening their belts, Cllr Who’s who at Suffolk Ray Herring believes that “Suffolk Coastal is a growth Coastal 7 long-term decisions made in area and that brings the past – and the willingness incentives with it, such as Your Councillors 8/9 to adopt new, smarter Business Rate Retention and Councillor Ray Herring, Leader of working methods in the New Homes Bonus,” said Suffolk Coastal District Council The future 10 present – will stand Suffolk Ray. Coastal in good stead. “If we don’t want to drop any Load of rubbish 10 “Living in a growth area also services, we need to learn Grants make a difference 11 “We are in a sound position brings with it challenges, to work smarter and more here at Suffolk Coastal to face as more people require efficiently.” Fly-tippers beware 12 the challenges of the future, more services, create more because of the progressive rubbish, put in more planning Sometimes this may mean Fit for the future 13 decisions we have made in and licensing applications. other bodies delivering a the past,” explained Ray. Each extra home and family service, through what is Healthy lifestyle 14 places additional demands known as Localism. “Back in 2008/9, we were on the public services.” Community awards 15 one of the first Councils “We have always worked to Christmas opening and in the country to go into “We need to manage the be an enabling Council. It is contact information 16 partnership, joining with growth of the District in a way not just about us providing Waveney to share our which ensures we protect the grants or services to people, National award for administration and drive high quality environment that it is about us helping and Felixstowe man 16 down costs.” we have in Suffolk Coastal. encouraging communities This is a very special place to to organise and take “We have always been a lean live. We have to make sure responsibility for dealing with This edition of Council, partially because we we don’t spoil that.” issues themselves,” said have never received the level Ray. coastline is also of support through the rates “Often it is about being available in large support that some other flexible in how we do things, “The local communities Councils have had. Not just rather than just focussing on know what their needs are print, on audio tape recently but going back to what we have to do. Frontline and are often best placed when I first joined the Council services are a good example, to come up with practical, or CD for blind or in 1987, we had the lowest we want to protect them long-term solutions to partially-sighted rate support grant in Suffolk but we might deliver them issues. By supporting them, then!” differently to allow people we can build and protect residents. to do things themselves, our community spirit, while “Even from this low base more quickly and better, providing services tailored to figure, we have still managed through better use of new their needs and continuing to Call 01394 444361 to significantly reduce our technology.” build for the future.” Coastline Dec 2013.indd 1 14/10/2013 15:06 where the money goes Where the money goes... Finance fact le: New homes ready From 2009/10 to 2013/14, Suffolk Coastal’s net budget Most people don’t realise paying for all the services The multi-million pound has reduced from £15.3million to £11.9million where their Council Tax goes. provided by Suffolk Coastal project to regenerate the District Council. southern seafront at Felixs- (excluding specific localisation of Council Tax reduction Although Suffolk Coastal is towe has entered an exciting grant) – a reduction of over £3.4million (or about 22%). responsible for collecting the The vast majority of the new phase – with the new Council Tax in the District, Council Tax (over 75%) goes homes now on sale. By 2015/16, the Council will be facing a further 17% cut only 1 pound in 10 actually to the County Council, with in government grant – this is in addition to a £2million goes into our budget. the Police getting a further Suffolk Coastal District 11%. Council entered into a devel- reduction in Government funding since 2011/12 (following So, when an average Band opment agreement with the Comprehensive Spending Review 2010). D Council Tax bill in the Suffolk Coastal then gets Bloor Homes to bring much- District is nearly £1,500, less 10%, with Town and Parish needed new homes and The Council’s other source of income, Council Tax, has than £150 goes towards Councils getting 3.7%. leisure facilities to the South Seafront in Felixstowe. been kept frozen at 2010 levels - meaning a reduction of over in the Council Tax baseline by 2015/16. 800k County And the development should 75.2% Council provide a much-needed We entered this financial year faced with a budget gap of 3.7% boost to this part of Felixs- towe. £1.9million – and the budget gap is predicted to rise to Town and over by 2016/17, if no action is taken. Parishes £6.1million “I’m proud of what we have achieved here. Bloor Suffolk Coastal is looking to achieve a 15% savings Homes have been a good target in 2014/15 partner, who have stuck with this project through the 11.1% recession and have delivered Police Staff: a quality housing develop- By working in partnership with Waveney District Council, Suffolk ment,” explained Suffolk Suffolk Coastal has reduced its total headcount from 407 10.0% Coastal Coastal’s Leader, Cllr Ray (at 1 April 2009) to 322 (as of the first quarter 2013/14). Herring. Streamline Council Taking Shape Help is at hand £500k raised New look cabinet Even the number of Coun- If you are on Housing The on-going review of Suffolk Coastal has got “Also the Deputy Leader, cillors on Suffolk Coastal Benefit, but your benefit its property led to Suffolk a new-look Cabinet. The Andy Smith, has taken on District Council is not doesn’t meet your full rent, Coastal District Council membership of Cabinet extra responsibility nation- immune from review and Suffolk Coastal may be able raising half a million pounds remains the same, it is some ally as the Chairman of the possible reduction. to help you. People whose in one sale. areas of responsibility that Local Government Asso- Housing Benefit has been have been shifted. ciation (LGA) of the Coastal An independent review is restricted could be entitled The Old Court House on Special Issues Group, so we currently being carried out to a Discretionary Housing Woodbridge’s Market “We haven’t had any changes need to make sure he has the by experts from the Local Payment. Hill was sold at auction in at all for two years, so part of capacity to take on this new Government Boundary August and raised exactly the reason for the changes is workload.” Commission for England Further information is £500,000. to refresh Cabinet. Mainly it is (LGBCE) into the number available from our website: to ensure that we make best For a full list of the Cabinet, of Councillors the District www.suffolkcoastal.gov. The money raised will use of the skills and qualities with their new responsibilities, should have in the future. ukyourhome/benefits. be re-invested to help of the people that we have is laid out on Page 7. fund projects within on Cabinet. We are trying to The aim is to create a Or you can contact us on Suffolk Coastal’s capital make sure we have the right Note: Cabinet members streamlined Council, where 01394 444838, via email programme, so will bring skills and experience in place are quoted within this each Councillor is represent- benefits@suffolkcoastal. long-term benefits to the to tackle the challenges we edition of coastline with ing roughly the same number gov.uk or pop in to the area.” said Cllr Robert will face over the next couple the responsibilities they of people. Melton Hill Council Offices, Whiting, Suffolk Coastal’s of years,” explained Cllr had prior to the Cabinet Woodbridge, IP12 1AU. Cabinet Member. Herring. changes. In its response to the LGBCE 2 Suffolk Coastal www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk Suffolk Coastal www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk Coastline Dec 2013.indd 2 14/10/2013 15:06 Vision for the future Where the money goes... Suffolk Coastal now has a New homes ready plan to guide the District’s development over the next paying for all the services The multi-million pound 15 years. The Core Strategy provided by Suffolk Coastal project to regenerate the and Development Manage- District Council. southern seafront at Felixs- ment Policies document towe has entered an exciting was formally adopted by the The vast majority of the new phase – with the new Council on 5 July 2013 and Council Tax (over 75%) goes homes now on sale. re-titled the Suffolk Coastal to the County Council, with District Local Plan - Core the Police getting a further Suffolk Coastal District Strategy and Development 11%.