I am certainly looking forward to the Christmas break.  It has been a demanding time since I became Leader in May.

The first task was to define what we wanted to do. Labour run Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) is Proud of Ipswich and determined to champion our community and revitalise our town. Our key priorities, which were agreed in July are:

A thriving Town Centre

Meeting the housing needs of our community

A carbon neutral council

Promoting community wellbeing and fairness in Ipswich

A financially sustainable council providing good quality services

Is the town centre thriving?  Well, we are seeing more people compared to last year, according to Google footfall counting. The events put on by IBC and others, such as the SPILL Festival and Brighten The Corners have brought people in. I see that 15 new shops have opened in the first six months of the financial year.  I take my hat off to these owners, as it is a difficult time to launch a new business.  I wish them every success. I’m sure everyone would like to see the town centre thriving more than it is now.

Keir Starmer launched Labour’s plan for high streets in Great Yarmouth, stating that businesses have been “held back by 13 years of Tory economic failure” and made two pledges that would be great for Ipswich town centre.

Firstly, to cut business rates for small businesses, paid for by raising taxes on online companies such as Amazon; Labour has said it wants to scrap business rates altogether in the long term.

Secondly, giving local councils powers to take over empty shops and reopen them without consent from property owners.  If we could re-open the former Grimwades, Debenhams, H&M and BHS buildings, it would transform the town centre.

How about meeting the housing need? IBC now have 300 council properties in various stages of build.  I was delighted to join the Mayor of Ipswich, Lynne Mortimer, at the Topping Out ceremony at Ravenswood in October.

This development, being built by local firm Gipping Construction, sees a mix of houses and flats, designed for sustainability. The 96 properties will include solar panels, plentiful open green space, gardens, and ample parking including EV charging points.

I also visited the Bibb Way site on Handford Road, where construction is by local firm Brooks and Wood. 150 houses and flats are in build here with heat pumps instead of gas boilers, which will be a new experience for the tenants.

In November, a contract was signed with local firm SEH French for the construction of 30 new flats at Fore Hamlet, a prominent site on Bishop’s Hill, which offer a shared garden and onsite parking.

Tenders for a fourth site, to include 26 houses and flats at Hawke Road in Gainsborough are being evaluated and a developer will be announced shortly.

I recently visited the Council’s new depot, where IBC will park, maintain and re-charge its electric vehicles. It is progressing well and will complete next year, helping to meet our carbon neutral targets.

The financial sustainability of IBC is under scrutiny at the moment as we work to set a budget for financial year 24-25.  The ongoing effect of the high inflation we saw last year – 11% after the Tories crashed the economy – are still filtering through our financial figures. We currently expect our reserves to cover deficits for the next three years. I will ensure we remain a financially sustainable council.

Best moment?  Laying a wreath at the Centotaph was thoughtful and humbling experience.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2024.