For many of us, this time of year goes hand in hand with reflection, resolutions, and plans for the year ahead. In local government we are no different, and the end of the year provides a welcome opportunity to look forward and focus on how we can make 2026 a success for Suffolk.
I know that for many people this period of reflection is a luxury. For countless residents, work does not slow down or stop over the Christmas period.
So, I want to begin by thanking everyone who has contributed to delivering essential services across Suffolk over the festive season. Whether you work in the emergency services, care sector, or in shipping and delivery, your dedication keeps our county moving, and it does not go unnoticed.
In Suffolk we are gearing up for a year unlike any other. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) will mean that, in a little over two years’ time, the county council, as well as the districts and boroughs, will cease to exist. The tapestry of local government will change for good as we move towards a more straightforward system of unitary government.
In the coming months, government will decide what form that new unitary authority will take, but I remain utterly convinced that the only sensible, sustainable, and safe outcome for Suffolk would be for government to choose the “One Suffolk” proposal for a single authority across our county. This would save millions of pounds every year, allow council tax to harmonise to the lowest level possible, and empower the real workhorses of local government, towns, and parish councils, to do more for their communities with enhanced support and opportunities for funding.
The upcoming year is also one of real opportunity for Suffolk. If central government would just get on and fund the projects which already have widespread support, like the Ely and Haughley junctions, we could see the start of a project that would ultimately remove thousands of HGVs from our main roads and onto rail.
There are also the government’s promises around national SEND reform. So far this has been delayed but given that every authority across the country is reporting serious issues with the levels of demand they face, it really is an area the government should get on with and tackle properly. Whilst I am pleased to acknowledge that several indicators point to positive progress made by this council within our own SEND services, and alongside partners across health, schools and the Suffolk Parent Carer Forum, we cannot keep waiting for government to deliver on its own promised reforms and improved funding - we need this reform now.
There are also huge opportunities to deliver better care and support for adults. In Suffolk we are already a national leader in respect of digital care, with our services currently rated as Good by the CQC. However, where are the government’s long-promised adult social care reforms? When it came to power a year and a half ago, the government scrapped the previous government’s white paper on social care, promising a new National Care Service. Now this seems to have been kicked yet again into ever longer grass. It seems to me that the priority of social care is coming a poor third behind dealing with doctors’ strikes and the Secretary of State’s own future career ambitions. The government must do better for our most vulnerable residents and their families in 2026.
As a county we have a massive farming heritage, and whilst I welcome the government’s recent U-turn on their devastating family farm inheritance tax, there are real opportunities to do more to support our farmers who feed us and safeguard our environment. This includes abolishing their ridiculous tax entirely and reducing net zero legislation to support lower energy costs now. We cannot continue to allow expensive energy costs to damage Suffolk industry and destroy national economic growth.
This New Year’s, thousands of people will head into bars and restaurants across Suffolk to celebrate. Government must do more to support our hospitality sector, recognising the important role it plays in bringing communities together, providing entertainment, and creating many jobs. Businesses need support to start up and be successful; they need to be helped to create more jobs, not taxed out of existence the moment they start trading by a government addicted to tax and spend.
For our part, Suffolk County Council will continue to invest all we can in our towns, villages and communities, ensuring our county remains one of the very best places to live, work and raise a family.
Since 2017, Suffolk County Council has invested more than £20 million in resurfacing 1,000 miles of road and securing additional investment for drainage and pavements. We have invested in new technology to make road repairs quicker and cheaper, and such opportunities for new tools and approaches will continue to be explored next year.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service will forge ahead with its improvement plan, with a strong focus on investing in our people, the service, and the equipment they rely on, ensuring we continue to provide the very best protection and support for Suffolk’s communities.
Alongside this, our Trading Standards team will remain relentless in tackling scams, illegal trading, and rogue operators, actively protecting residents and holding offenders to account.
There is much to look forward to, from the Suffolk Show and the 20th anniversary of Latitude Festival to Ipswich Town continuing their push for success on the pitch.
I would like to wish everyone across Suffolk a very happy New Year. I sincerely hope that 2026 brings health, happiness, and opportunity to you all.
