PARISH COUNCIL REPORT MARCH 2026

Call for Sites
In December and January, Babergh District Council put out a ‘call for sites’. This invites landowners to put forward sites for employment or
residential development. Given that Babergh has no choice but to build over 770 houses per year over the next 20 years, any available sites that
might deliver houses must be considered.
The map of the sites that have been put forward is now available to see on Babergh’s website. Type in ‘call for sites’ in the search bar. The map
includes sites put forward in 2024 too. I must emphasise that these sites have not been granted planning permission – they have been through
an initial brief assessment as possible sites for development. There are some very large sites on this side of Babergh which are potential new
settlements. However, there is a lot more work to be done before a decision is made about whether a site can be developed.
Foxhall Fields Garages
After much research and after complaints from residents, officers at Babergh have discovered who rents a set of garages on Foxhall Fields which
are on council land. Two of the garages have fallen into decay and one might have asbestos. An amount of rubbish regularly surrounds these
two garages. They will now be taken down safely and the area cleaned up. My thanks go to Cllr Allen and Cllr Hockley for their assistance with
this matter.
Babergh’s Budget
One of the more miserable jobs of a district councillor and cabinet member is to look at the annual budget and the financial future of the council
at a time when costs are rising and government funding has plummeted. It is the duty of councillors to balance the budget.
Councillors have now agreed a 2.99% increase to its share of council tax bills. It means a Band D household will pay Babergh £199.52 per year, a
total annual increase of £5.79 – or 11p a week.
This is the equivalent of £3.84 a week for all district council services – including rubbish and recycling collections, the upkeep of parks and green
spaces, leisure facilities, planning services, regeneration projects and help for those at risk of homelessness.
Cuts in spending of £2.5m have been made across the whole organisation

Meanwhile the government has removed extra money which rural councils traditionally received because it is more expensive to deliver services
in rural areas. The Rural Services Network says that in 2026-2027:
• the most urban councils will receive 41% more in Government funded spending power per head, than the most rural councils.
• Rural residents will pay on average 20% more than urban residents for their council tax.
• When mapped over a 5 year period, the Government Funded Spending Power for the most urban councils, increases by 21%, compared
to the most rural where it almost flatlines at 1%.
On top of these difficulties, the government has told councils that they will receive no funds for the transition to unitary authorities – an initiative
which has been forced on local authorities by the government.
Biodiversity Action Plan
At their cabinet meeting on 10 February the council approved its updated Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for 2026–2030 – developed by a cross-
party working group.
The plan reaffirms its long term commitment to protect, restore, and enhance the district’s natural environment for generations to come.
It also sets out how the council will continue to improve biodiversity on their own land, as well as the steps it will take to support communities,
landowners and partners into the future with:
• creating healthier habitats and reversing habitat loss
• enhancing tree, hedgerow and wildflower planting
• expanding wildlife corridors and networks
• supporting wildlife recovery
• helping the district adapt to climate change
• increasing engagement and awareness of biodiversity and its importance – encouraging residents and businesses to take action
Councillor Sallie Davies