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2019/20 News Highlights
Here is a selection of news items from Suffolk County Council that featured over the
last 12 months. For further details on any of these stories, and more, visit
https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-news/.
New street lighting proposed to reduce the county’s
carbon footprint
Suffolk County Council is looking to reduce its carbon footprint by investing £9.8m in
street lighting, after Cabinet approved an LED street lighting replacement project on
25 February 2020.
Following a review of its street lighting policy in 2010, and with energy prices set to
increase at between 8% and 12% a year, the Council has decided the high energy
consumption of its existing lanterns could create further pressure on its resources in
the near future.
The Council owns and maintains over 60,000 street lights. Back in 2010, the Council
took numerous steps to help reduce both the energy costs and carbon footprint of its
lighting stock. This included the introduction of part-night lighting arrangements and
conversion to LED for those lighting units that were consuming the highest level of
energy.
The proposal to convert the remaining street lighting stock to LED will help to reduce
both Suffolk’s energy consumption and carbon footprint, whilst providing crisper
illumination of the streets for residents. The project will also ensure that Suffolk
remains resilient to any future energy price increases. The project will be completed
in the autumn of 2022.
Councillor Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Rural
Affairs, said:
“We recognise the importance of our environment in Suffolk and the impacts of
climate change. Where possible, we want to ensure that we protect and enhance the
natural environment, decrease carbon emissions and reduce the use of scarce
resources, for the well-being of future generations and the natural world. Initiatives
such as this are important in helping us to achieve that aim.
“We will be replacing almost 43,000 lights with new energy saving LED lanterns. This
will save approximately 60% of our current energy bill which can invested elsewhere.
Suffolk County Council
Samford Division

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We will be able to reduce our carbon usage by around 80%, benefitting residents
throughout Suffolk.”
County Council approves budget to spend more on
services for vulnerable residents
On 13 February 2020, Suffolk County Council approved its annual budget. The
Council will increase its spending power again this coming financial year, particularly
in Children’s and Adults services, where demand continues to rise year on year.
In 2020/2021, the Council’s budget will rise to £556million which represents an
increase of £37m (7.1%) from 2019/20. Children’s and Adults Services represent
around 70% of the Council’s overall spend.
This year’s budget is based on a 12-month financial settlement from government,
rather than the three or four-year agreement which is usually offered.
As well as addressing the need to maintain funding for key services, the Council will
invest an additional £3.5m into two one-year programmes, the Suffolk 2020 fund
(£3m) and a highways investment fund (£500k).
The Suffolk 2020 fund will be used for projects that can deliver a real difference for
local communities. The intention is to adopt good ideas covering more than one area
of Suffolk, rather than having a number of small-scale projects. To qualify for the
fund, projects must link to one of the following themes: carbon reduction; carbon
offset, road safety, natural environment; built environment; innovation; and use of
technology.
Each project must offer a clear return on investment through positive economic,
social, or environmental impact. County Councillors can put ideas forward on behalf
of their community and must seek the sponsorship of a Cabinet Member for
consideration. Further details of the fund will be made available in due course.
The £500k highways investment fund will focus on improving the safety of pupils and
parents travelling to and from school, by refreshing lines and cleaning and repairing
signs in and around school zones.
The funding is allocated for use within the 2020/21 financial year and looks set to
benefit areas around many Suffolk schools, complementing the road marking
renewal programme that is taking place as part of the move of civil parking powers.
Suffolk Highways officers are developing a plan of how these extra works will be
identified and delivered. Further information will be announced in due course.
I reported in February:
“The setting of a balanced budget is never easy. Especially given the continuing
financial challenges we have seen during the last few years in a number of our
services.
“It is right that we continue to focus our budget and resources where they will have
the biggest impact. I am pleased to say this year our calls have been answered, at
least in part. The provisional local government settlement for this year enables the

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Council to set a budget for 2020/2021 that will see no change to current service
levels over and above those planned through our ongoing transformation
programmes.
“Unfortunately, however, as we are only getting a 12-month settlement, we lack the
longer-term certainty needed to deal with the large departmental budgets that we
manage including Children’s and Adults Services. We are therefore taking the
measured decision to raise council tax by 1.98 per cent and implement a 2 per cent
rise in the Adult Social Care Precept, which is ring-fenced for use within our highest
demand service.”
New permit scheme aims to address roadwork disruption
On 28 January, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet gave the go-ahead for a new
permit scheme that they hope will reduce delays on Suffolk’s roads caused by
roadworks.
The introduction of a roadworks permit scheme for the county’s roads will give
Suffolk County Council’s Network Assurance Team enhanced powers to place
conditions on work carried out by utility companies and other organisations, including
Suffolk Highways.
At present, public utilities simply need to inform Suffolk County Council of the dates
when they are planning to do their works. Under a permit scheme, they would have
to ask for permission and the council can either approve, refuse or amend their
request as they see fit.
Applicants would also have to pay a fee when applying for a permit to do roadworks.
The cost will vary depending on the duration of the proposed work, the strategic
importance of the affected road, and the time of day the work is due to take place. If
roadworks occur outside of the peak congestion periods, the fee could be reduced.
The permit scheme is used successfully elsewhere in the country and there is
typically a reduction in congestion on the network.
Councillor Andrew Reid, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for
Highways, Transport and Rural Affairs, said:
“A permit scheme will provide more power to control proposed roadworks. It places
responsibility on the applicant to better plan their work. I hope a permit scheme could
reduce the impact of that work on the road network and our residents.
“A permit scheme should result in less disruption and less time that vehicles spend in
traffic/delays. Consequently, there should also be a reduction in fuel consumption
and greenhouse gas emissions.
“According to the Department for Transport, other counties that have run a permit
scheme have seen a reduction in disruption and so we will endeavour to ensure
those who live, work and visit our county also benefit.”
There will be a cost to the local authority to administer the permit scheme because
they will need to recruit additional staff and amend existing software to cater for
permits. However, the costs associated with the additional work involved will be

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recovered through the fee income associated with the scheme, making it cost
neutral.
The permit scheme will be in place from 1 April 2020.
New recycling centre opens in Bury St Edmunds
The £3.9million flagship site in Fornham Road, Bury St Edmunds, opened on 16
January and replaces the now closed recycling centre at Rougham Hill.
The new recycling centre is part of the West Suffolk Operational Hub, a £23million
project by West Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council to manage waste by
relocating a number of facilities to a single site.
The centre is the first open air site in Suffolk where all containers can be accessed
by the public from ground level, removing the need for steps. Visitors can recycle the
same wide range of materials as they did at the Rougham Hill recycling centre.
There is also an onsite Reuse shop selling items either reclaimed from the skips or
donated directly by the public, with proceeds going to the Benjamin Foundation.
Paul West, Cabinet Member for Waste at Suffolk County Council, said:
“This new flagship site will be a significant asset to people in west Suffolk.
“It is purpose-built to enable the growing communities of west Suffolk to recycle and
reuse their rubbish safely and efficiently. And, as all the containers are now on one
level, there are no steps to contend with. It is also a safer site with lorries emptying
containers in a totally separate area.”
Date agreed for plans to tackle Suffolk’s parking problems
In January 2020, it was announced that councils in Suffolk will take on responsibility
for local parking management from 6 April 2020.
Traditionally, roadside parking offences were a matter for the Police. However,
parking has become a lower priority for them, so Suffolk County Council is
transferring this responsibility to local district and borough councils under a process
known as civil parking enforcement, or CPE.
This means each council will be responsible for issuing parking fines, warnings and
notices in their area, although a deal has been struck by Babergh and Mid Suffolk
councils to have their parking enforced by Ipswich and West Suffolk officers.
A consistent approach is being planned across the whole county, meaning fines will
be the same, regardless of which authority manages parking in that area.
Councils already manage public car parks in many towns and villages, so the
changes make sense. Suffolk Constabulary is supportive of the move because the
transfer of responsibilities will enable them to spend additional time on keeping
communities safe and arresting and bringing offenders to justice.
Moving the responsibility from the police to local councils requires that statutory
notice is given in Parliament. The parliamentary order was laid on 9

January 2020.

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Councillor Andrew Reid, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for
Highways, Transport and Rural Affairs, said:
“Civil parking enforcement powers will soon sit with our district and borough councils
across Suffolk. It is essential in enabling our communities to have closer
management of their local parking challenges.
“A lot of residents come to us with concerns that people parking in their towns and
villages are becoming more inconsiderate, and something needs to be done about it.
We agree, and as a result are committed to seeing these parking issues managed
locally to ensure fair and safe parking for all.
“I very much welcome the cross-council collaborative working in order to deliver
better parking for residents and those visiting Suffolk. Our colleagues will continue
working together to ensure CPE is successfully launched and I look forward to
seeing the benefits locally that these changes will bring.”
Suffolk celebrates CQC success
In January 2020, Care Quality Commission statistics showed that Suffolk is now top
of the table for comparator local authority areas.
In Suffolk, 89.04% of Adult Social Care locations are rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’
by the Care Quality Commission, the standards agency for adult care.
When it comes to the national rankings, Suffolk is performing equally well. Ranked
as third nationally for ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ rated care locations, Suffolk shines out
as a great area for adult social care.
This is particularly impressive when it is considered that Suffolk has over 100 more
adult social care locations than any of the other areas listed in the top ten.
Councillor Rebecca Hopfensperger, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, said:
“This is an incredible achievement and something that is worth celebrating. This to
me, illustrates that Suffolk is a great place for Adult Social Care, with a wealth of
care providers who do fantastic work.
“There are of course, still areas where we can improve and I know work is continuing
to raise standards where it is required, but I am confident that we are working hard to
address any concerns.
“These results make me incredibly proud and grateful to our care providers for the
fantastic way that we are caring for local people.”
More information regarding the CQC ratings of local authority areas or individual
care locations can be found on the Care Quality Commission website.

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Council pushes forward with commitment to creating more
places for specialist education in Suffolk
Suffolk County Council, like many other local authorities, faces an increasingly large
demand for education places for children and young people with special education
needs and disabilities (SEND).
In September 2019, a cross-party Policy Development Panel (PDP) was established
to review the county’s local offer and identify suitable specialist education places.
The work of the PDP involved a comprehensive analysis. They visited a variety of
SEND settings in and around the county, considering the views of service users and
their families, partners, and educations providers on the best way to grow Suffolk’s
specialist education offer both in the short and long term to meet future demand.
A green light to move forward with the work of the PDP was given at the Cabinet’s
Committee meeting in January 2019. Further work was then done by the Council’s
Capital Strategy Group to provide an overview of the required level of investment for
individual projects.
In April 2019, Cabinet approved a financial investment of up to £45.6 million to
support the development of a number of local specialist provisions for children and
young people with SEND. The investment, which covers new special schools and
specialist units attached to existing mainstream schools, will create over 800 new
specialist education places in the county.
Providing more specialist education placements locally will mean that the county’s
children and young people with additional needs will not have to spend unnecessary
time away from their family and home travelling to a specialist provision outside of
Suffolk. They will also have the opportunity to strengthen their roots within their local
community, so they are able to build strong local networks as they move into
adulthood.
In December 2019, Suffolk County Council were in a position to announce more
details of the development of new SEND units attached to mainstream schools in the
county. Following a thorough evaluation process, a number of suitable schools have
been identified to develop:
• Two Generic Key Stage 1 Units at Pipers Vale Primary Academy and Burton
End Primary Academy.
• Three Communication and Interaction Key Stage 2 Units at Murrayfield
Primary Academy, Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy, and Causton Junior
School.
• One Cognition and Learning Key Stage 2 Unit at Clements Primary Academy.
• Three Communication and Interaction Key Stage 3/4 Units at Copleston High
School, Ixworth School, and Newmarket Academy.
• One Cognition and Learning Key Stage 3/4 Unit at Castle Manor Primary
Academy.
In total, this means an additional 168 new specialist placements will be available for
children and their families in Suffolk from September 2020, on top of existing

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specialist provision. A further commissioning round will begin in Spring 2020 and will
consider further expressions of interest from mainstream schools who hope to open
units in September 2021.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service rated “Good” in
Government inspection
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has undergone its most comprehensive,
independent inspection in many years and has been rated as “Good” for its
effectiveness, efficiency and how well it leads and manages its staff.
The findings come from a report published on 17 December 2019 by Her Majesty’s
Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). Inspectors
reviewed every aspect of the service, from how we respond to 999 emergencies, to
looking at policies, and interviewing a wide range of firefighters and staff.
The report praises many aspects of the service, particularly how well it collaborates
with other emergency services and agencies, how it responds to fires and other
emergencies, how it ensures fairness and promotes diversity, and the financially
sound way the service is run.
Mark Hardingham, Chief Fire Officer, said:
“The ‘Good’ rating we have been given is pleasing and positive for our first
inspection. This is down to the hard work and dedication of all our staff and I’m
extremely proud to be their, and Suffolk’s, Chief Fire Officer.
“The inspection has reported a balance between what we do well and what we need
to do better, much of which is already in hand and some of which will be new work.
“I’m especially pleased that the work we have all been doing on leadership, culture,
values, equality and inclusion has been recognised.
“We will never stop working to ensure we provide a good and professional fire and
rescue service to Suffolk’s communities whenever they need us.”
Councillor Richard Rout, Cabinet Member for Environment and Public
Protection at Suffolk County Council, said:
“Our fire service is held in high regard across the county and country, and I
understand the importance of continued investment. In recent years we have done
this with new uniforms, fire engines, support vehicles and equipment.
“As part of this ongoing investment, we are proposing to increase the service’s
budget by £500,000 plus inflation next year. This increase of close to £1m will help
contribute to delivering on the improvements identified in the report, alongside our
existing plans for investment.”
HMICFRS has now completed its first inspection of all 45 fire and rescue services
across the country. The inspections will continue to happen regularly, and it is
proposed that Suffolk will be inspected again in 2021.

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The Hold topping out ceremony
On 25 September, contractors R G Carter, along with senior officers from Suffolk
County Council, the University of Suffolk, Ipswich Vision and the National Lottery
Heritage Fund, celebrated the official ‘Topping Out’ of the new ‘The Hold’ building.
Located on the campus of the University of Suffolk, within Ipswich’s unique and
regenerating Waterfront, the building will house the majority of Suffolk’s nationally
and internationally significant archives.
More than just a new building, ‘The Hold’ project will also be the engine for a
transformed, audience-focused Archives service reaching out to diverse
communities in Ipswich, the county and the nation, through its activity and digital
programmes, engaging people in new and exciting ways.
Paul West, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Heritage, said:
“We’re delighted to have reached this exciting milestone in the project’s
development.
“The Hold will not only transform our ability to care for and showcase our county’s
records and collections, but it will also engage audiences right across the county,
bringing local and nationally significant exhibitions to all Suffolk Archives branches,
state of the art research facilities and more access than ever before to digital
collections.
The Hold is set to open its doors in spring 2020.
Eleventh shared Police and Fire station officially opened
In August 2019, the new shared Police/Fire station formally opened in Beccles. This
is the eleventh shared community Fire and Police facility in Suffolk with stations
already operating in Leiston, Newmarket, Saxmundham, Felixstowe, Woodbridge,
Ixworth, Elmswell, Debenham, Framlingham and Clare. There are also plans for
further joint stations in Stowmarket and Ipswich.
Financial support for the project was secured from the Home Office as part of central
government’s drive for closer emergency services collaboration.
Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner said:
“The opening of this eleventh joint Police/Fire Station in Suffolk is very good news for
the county.
“There are considerable financial benefits as well as significant operational
improvements that this collaboration between our two organisations delivers for
people and businesses across the county.
“I am already looking forward to the next wave of shared facilities being developed. I
am very proud that Suffolk continues to lead the way nationally in blue light
collaboration.

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Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Public
Protection, Councillor Richard Rout, said:
“Our partnerships provide our communities and staff with modern facilities and
maintains our presence in the community. We are able to deliver savings on the cost
of running multiple buildings and enables emergency services to work closely
together in supporting the community they serve.
“The sharing of facilities has also opened up further opportunities to collaborate in
areas of service delivery, improving efficiencies and engagement with members of
the public.
“We have seen great benefits in developing ‘blue light’ stations with our partners in
the police and the ambulance services in Suffolk. In addition to the 11 stations
shared with the Constabulary, we also share a further five with the ambulance
service.”
£750,000 improvement scheme at St Peter’s Wharf,
Ipswich, completes early
On 19 July 2019, it was announced that the scheme which began in early January
2019 is now complete. The scheme delivers an enhanced, more welcoming area for
residents and visitors enjoying the Ipswich Waterfront
The scheme also set out to accommodate the high number of pedestrians and
cyclists that use the area and to support local businesses by improving access for
large vehicles visiting the Port.
The scheme was funded via a bid to the Coastal Community Fund by Ipswich Vision
and was delivered by Suffolk Highways, Suffolk County Council and Ipswich
Borough Council (IBC). The works were completed under budget and two weeks
ahead of schedule. Additional maintenance was also completed during this time,
such as replacing all manhole covers and installing new bollards and railings.
The footways along St Peter’s Wharf were reconstructed and there is now a clear
carriageway, ensuring a defined area for vehicles and pedestrians. A seating area
has been introduced, along with bicycle railings and three new trees.
Suffolk businesses celebrated for reducing carbon
emissions
On 10 July 2019, an event was held at one of Suffolk’s most sustainable business
centres to celebrate the carbon reduction efforts of over 400 Suffolk and Norfolk
businesses.
Since their launch in 2010, Suffolk Carbon Charter awards have been presented to
hundreds of businesses who show commitment to reducing their carbon emissions,
as part of Suffolk’s ambitions for Creating the Greenest County.
Many projects have been developed under the Creating the Greenest County banner
since 2007. The partnership continues to work with local communities and

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businesses to help realise the environmental and economic benefits of reducing
energy consumption, adapting to climate change and enhancing the natural
environment.
Guests saw displays of a hydrogen vehicle, electric cars, electric motorbikes and
promotion of Plug In Suffolk, the UK’s first open fast charging network for electric
vehicles. Guests were also given a tour of the event venue, home to Woolley, a
property management company that thrives on creating sustainable developments
and holders of a Gold Suffolk Carbon Charter award themselves.
The event was sponsored by Business Energy Efficiency Anglia, which provides
energy efficiency grants to eligible businesses in Suffolk and Norfolk.
To find out more about how your business can benefit from the Suffolk Carbon
Charter, Business Energy Efficiency Anglia and other projects to support your
environmental ambitions, visit www.greensuffolk.org.
Suffolk pothole repair scheme to go countywide
In June 2019, it was announced that a trial scheme to tackle potholes swiftly has
been so successful it is being rolled out across Suffolk.
The Suffolk Highways scheme, which started in Ipswich in October 2018, changes
how potholes are categorised.
The new system allows engineers to repair potholes close to each other during the
same visit, tackling smaller potholes before they can expand.
Previously, they fixed larger holes first and smaller ones at a later date.
The new policy reduces the amount of time workers have to travel between jobs.
Mary Evans, Cabinet Member for Highways on Suffolk County Council, said the
previous system had been “incredibly complicated”, leading to highways workers
complaining that they were “driving over potholes to get to potholes”.
Councillor Evans said: “The rate you pay the gangs is the same whatever they do,
and the material they put in the pothole is the same, so the efficiency savings comes
from the travel time.
“I am really pleased – it’s about looking at ways the system can be more efficient.”
Suffolk County Council awarded £4.41m for smart street
lights
The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport’s
(ADEPT) SMART Places Live Labs programme launched on 31 May 2019.
The £22.9million programme, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) will see
eight local authority led projects develop and test prototypes and applications across
SMART materials, communications, energy and mobility.

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Projects range from harvesting renewable energy from roads and innovative data
analytics to using plastics in road surfacing treatment.
In total ADEPT received 28 bids from local authorities across the country. Suffolk
County Council was one of the eight successful projects and has been awarded
£4.41m for an innovative project to create a network of smart street lights across the
county.
Hannah Bartram, Chief Operating Officer for ADEPT said: “Live Labs is a really
exciting programme for ADEPT. It gives local highways authorities and their partners
the opportunity to innovate, test and introduce new applications for emerging
SMART technologies across the local road network.
New Highways Self Help scheme empowers Suffolk people
to do more in their community
‘Highways Community Self Help’, launched in May 2019, is designed to support and
empower town and parish councils in Suffolk to carry out minor maintenance tasks in
their area.
The much-anticipated scheme was developed in partnership with towns and
parishes across Suffolk after it was recognised that many of these councils were
willing to carry out additional works to maintain and improve the look of their
communities.
The types of works that town and parish councils are keen to undertake include:
• Sign cleaning
• Fingerpost cleaning/painting/repair
• Tree pruning/branch removal
• Hedge cutting/pruning
• Siding out of footways, or paths (widen to original/full width)
• Grass verge cutting
• Weed killing/weed removal.
Towns and parishes across Suffolk will be able to carry out these tasks and more
through one or more of the following four options:
• Buying in services from contractors
• Using their own trained employee(s)
• Using volunteers to undertake work
• Buying additional services from Suffolk Highways.
Councillor Mary Evans, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible
for Highways, Transport and Rural Affairs, said:
“Community Self Help is a further stepping-stone in our bid to work closely with
towns and villages throughout Suffolk to achieve even more for our highways across
the county
“I am very pleased to be launching such a long-awaited scheme and am delighted to
see the interest we have had in it so far.

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“This new scheme allows us to work with town and parish councils across the county
who have a great sense of community spirit and pride. The scheme will empower
them to undertake minor maintenance tasks on their public spaces about which they
care so deeply.”
Towns and parishes that are interested in joining Community Self Help are
encouraged to visit: www.suffolk.gov.uk/communityselfhelp for more details.
Ofsted confirms that Suffolk County Council’s Children’s
Services are ‘Outstanding’
On 21 May 2019, it was announced that Ofsted inspectors had awarded Children’s
Services at Suffolk County Council the top grade of ‘Outstanding’ following their visit
in April 2019.
Only eight other Local Authorities, out of 152, had at that point been judged to be
‘Outstanding’ overall.
Ofsted’s inspection report of children’s social care services said:
“Services for children are of an exceptionally high standard. They are child-focused
and make a positive difference to children’s lives”.
Inspectors were impressed with improvements made across the service since it was
rated ‘Good’ in 2015. The report states that, “stable and aspirational leadership and
strong political and financial support have created conditions that are conductive to
continuous improvement and the development of sustainable, high-quality services”.
Inspectors commended the staff, highlighting that “the work that staff are doing with
children and young people is impressive; the way that they are doing it is making a
real difference to their lives”. The report states that, “workers build positive and
purposeful working relationships with children and their families. They ensure
children are safeguarded, and that their wider needs are addressed. They
consistently act to ensure the best outcomes for children”.
Workforce management was also recognised by Ofsted as a strength. Our strong
workforce management was recognised again in December 2019, when Suffolk
County Council was awarded silver in the Social Worker Employer of the Year
category at the national Social Worker of the Year awards.
At that time I was the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and
Skills and reported:
“An Outstanding Ofsted judgement for our Children’s Services is an amazing and
well-deserved achievement for Suffolk. “I would like to thank everyone who delivers
outstanding services to support young people in Suffolk, it is most rewarding to
receive such endorsement from Ofsted. Our staff are compassionate, professional
and sensitive to the needs of the residents they support.
“I do accept that we need to do more for Suffolk’s children with additional needs, and
we are taking swift and effective action to address both the current shortfall of SEND
services in our county, but also to build capacity with our partners for the future.

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“All children have the right to the appropriate level of support they need to aspire and
achieve, and I am committed to ensuring that this is the reality for all of Suffolk’s
young people, including our most vulnerable children.”

I will update on Parish specific items at the individual Annual Parish meeting

Gordon.jones@suffolk.gov.uk 1
st
May 2020
Tel: 01206 262799
iPhone 07860 208760