Council sets out plans for 2026/27 budget
The £850 million plan aims to safeguard frontline services, support the most vulnerable, and invest in Suffolk’s future – despite rising costs, growing demand and shortfalls in national funding.
Key themes of the draft budget include:
Savings and efficiencies: £46.5 million of savings through service transformation and efficiencies, including a temporary reduction in employer pension contributions, made possible by the strong position of the council’s pension fund.
Rising financial pressures: Increasing demand, in particular for adult and children’s social care, will add £32.2 million in costs, alongside continued pressures from the Dedicated Schools Grant deficit.
Reserves: A one-off use of reserves will bridge a £5.9 million funding gap, while keeping reserves above the minimum level needed to manage financial risks.
Capital investment: The capital programme has been shortened from four years to three ahead of local government reorganisation in 2028. It continues to fund essential projects like school expansions and infrastructure upgrades, as well as new schemes, such as improvements to bus services, public rights of way, and cycling and walking infrastructure.
“Our priorities are clear: protect frontline services, invest where it will make the most impact, and make the decisions needed to keep Suffolk strong, resilient and ready for the future.”
Cllr Richard Smith MVO, Suffolk County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, economic development and skills
To support these plans, the council has proposed a 4.99% rise in Council Tax, comprising a 2.99% general increase and an extra 2% for adult care. Alongside a forecast 1% rise in the taxbase, this would generate an additional £27.4 million.
For households, this would mean:
Band B property: £25.90 per week, an increase of £1.23 a week
(Band B properties are the most common in Suffolk)Band D property: £33.30 per week, an increase of £1.58 a week.
Cllr Richard Smith MVO, Suffolk County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, economic development and skills, said:
“This is a responsible and realistic budget with a clear purpose: to protect what matters most while making targeted investments in Suffolk’s future. It goes beyond simply balancing the books, focusing on strengthening our schools, transport and infrastructure, while keeping essential services stable as we prepare for local government reorganisation in 2028.
“Residents expect high-quality services and care use of public money, and that is exactly what this budget delivers. Transformation and efficiency across the council will ensure every pound spent delivers value for money – for vulnerable people, for families and for our communities.
“We have proposed a Council Tax increase as part of this budget, and that proposal will be debated in February. It is important to be clear that the government’s provisional finance settlement assumes that councils will raise Council Tax by the maximum permitted each year, leaving local authorities with limited options if essential services are to be maintained.
“Despite these challenging financial circumstances, our priorities are clear: protect frontline services, invest where it will make the most impact, and make the decisions needed to keep Suffolk strong, resilient and ready for the future.”
Councillors will consider the plans at a Scrutiny Meeting on Tuesday 13 January 2026, which will be streamed live on the council’s YouTube channel. Relevant papers can be viewed at committeeminutes.suffolk.gov.uk.
The final budget will be agreed by all county councillors at a Full Council meeting on Thursday 12 February 2026.
Suffolk County Council backs new 20mph speed limit policy for communities
A new 20mph speed limit policy to enhance road safety and improve quality of life across Suffolk’s communities has been agreed by county councillors.
Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet has backed the proposal to make it easier to reduce the speed limit, where appropriate, in residential and high-pedestrian areas to 20mph.
Under the new scheme any applications for a 20mph limit in an area where recorded average traffic speeds are 28mph or under is likely to be approved.
The scheme was approved by the Cabinet at its meeting on Friday January 9.
Councillor Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Transport Strategy, said: “I am delighted this proposed policy has been accepted, it will make a real difference to the quality of life of our communities.
“This update to the 20mph policy reflects a greater demand for lower speed environments where people live.
“It is not a blanket speed-reduction policy, it is simply a more efficient way of introducing a 20mph limit on roads where it is appropriate to do so.”
Under the new scheme communities, typically parish or town councils, will be invited to come forward with proposals for 20mph limits, supported by their local county councillor and backed by local engagement.
This could include formal surveys or consultation through neighbourhood plans to demonstrate community support.
Assessment criteria will consider observed average traffic speeds, the role and character of the road, and the presence of vulnerable road users.
Schemes will still need local funding, as is currently the case, except where they align with existing council programmes as part of the Local Transport Plan.
Under the scheme, areas with recorded speeds of:
Below 28mph – likely to be accepted, with a speed limit sign only, although signs warning that a 20mph zone is ahead may be required
Between 28 - 32mph - unlikely to be acceptable with signing alone. Gateway signing and traffic calming throughout the area may be required
Above 32mph - Unlikely to be acceptable without extensive traffic calming measures such as road humps, plus night-time lighting. It would also be subject to a Road Safety Audit
The new policy will come into immediate effect for all new applications.
Suffolk County Council appeals against incorrect government Red highways rating
Suffolk County Council has called on the Department for Transport to correct a report it says wrongly labels the authority in the worst category of a new ratings system.
The move comes after a meeting with department officials (DfT) on Monday by Councillor Paul West and senior highways officials.
The new system ranks highways authorities using a traffic-light system based on effectiveness in spending the government’s highways maintenance funding.
The council says the DfT failed to include in its assessment £10 million of highways funding it brought forward from 2025/26 and invested early in 2024/25.
Had this been included, Suffolk would have received an Amber rating for highways expenditure, consistent with its ratings in road condition and best practice, rather than an overall Red.
Councillor West, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Operational Highways, said: “That £10 million delivered much welcomed resurfacing ahead of time, but we have now been unfairly penalised for it.
“We fully support transparency in the reporting of highway maintenance performance but transparency can only be meaningful if the data being published is accurate.
“We have demonstrated to the government where it has gone wrong and we want it to recognise its mistake and correct the rating to Amber.
“Make no mistake, we ultimately want a Green status, but it is important that we at least have a ranking that accurately records where we are.”
Andrew Cook, Executive Director of Growth, Highways and Infrastructure for Suffolk County Council, said the council was unhappy it was not given the chance to comment on the ratings and accompanying report before it was published by the DfT, and that a request to delay publication to do this had been rejected.
“Other government departments routinely undertake proper due diligence before publishing assessments of this nature,” he said.
“We feel it is unacceptable that this standard was not met on this occasion.”
“Other highways authorities have also voiced concerns about the accuracy of the ratings and there is growing consensus across the highway industry that the DfT mechanism is fundamentally flawed.”
Suffolk Highways continues to perform strongly against national roadcondition benchmarks.
In December it was awarded £2.9 million from the Department for Transport’s 2025/26 Incentive Fund.
The fund, introduced by the current government, rewards local authorities that demonstrate excellence in highway asset management and efficiency.
Data published on the Department for Transport (DfT) website shows only 3% of Suffolk’s Aroad network is in poor condition, better than the England average, with the proportion in good condition broadly aligned to the national figure.
Suffolk’s B and C roads also outperform national averages, with a high share in good condition and significantly fewer in poor condition.
The DfTreported data also shows that the overall condition of Suffolk’s entire road network has consistently improved since 2011 across all road categories.
Angela Jones, President of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport, has said the newly published ratings raise significant questions about the assessment methodology and has called for local authorities to have the opportunity to verify data and clarify any factual questions before ratings are published, to ensure accuracy and build confidence in the system.
Her full statement can be read here: ADEPT’s response to government pothole ratings map | ADEPT]
Helping households to save money, eat well and reduce food waste
Feel Good Suffolk provides free support to residents who want help managing their weight, getting more active and to stop smoking. Now it has now teamed up with FiveDinners.com
The online platform founded by TV chef and author Theo Michaels is already working with NHS Trusts and a number of other councils supporting over 30,000 members.
Now through the partnership with Feel Good Suffolk, it is offering households across the county free premium access for this year to the platform which would otherwise cost them £86 a year.
Residents simply have to visit https://FiveDinners.com/MyCommunity select the district council area that they live in and then put in their postcode - they won’t be asked for any bank details which means they won’t be charged for using the service.
Once registered, they will receive a meal plan every week, tailored to their needs and preferences. This can be personalised for low calories, child friendly, low cost, vegetarian, gluten-free, quick and easy, menopause friendly and more. Alongside the meal plan, members receive a shopping list for the week ahead, which automatically adjusts to the number of people they are cooking for.
The idea is that through meal planning, the service can help people manage a healthy weight with nutritious meals and portion control. That in turn can also help reduce household food waste and save households money.
“As a father of three and working fulltime I know how hard it can be for many families and individuals to figure out what to cook every night - it is a faff!” said Theo Michaels. “By working with Feel Good Suffolk we’re making it easier for families to enjoy delicious, affordable, home-cooked meals together while helping them save money and cut food waste. And because the plans are personalised, residents set their preferences; number of people they are feeding, allergies, etc. and get a brand-new personalised meal plan with a complete shopping list every week.”
Stuart Keeble, Executive Director of Public Health & Communities at Suffolk County Council said:
“A key aspect of the Feel Good Suffolk service is our work with partners to foster healthy eating, reduce food waste and help people with the cost of food.
“By providing all households with free access to FiveDinners.com, our aim is to provide positive, practical support so that our residents can get the best possible access to nutritious meals, supporting healthier lifestyles, reducing the stress of meal planning, helping people to manage food shopping costs as well.”
For more on Feel Good Suffolk and how it can help people manage their weight, get more active and stop smoking, visit
https://feelgoodsuffolk.co.uk