PARISH COUNCIL DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT SEPTEMBER 2025

RECYCLING SMALL ELECTRICALS
It is not a good idea put small electrical items into the black bin. That’s because they
can be recycled if they cannot be repaired. Babergh and Mid Suffolk District
Councils have launched a new recycling scheme for electrical items.
New pink recycling bins can found in the two districts, where residents can dispose
of their broken electrical items. This includes things like coffee machines, kettles,
mobile phones, tablets, and anything smaller than a 4-slice toaster.
Six bins are located in Babergh. Our nearest one is at Magdalen Road car park
Hadleigh. There is a recycling bin in Manningtree Library.

NEW PLAN FOR HOUSING BABERGH’S HOMELESS.
As of March 2025, Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils were housing a total of 158
households in emergency accommodation, including women and children fleeing
domestic abuse and vulnerable adults with complex needs who might otherwise be
sleeping rough. Temporary housing is a short term measure which allows our
housing team to find long term accommodation. Babergh is good at preventing
homelessness but there are always emergencies.
Along with many councils across the country, the cost of this temporary
accommodation has risen hugely. Rising demand for temporary accommodation has
increased in Babergh by 69% between the 2020/21 financial year and 2024/25.
This has led to both councils increasingly relying on bed and breakfast and hotel
accommodation, costing in the region of £70,000 each month. The situation is
unsustainable so Babergh and Mid Suffolk cabinets have decided to invest in 30 new
properties for each district over the next few years. The properties will be used for
temporary emergency accommodation instead. In the long term this will cut the
costs of B&B accommodation and will provide better quality housing for anyone who
is unfortunate enough to be homeless.
Anyone who is worried about becoming homeless should contact our Housing
Solutions Team on 0300 123 4000 (Option 3)
PLANNING ENFORCEMENT
As discussed in the previous Parish Council meeting, I asked the enforcement officer
on the Heath Road development what was going to happen to the remaining pile of
soil sitting, unauthorised, outside the site and surrounded by ugly fencing? I have
provided his response.
I also asked about installing the path from the donkey track to the Co-Op now rather
than later. I have provided the response and I suggest we discuss both these
matters at the meeting on 11 September.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION
There have been various briefings about LGR since the last Parish Council meeting.
District Councillors have been discussing the ward boundaries for the three unitary
model that the district councils and Ipswich Borough Council are proposing. Nothing
is set in stone but, under this model, East Bergholt would be included in an area
surrounding and including Ipswich. The wards have to be consistent in terms of
population. There is now a Reform councillor on Suffolk County Council after a bye-
election in Bury St Edmunds. Reform are trying to argue for a two unitary model and
are claiming Council Tax will rise with a three unitary model. There is no credible
basis for this claim, which is based on erroneous calculations. I apologise for not
yet providing my notes from a meeting with Ipswich Borough Council and various
parishes last month. I will do so shortly.
Councillor Sallie Davies. Sallie.davies@babergh.gov.uk