August County Report
£675,000 secured to install low‑carbon heat pumps in libraries and schools, cutting emissions and future-proofing community spaces.
Responding to theEcoPower Solar Community Engagement Meeting
Council secures funding for sustainable libraries and schools
They will see low-carbon heat pumps installed, replacing aging fossil fuel boilers to reduce maintenance costs and significantly lower emissions.
Suffolk County Council recently secured £675,000 from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, delivered by Salix, for these improvements. The scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
“These improvements are not only reducing carbon emissions and cutting running costs, but they’re also creating better, more resilient and comfortable spaces for staff and residents to enjoy.”
- Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality
In November 2021, the county council committed to invest £12.8 million to decarbonise buildings across its estate. Libraries have been a priority for this work, seeing upgrades to reduce energy use, cut carbon emissions, and ensure these much-loved community spaces are fit for the future.
Community Libraries across Suffolk have seen the installation of solar panels, enhanced heating and lighting controls, and improved insulation. A recent project to upgrade the lighting at Bury St Edmunds library has been positively received and has already reduced electricity usage.
Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality, said:
“Suffolk Community Libraries are the beating heart of many parts of Suffolk, and I’m proud that they are now also champions of sustainability.
“These improvements are not only reducing carbon emissions and cutting running costs, but they’re also creating better, more resilient and comfortable spaces for staff and residents to enjoy.
“Libraries are at the forefront of the county council’s ambitious programme to reduce our energy consumption, deliver value for money, as well showcasing the council’s commitment to more sustainable community spaces.
“This forward-thinking approach has also helped us to unlock further development opportunities. In several instances, our initial investment has enabled access to additional grant funding, driving further improvements to building fabric and interior spaces.”
The county council’s success in securing the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding also extends beyond libraries.
An additional £215,000 was awarded from the from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to install heat pumps at Barningham and Hadleigh Beaumont Primary Schools, supporting long-term energy efficiency and helping reduce the maintenance burden for school leaders.
These projects will provide valuable insights as Suffolk County Council continues to work with schools across the region to deliver sustainable energy solutions.
Ian Rodger, Director of Public Sector Decarbonisation for Salix, said:
“We’re delighted to work with Suffolk County Council as it makes great strides to ensure its public buildings are future-proofed.
“We are keen that the council can reduce its carbon footprint, reduce running costs as well creating more comfortable places in which to live, work and enjoy.”
For more information on the Council’s decarbonisation programme, visit Climate action - Suffolk County Council.
Districts and borough must be honest with residents over their 3-councils proposal
Call for Suffolk’s five district and borough councils to come clean over their reorganisation proposals
Details needed so public can make informed decisions
Delay risks failure to properly assess proposals before sharing with Government
A key piece of information, which is currently missing, is the proposed boundaries of the three council areas they wish to create – leaving communities in the dark over what this could mean for them. It also prevents necessary scrutiny of the proposals before they are submitted to the Government. In contrast Suffolk County Council announced its proposal for single council covering the whole of Suffolk in March 2025 – and is now engaging with residents and stakeholders.
The call comes as West Suffolk Council has published a motion which supports a three council model but stops well short of giving further details to residents.
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for devolution, local government reorganisation and NSIPs, said:
"There is absolutely no detail of any value in this announcement from West Suffolk Council. There’s not even a suggestion of where they believe the boundaries of the new councils should be.
“This detail is important not only for the public, who rightly want to know where their town or village is within the districts’ proposals, but also for us as we model the service implications for some of Suffolk’s most vulnerable residents if the government chooses to break Suffolk up. Are they suggesting Felixstowe is in with east Suffolk or Ipswich? Where is Hadleigh, Woodbridge or the Shotley peninsula? We just don’t know, and by not coming clean they’re keeping the public in the dark and putting service users at potential risk.
“Either the district and borough councils don’t know where their new councils would be, can’t agree where they should be, or do know but are too scared to share the details with the public because they know it will cause outcry.
“We are certain that the idea that three councils will save taxpayers money and not have to cut services to balance the books is a fairytale. It is abundantly clear that splitting Suffolk in three will cost money, not save it – in fact taxpayers will be worse off than under the current system.
"The district and borough councils’ cobbled-together patchwork proposal means three councils, three sets of salaries and the same old story for Suffolk. It's simply the wrong way to go and I suspect they know it but are too dogmatic to admit it.
"Having just one new council for Suffolk, delivering all local and countywide services, will save the most money to reinvest in services or keep council tax as low as possible. Residents and local organisations are already helping to ensure local voices and understanding will be central to a One Suffolk approach.
"To suggest that three councils could achieve all of this is simply make believe."
Residents are being encouraged to have their say on the future of councils and public services in Suffolk by completing Suffolk County Council’s survey.
The survey only takes about 10 minutes to complete, and can be done online at www.suffolk.gov.uk/devolution, by emailing devolution@suffolk.gov.uk or by calling 0345 603 1842 where a member of Suffolk County Council’s customer services team can help residents to complete the survey. People can also visit any of Suffolk’s 45 libraries to complete the survey online or in hard copy.
Response to government announcement on road schemes
In response to the Government announcement on road and rail schemes in England, which includes statement below has been issued by Councillor Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Transport Strategy.
“The improvements to the A12 that have been announced are not new, they are simply a rehash of previous funding pledges,” he said.
"I have called for talks with the government and others about what can be done to improve the Suffolk transport network, such as improving the Copdock interchange and the Ely/Haughley rail junction improvements, a measure that would take a huge amount of freight off the roads in Suffolk and free up badly-needed capacity.
"The government announcement demonstrates that when it comes to investing in Suffolk and wider East Anglia it is not listening."
On July 1 Councillor Chambers issued an open letter to the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander MP calling for talks about the need for strategic investment in Suffolk’s transport infrastructure.
The letter can be read on the Suffolk County Council website.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service calls for urgent fire extinguisher checks in non-domestic and higher-risk premises
A ban on fire extinguishers containing perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOAs) came into effect on 4 July 2025, under updated Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) legislation.
These changes aim to reduce harm to both human health and the environment from so-called “forever chemicals”.
PFOA is of particular concern due to its non-biodegradable nature, toxicity, and tendency for bioaccumulation – where small amounts build up over time in living organisms, particularly those low in the food chain.
The most affected products are Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) extinguishers, especially those manufactured or refilled before 2016.
As the ban is now in force, those responsible should by now have checked whether their extinguishers are compliant. If you have not yet taken action, SFRS is encouraging you to do so without delay.
Gary Smart, Head of Protection at SFRS, said: “While many will have already made the necessary changes, we know that some may still be unsure about whether their current extinguishers are affected but we’re here to help.
“If you’re responsible for fire safety in your premises and haven’t yet checked, we strongly urge you to do so. Ensuring your fire equipment is safe and compliant isn’t just a legal obligation — it’s a vital part of protecting your staff, your premises and the environment.”
Foam fire extinguishers are commonly used to tackle Class B fires, involving flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel, oils, paints and solvents. These extinguishers are often found in garages, workshops, warehouses, vehicle fleets, industrial units and farms.
While many foam extinguishers supplied in the last decade are unlikely to contain PFOAs, older models may now be unlawful to use. Business owners or responsible persons should examine labelling and manufacture dates and consult their extinguisher supplier or manufacturer if unsure.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended) responsible persons are legally required to ensure that fire safety equipment remains suitable and effective. Any updates to firefighting equipment should prompt a review of the fire risk assessment and, if necessary, additional staff training.
To help responsible persons comply with this regulation, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service
Protection Officers carry out audits and inspections of premises; offering advice where necessary to ensure that fire safety measures such as extinguishers, alarms, and escape routes are adequate and properly maintained.
Where serious risks or non-compliance are identified, Protection Officers have the authority to take enforcement action to protect the Suffolk community.
The Protection team enforces fire safety law in non-domestic and higher-risk residential buildings (such as high-rise apartments with communal areas, care homes, halls of residence, houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), hotels, hostels and guest houses).
In contrast, the Prevention team focuses on providing advice and support to those living in domestic premises, which includes private homes, social housing, supported living and temporary accommodation. For those who meet certain eligibility criteria, they also provide free home safety visits.
To find out more or to arrange an appointment, please call Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service Business Support Team on 01473 260588 or send an email to fire.businesssupport@suffolk.gov.uk.
Calls are monitored Monday – Thursday, 9am – 5pm; Friday, 9am – 4pm.
Suffolk County Council wins government funding for autonomous vehicles trial
Suffolk County Council has secured £75,000 of government funding for a feasibility study exploring how to introduce self-driving shuttle vehicles into the county’s transport network.
The ADASTRA study is one of 14 initiatives across the UK selected for funding through the Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder Feasibility Studies Competition in support of the government’s ambition to establish a £40bn CAM sector by 2040.
The council has been working with design experts Smart City Consultancy to assess the technical, operational, and regulatory requirements of incorporating autonomous shuttle services into a future network of mobility hubs across the county.
A self-driving shuttle, built in New Zealand by Ohmio, is operated by Smart City Consultancy and is based at BT Adastral Park near Ipswich.
The shuttle can accommodate 15 people in total, but currently has a maximum seated capacity of eight, with a safety driver.
Councillor Chris Chambers, Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy, Planning and Waste, said:
“We are committed to delivering a range of transport options to meet the changing needs of the county.
“The use of self-driving, environmentally friendly shuttles operating alongside traditional services as part of a Mobility Hub network is a key component of that strategy.
“ADASTRA will enable us to test our ideas with passengers and stakeholders, giving people the chance to see the shuttles in action and build out the longer-term business case.”
The study aims to shape a viable strategy for commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles, potentially linking future residential developments in Suffolk with strategic bus routes.
The central element of the project is testing public perception around safety and operations.
Though the current study does not include trials with remote operators, the findings will inform future planning for staff-free, remotely supervised vehicles.
Future public engagement will see a series of events in high-footfall locations across the county plus an invitation-only event for key stakeholders.
These events aim to gather feedback and raise awareness about how autonomous technology can benefit communities by improving accessibility, addressing driver shortages, and offering sustainable transport solutions, particularly in rural areas.
Ian Pulford, Director at Smart City Consultancy, added:
“We are passionate about driving adoption of new autonomous services.
“ADASTRA is an important first step toward delivering a Suffolk-wide Mobility Hub network that connects people, services and opportunities—ultimately creating jobs and transforming the way we travel.”
The ADASTRA study will position Suffolk to lead in future funding rounds under the £150 million CAM Pathfinder programme.
ADASTRA is part of CCAV’s CAM Pathfinder Programme, funded by UK Government.
The CAM Pathfinder Programme, as part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy and the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, is delivered by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.
This is a joint unit between the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Transport (DfT) in partnership with Innovate UK and Zenzic.