Richard Kemp 0802

Streetlights Mean 30

To kick off road safety in Suffolk in 2008, Suffolk SafeCam is joining forces with other road safety partnerships across the Eastern region and launching a Streetlights Mean 30 advertising campaign.

In Suffolk last year nearly 12,000 drivers were caught speeding in 30mph areas so the campaign aims to improve compliance, make the roads safer and cut the number of drivers caught speeding in 30 mph limits. The campaign was launched at the beginning of across the county on bus back posters and will be supported by radio advertisements, car park tickets and outdoor poster sites throughout the region.

The Highway Code states that the speed limit in built up areas is 30mph and continues by saying "The 30mph limit applies to all traffic on all roads in England and Wales with street lighting unless signs show otherwise."

For further information about the campaign visit www.suffolksafecam.co.uk

2008-2009 Budget

It is expected that Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet plans to recommend a council tax increase of 3.75% for 2008-09 at its meeting on 5 February 2008.

In December it was announced that the County Council had received a better than expected settlement from the Government which will lead to an extra £7.5 million in 2008/2009. It is now proposed that there will be nearly £12 million of savings proposed in 2008-2009.

At its meeting on 5 February, the Cabinet will receive feedback from the chairs of the scrutiny committees, before discussing the overall budget proposals and the recommended level of council tax increase. All the information on the budget will be put before the full Council on 21 February for the final decision on the budget and council tax level.

If a council tax increase of 3.75% is approved this will see tax for a Band D property increasing from £1,035.18 to £1,073.88.

The Cabinet paper can be found here:
http://apps2.suffolk.gov.uk/cgi-bin/committee_xml.cgi?p=detail&id=1_10650

Suffolk Waste Incinerator

The County Council has announced its preferred site for an incinerator for Suffolk: the plant will be located at the Suffolk County Council highways maintenance depot at Great Blakenham in Mid-Suffolk. Suffolk County Council chose the site from six shortlisted locations after whittling down the options from a possible 70 locations; the location of the long-listed or other shortlisted sites has not been released.

It is expected that the incinerator option would cost in the region of £541 million over a 28-year period from 2011. Concerns have been raised about the facility regarding the potential effects on the environment, human health, house prices in the area and the effect on recycling rates in the County.

During 2009 the County Council, as Waste Planning Authority, will submit its Waste Core Strategy to Central Government. It is believed that it will be at this point that an opportunity for further public consultation will take place.

Corporate Parenting

The County Council has released details of how it intends to build on the success of Suffolk as a corporate parent, such as a mentoring scheme and more training and jobs for children in care.

Suffolk County Council's Cabinet discussed ideas for developing the council's role as corporate parent, which is when a child is looked after by the local authority because the family circumstances cannot ensure their long-term welfare. While the portfolio holder and the director for Children and Young People's Services have the statutory responsibility, all councillors and officers, schools, and partners have a part to play.

The aim is to strengthen the existing high quality and good value for money services for looked after children through a series of initiatives.

These include:

Agreeing the establishment of a Council for Children in Care for Suffolk to improve their engagement with the councillors and senior officers acting as their corporate parents.
Agreeing the development of a mentoring scheme to link councillors directly with children and young people in care
Making a commitment that all children leaving care will be offered a training or employment opportunity within the council
Agreeing the establishment of an Annual Conference for Children in Care in Suffolk, hosted with the proposed Suffolk Children in Care Council

More information can be found here:
http://apps2.suffolk.gov.uk/cgi-bin/committee_xml.cgi?p=detail&id=1_10536

Unitary Ipswich/Suffolk

On 6th February the Minister for Local Government, John Healey, announced the Government's decision to request advice from the Boundary Committee on the unitary proposals made by Exeter City Council, Ipswich Borough Council and Norwich City Council.

The Boundary Committee has been asked to respond to this request by 31 December 2008 and will now look into whether there are alternative unitary proposals that would deliver a solution which met the five criteria originally set out (affordability, a broad cross-section of support, strategic leadership, neighbourhood empowerment and value for money services).

The statement by the Minister can be found here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/boundarycommitteeadvice

More information will hopefully appear on the Boundary Committee website shortly: http://www.boundarycommittee.org.uk/our-work/structuralreviews.cfm