Steve Gallant: How we are protecting the environment in East Suffolk

Cllr Steve Gallant is the Leader of East Suffolk Council. In 2019, the District Councils of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney in East Anglia formally merged to form a brand new ‘super’ district – East Suffolk Council. The new Council, with a Conservative administration, is the largest District Council in the Country, representing a population of 250,373.

As we prepare for the 2023 elections, we have had many opportunities to reflect on our highlights and successes as a Conservative-led authority. In 2019, eight local Community Partnerships were created, each of which comprised all elected Councillors (District and County), representatives of Town and Parish Councils, police, health, businesses, voluntary organisations, community groups and youth representatives. They work collaboratively to solve local problems identified by local people.

A Community Partnership Board, comprising the chairmen of each area, gives a core allocation of GBP25,000 to each partnership to be spent on local projects. A central budget of GBP200,000 for larger more widespread projects is held by the Board, which each partnership can bid into. Key projects which have benefited in the first three years include investments in rural transport, creating opportunities for young people, and tackling rural isolation amongst older residents.

Our Peer-to-Peer challenge complimented the Enabling Communities Budget scheme, which allocates GBP7,500 to every councillor, of all parties, to fund projects in their individual Wards. The Council is budgeted to spend nearly GBP40 million on services in the coming year. The Council taxpayer is at the heart of all decisions taken.

Opportunities to create additional income streams in order to relieve the Council taxpayer from unnecessarily high increases and to address future possible budget gaps are constantly being sought. Such investments include the provision of Beach Huts and Caravan Parks along the 79 miles of coastline, investment in our harbours, and the ownership of small industrial units and serviced office accommodation. All of these boost the Asset register as well as bringing in much needed income.

In common with all Councils, our biggest challenge in recent times has been to administer the support to local business throughout the pandemic. A range of business grant schemes supported our local businesses. During that period, just over GBP135 million was distributed across the East Suffolk district via some 30,000 payment transactions.

The outcome has been the survival of many local businesses. The Council has a balanced budget for 2022/23 and is well placed to assist our residents through the current cost of living crisis. Caring for the environment is one of the key priorities of our strategic plan and it is woven into everything that we do as a Council.

In 2019, we declared a climate emergency and made a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030. To meet this target, a cross-party Environmental Task Group was established to ensure that the environment plays a key role in all decisions, choices, and policy formation. In July, East Suffolk Council welcomed the addition of biofuel-powered trucks to its fleet of refuse collection vehicles.

Last September, my Cabinet unanimously approved plans to switch its diesel fleet to be fuelled by HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) and reduce total carbon emissions by more than 30 per cent. Since then, fourteen new vehicles have replaced those with older engines not guaranteed for the use of HVO fuel – significantly contributing to reducing CO2 emissions by about 2,000 metric tonnes per year. The purchase of a new fleet will pave the way for providing an efficient, reliable, and environmentally sustainable transport solution for the collection of refuse – providing meaningful change, immediately and into the future.

An advanced renewable and sustainable fuel, HVO offers up to 90 per cent reduction in carbon emissions compared to diesel. The 246-vehicle fleet was the biggest single contributor to the Council’s carbon footprint last year. East Suffolk Council still has many local and nationally significant projects in the pipeline – a GBP334 million planned capital programme, Freeport East, significant energy projects, Digital Towns, and the Lowestoft Town Investment Plan, to name just a few.

In March 2021, the Chancellor of the Exchequer granted freeport status to Freeport East as one of eight new Freeports in England. It (Felixstowe and Harwich International Ports) is on the world’s major trade routes connecting the UK directly with markets around the world. It is perfectly placed to attract global investors and, once underway, Freeport East will create a global trade hub, resulting in economic growth and it will bring more jobs to our region.

With Sizewell C nuclear power station, multiple offshore wind farms, and cross-country interconnectors, it is projected that nearly a third of UK energy will be produced or transmitted through our region. The next few years should see significant opportunities in the energy sector. Businesses are already investing and preparing to take advantage of these major investments, along with significant job opportunities for residents including opportunities to learn new skills.

As part of our efforts to support local towns and businesses, we are delivering a range of digital projects which aim to strengthen the local economy and improve connectivity within the district’s 11 market towns. Not only will shoppers and visitors enjoy free connectivity, but we will also have helpful information for marketing that can be used to support our high street, enabling the council’s Economic Development Team to provide tailored support for local businesses and provide data-based evidence to support other ongoing projects. Additionally, there is a business support programme called Digital springboard.

As a Conservative-led authority preparing for next year’s elections, we are incredibly proud of our achievements.

It is our hope and aim that successful re-election will enable the continuation and completion of the excellent projects that are in motion.