News
Ipswich Borough Council backs plan to create new town council ahead of reform
Ipswich Borough Council has unanimously approved proposals to establish a new town council for the borough ahead of local government reorganisation in May 2028.
João Santos
João is a Local Democracy Reporter covering Suffolk's district and borough councils, as well as Suffolk County Council.
News
Council leader promises 'exciting options' for former crown court
Ipswich Borough Council is set to discuss plans for the future of the former Crown Court building on Civic Drive by the end of the year, the council leader has revealed.
News
County council pays out £340k as SEND complaints soar
Suffolk County Council paid out more than £340,000 to families during the past year as complaints about children's services increased by 40%, with most relating to special educational needs.
News
NHS board reveals stark differences in workplace harassment between staff groups
Black and minority ethnic staff at Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board experience significantly higher rates of workplace harassment from colleagues than white staff, according to annual survey data discussed by board members yesterday.
News
Council tax 'harmonisation' explained as councils prepare to submit devolution proposals to Westminster
Suffolk's six county, district and borough councils will cease to exist by May 2028 and be replaced by unitary authorities, triggering a 'harmonisation' process that will bring all residents' council tax to the same level within new authority boundaries.
News
Council backs waiving £250,000 developer contribution for Lower Orwell Street flats
Ipswich Borough Council has unanimously agreed to waive a quarter-million-pound developer contribution as plans to convert a former gym into 16 flats move forward with drastically reduced community funding.
News
Suffolk County Council approves single authority plan amid fierce opposition
Suffolk County Council has approved its plan to create a single unitary authority for the county, despite a heated debate that exposed deep divisions over the future of local democracy in Suffolk.
News
Suffolk County Council faces £13.3m budget overspend as council reform reduces savings
Suffolk County Council is grappling with a £13.3 million budget overspend, with local government reform blamed for holding back £2.5 million of planned savings, council leaders revealed following their first quarter review this week.
News
Councillors to consider waiving £250,000 developer contribution for Lower Orwell Street flats
Ipswich Borough Council is to consider waiving a quarter-million-pound developer contribution after financial assessments showed previously approved plans to convert the former Gym & Trim building into flats would fall below the Government's profitability threshold.
News
Suffolk councils stand by merger savings as government reveals it didn't conduct its own analysis
Suffolk council leaders are backing their financial projections for council mergers as the Government faces criticism for relying on third-party analysis that originally promised £2.9bn in savings, but now suggests reorganisation could cost more money.
News
Ipswich MP warns against 'tinkering' as Suffolk MPs weigh in on council shake-up
Ipswich MP Jack Abbott has urged bold action on council reform, warning that maintaining the status quo "isn't working for anyone," as Suffolk MPs line up behind competing visions for the county's future.
News
Local MP explains why he backed mass deportation motion
Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Patrick Spencer says "countless conversations" with residents about immigration concerns led him to support a controversial motion calling for mass deportation of people living in the UK illegally, despite disputed figures about the scale of the issue.