April County Report
My last report before the local elections. It has been a real privilege to serve you for the last sixteen months.
First, a Thank You!
I just wanted to include a brief comment at the start of this report, as it has been a privilege to serve as your County Councillor since October 2024, and I do hope that I will be returned in the May elections, but in life nothing is certain.
It has been a fantastic experience to work with such great communities, and so if this is it for my time on Suffolk County Council serving you, then I have enjoyed every moment of it.
I am currently running a feedback survey and looking for honest thoughts about my performance as your Councillor. You can find that here, and please do be honest with your views!
https://www.suffolkconservatives.org.uk/henry/feedback
Suffolk Archives Awarded National Accreditation
John Sheridan, Chief Digital and Information Officer for The National Archives presented the award to Cllr Nadia Cenci, Cabinet Member for Communities and Judith Berry, Head of Suffolk Archives and The Hold.
Accreditation is the UK quality standard which recognises good performance in all areas of archive service delivery. Accredited Archive Services ensure the long-term collection, preservation and accessibility of our archive heritage.
Receiving it shows that Suffolk Archives, based at The Hold in Ipswich, has met clearly defined national standards relating to management and resourcing; the care of its unique collections and what the service offers to its entire range of users.
Cllr Nadia Cenci, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said
“We are absolutely delighted to receive Archive Service Accreditation. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our Suffolk Archives team, who work tirelessly to preserve, celebrate and share our county’s rich history. We are incredibly proud of the outstanding service they provide to our communities, and this recognition reflects the high standards, passion and commitment
that underpins the service.”
John Sheridan, Chief Digital and Information Officer for The National Archives said;
“Congratulations for your vision, commitment and determination that has allowed you to create this phenomenal facility. Archives matter. The records they hold tell us about where we’ve come from, they anchor us at a time of sometimes bewildering change.
“The three things that stood out for me was this is a living archive that’s bringing new collections into its custody. You’ve created partnerships to digitise records and make them more widely available, to transmit records through time and through generations of technological change.
“Thirdly, this is an archive that knows that it needs to be used by its communities, whether it’s through public engagement, outreach, or education. For you to reach and impact so many is an enormous credit to you all. This truly is an archive service that Suffolk can be proud of.”
Suffolk Archives is the home to more than 900 years of local history. It collects, cares for, and shares the county’s stories through records that reflect Suffolk people’s lives, work, and heritage.
Suffolk Parents urged to get children vaccinated amid national measles resurgence
England has seen a return of measles outbreaks linked to falling vaccination uptake, and the UK recently lost its World Health Organization measles elimination status.
Vaccination rates remain below the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks, with almost one in five children starting primary school not fully protected against serious diseases. Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world and can lead to complications including pneumonia, meningitis, and brain inflammation.
Health leaders are urging parents to get their children vaccinated in Suffolk to ensure the county maintains high levels of vaccination to protect local communities and prevent similar outbreaks.
Stuart Keeble, Director of Public Health at Suffolk County Council, said;
“We have seen the impact nationally when vaccination rates fall. Suffolk has good uptake compared to some areas, but we cannot be complacent.
“Vaccination remains the simplest and most effective way to protect children from serious illness. We’re urging parents and carers to make sure their children are vaccinated and fully protected.”
Since 1 January 2026, the NHS has introduced the MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. It replaces the previous MMR vaccine by adding protection against chickenpox and helps ensure children are protected before starting nursery or school.
MMRV has been safely used in other countries for many years. Anyone eligible who has not yet received both doses of MMR or MMRV is encouraged to come forward to ensure they are fully protected.
For children born on or after 1 January 2025, MMRV is offered at:
12 months - first dose
18 months - second dose
Two doses provide strong protection and help safeguard vulnerable groups, including babies too young to be vaccinated and those with weakened immune systems. The NHS childhood immunisation programme prevents around 5,000 deaths every year in England. All childhood vaccinations are free on the NHS.
Dr Frankie Swords, executive medical director, NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, said:
“Vaccination is one of the important things we can do to protect the health of our children and those around them, which is why I urge parents and carers to ensure their children are up to date with their doses.
“Vaccinations are proven to be safe and effective and help prevent serious illness. Have a look at https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/ for more information or talk to one of your GP practice team.”
Parents and carers will usually be contacted by their GP practice when their child is due a routine vaccination. If your child has missed a vaccine and is over 18months they can be caught up at any time. If you believe your child is due or has missed a vaccine, contact your GP practice to book an appointment.”
If you are unsure what vaccinations your child has already received, check the NHS app, their Red Book or speak to your GP practice.
Government decision on energy projects could threaten Suffolk communities
Government is planning to overhaul the nuclear system to speed up building, strengthen national and energy security, cut costs, and not get “bogged down in processes”, as described by the Prime Minister.
In response to a report by the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, government has accepted a recommendation to establish an in-house unit at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), to discharge Development Consent Order (DCO) requirements.
This is currently the responsibility of local authorities, who are best-placed to consider the impacts on local communities and local environment.
“At a time when government is looking to increase the speed of delivery and reduce complexity of these projects, I fail to see how this recommendation will speed up process.”
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Devolution, Local Government Reorganisation and NSIPs
Taking this further, government is also minded to extend that approach beyond nuclear projects and electricity network projects, to all energy projects.
Suffolk County Council is concerned that this will in fact add layers of bureaucracy, slow down the process and put communities at risk of being ill-considered as projects are built.
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Devolution, Local Government Reorganisation and NSIPs, said:
“Local communities rely on their local authorities to hold National Grid, and other energy developers, to account – something which Suffolk County Council has, and continues to do effectively. We can ensure that they are robustly protected when this critical national priority infrastructure is being built.
“Does DESNZ have the capacity and skills to deliver this work for multiple projects across the country? Or will it, as seems more likely, place additional burdens on local authorities to support this new layer of bureaucracy, with the cost falling on local taxpayers?
“At a time when government is looking to increase the speed of delivery and reduce complexity of these projects, I fail to see how this recommendation will speed up process.”
This means that projects directly affecting Suffolk like Norwich to Tilbury pylons, Sea Link and LionLink risk causing more harm to local communities and environment, when decisions and powers to discharge will fall to DESNZ, rather than experienced local authorities.
Government announces outcome of local government reorganisation in Suffolk
The Government has announced the highly anticipated outcome of Local Government Reorganisation in Suffolk
Three new unitary authorities will replace the current two-tiered system in Suffolk, East Suffolk, West Suffolk, and Ipswich and South Suffolk
Transition planning is underway and services will see no change to deliver throughout the process
The government has announced its decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Suffolk in 2028, opting for three unitary authorities – despite clear evidence that this is not the best outcome for Suffolk.
This is a major milestone in the future of local government in the county and reshapes how councils are structured and how services are delivered across the county.
Each of the three new unitary councils will cover their own new geographical area: West Suffolk, East Suffolk, and South Suffolk and Ipswich.
Cllr Matthew Hicks, Leader of Suffolk County Council, said:
“I am astounded that the government has made the decision to divide our great county through the creation of three independent authorities based on random geographies. LGR provided a huge opportunity to improve the services our residents rely on, and I strongly believe that a single authority was the only way to do this.
“Dividing our county into three new areas carries huge risks to service provision for vulnerable people and long-term financial resilience. Throughout the process we have been clear that a single authority for the whole county would not only be the most financially resilient, saving £40 million a year, but it would also be the best option for improving service delivery.
“I strongly believe the three council case for change lacked significant supporting evidence and delivery plans, making the Government’s decision even more ludicrous. Senior leaders from across Suffolk highlighted their concerns with the plan, however, their views appear to have been ignored.”
Cllr Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Devolution, Local Government Reform and NSIPs, said:
“This decision threatens the future financial stability of local government in Suffolk, and I fear the net result will be substantial cuts to local services. The One Suffolk proposal clearly outlined how one council is the only financially viable option, offering the best opportunity to improve local services.
“Splitting up key county-wide services that vulnerable residents rely on, such as adult social care and children’s services, is an enormous risk. Not only will it put those most in need at risk, Government opting for three new councils means Suffolk will be £145 million worse off in the first 5 years and £13 million worse off every year thereafter.
“We’ve been sold the fairytale that smaller councils must be more local, however three new councils will mean three sets of senior staff, three sets of back-office services and three times the bureaucracy. I stand by the fact that a single council for Suffolk is the smartest, simplest and best option for our county and think a significant opportunity has been missed but I’ve come to expect little else from this hopeless Government.”
The creation of three unitary authorities for Suffolk will mean the abolition of all Suffolk’s councils:
Suffolk County Council
East Suffolk Council
West Suffolk Council
Babergh and Mid Suffolk Councils
Ipswich Borough Council
While detailed boundaries are still being finalised, the creation of three unitary councils, West Suffolk, East Suffolk, and South Suffolk and Ipswich, means that from May 2028 the new councils will replace the following:
West Suffolk: West Suffolk Council, as well as parts of Babergh and Mid Suffolk Council
East Suffolk: East Suffolk Council, as well as parts of Mid Suffolk Council
South Suffolk and Ipswich: Ipswich Borough Council as well as parts of Babergh Council, and East Suffolk Council
Elections for the new shadow authorities will take place in May 2027, with the new councils formally taking over responsibilities from May 2028. This transition period will enable detailed work for reorganisation to take place, and services will be delivered as usual throughout the process.
Additionally, each new authority would be responsible for the delivery of the services previously undertaken by the County Council in their specific area. The new councils would have responsibility for delivering services including waste collection, planning, adult social care, children’s services, highways and more.
Comment from me:
“This decision is the wrong one for Suffolk, choosing to divide our county instead of uniting it. For residents in the Hoxne & Eye division, the government has decided that our destiny now lays with an East Suffolk authority, anchored in Lowestoft, and has chosen to set us adrift from the rest of the county.
“In my view, the costs and practical implications of disaggregation from the County Council will be severe, and this will inevitably have an impact on services for residents. There are tumultuous times ahead for Suffolk.”