PARISH COUNCIL DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT DECEMBER 2024
COUNCIL BUDGET
I have been part of the soul-destroying discussions on Babergh District Council’s
budget. For the year 2025 to 2026, there is a projected deficit in the general fund of
over £2.8m. After identifying reductions in spending and increasing the council’s
income where possible, the draft budget report shows savings and additional income
totalling £2.559m have been identified. Savings include £403,000 where
vacancies have not been filled, and other staff savings amounting to £313,000, while
cost efficiencies including reductions in bank charges and reduced mileage costs
amount to around £277,000.
But there is still a predicted deficit of £361,000 which must be met from reserves if
no further savings are identified. The pain does not stop in the next financial year.
There is a forecast cumulative budget gap of £10.86m over the next five years – with
the council due to run out of uncommitted reserves at its current rate by 2028/29.
This means the council must find significant savings and/or increases in income in
future years in order to continue to balance the books. Work is ongoing to try and
reduce the deficit before the budget is finalised. The budget is based on a council
tax increase of 2.99%. Of course Babergh only receives 10% of the council tax
collected.
The main reasons behind these financial difficulties are a rise in demand for council
services and ever-increasing costs of services due to inflationary pressures. This is
coupled with the fact that Council Tax, Business Rates, government grants, and
Fees and Charges for services are simply not enough to meet these pressures. This
inevitably means that the Council is under pressure to try to reduce costs in order to
live within its means. For example, the government, without notice, has suddenly
withdrawn the rural services grant worth £308,000 per year to Babergh.
CONSERVATION AREA
Babergh has agreed to fund 50% of the costs of obtaining an appraisal of the East
Bergholt Conservation Area including proposed extensions to the area. It has long
been the aim of the Neighbourhood Planning group to extend the conservation area
to other sites in the village including the Heath were Constable produced so many
sketches and paintings. Conservation areas are normally related to buildings or
designed landscapes like gardens – we may be pushing the envelope with a
landscape based on an artist’s heritage, however we intend to try. Babergh
unfortunately took no action for three years when asked to carry out this appraisal
and do not have the resources to do so in-house. Hence their offer to fund half of
this work.
HOUSING AND POULTRY SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNNING DOCUMENTS
At the last council meeting two supplementary planning documents were adopted –
one on Housing and one on Poultry and Livestock. These are guidance documents
to supplement the policy in the Local Plan Part One.

WELL PEOPLE, HEALTHY PLACES FUND
This fund opens on 6 January and will run until 10 February. In partnership with
Suffolk County Council, the scheme will make £77,776 of SCC Public Health funding
available to districts in Suffolk. As we have a Neighbourhood Plan, East Bergholt is
eligible to apply for this funding. Local organisations such as the parish council,
voluntary, charitable or faith-based organisations can apply to fund projects that are
community-led and aim to achieve better wellbeing, healthier lifesyles and healthier
places. Perhaps we can all think about our projects and links with groups in the
village and come up with some ideas. There is a maximum grant of £5000.
WOMEN COUNCILLORS
It is a little known fact that women were given the right to vote in local elections long
before they were deemed fit to vote in General Elections. 2024 marks 130 years
since women were allowed to vote in county and borough elections and to stand as a
local councillor. That was in 1894. Today, across the country, 35% of councillors
are women. And for the first time in its 50-year existence, the majority of Babergh
cabinet portfolios are now held by women.