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Report from the West Suffolk District Councillor, Sarah Pugh, for the
Whepstead Annual Parish Meeting on Friday 12 th April 2024
I am so sorry not to be with you this evening but as I explained to the Clerk, we have a large
family gathering in Wales on Saturday 13 th to celebrate my mother in law’s 90 th birthday – a
three line whip you might say!
In the last twelve months we have been getting used to the new, multi-party coalition of
Labour, Lib Dem, Green, West Suffolk Independents and Independent candidates who now
form the administration in West Suffolk District Council. They were all new to job and are
taking some time to get their heads around the roles and workload that comes with being
the decision making group. Equally, the Conservatives are getting used to being in
opposition, just as new for them. West Suffolk Council staff are also having to adjust to the
new order but on the whole we all seem to be getting on with things.
I have been appointed to the Rural Services Network as the West Suffolk Council
representative and it is a role I am really enjoying. The Rural Services Network comprises
members from all across the UK, mostly Councils but also some independent bodies such as
the RSPB, NFU, National Trust, First Bus, who lobby and campaign on behalf of rural
communities across the country. Some of our current hot topics are the roll out of digital
voice technology; lack of public transport; the rural economy and health provision. The
biggest challenge is getting fairer funding for rural communities because it costs more to
deliver services in rural areas. I am sure I don’t need to tell you all of this!
I have been pleased to support a number of projects in Whepstead during the last year with
contributions from my Locality Budget and I will continue to help when I can. My budget per
village for the year ahead is £466 so don’t go too mad please…
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if there is something you need help with from
West Suffolk Council. I may not be able to solve a problem but I can hopefully find the right
person for you to work with.
Sarah Pugh
WSDC Whepstead and Wickhambrook.
Report for Whepstead Parish Council Meeting
8 th February 2023
Planning
I have been notified of the following planning application (s):
DC/23/0081/FUL and DC/23/0082/LB – Vincents Farm, Whepstead
Forthcoming Elections
As many of you will be aware there will be a requirement at the forthcoming
elections for all those attending polling stations to bring approved photo ID
with them. This change is being introduced nationally – it is not a West
Suffolk Council decision. Between 6 th February – 10 th March members of the
elections team at WSDC will be making visits to residents to help them get
registered to vote. Staff will be clearly identifiable and if there is no reply
when they call they will leave a calling card, printed on pink for visibility,
clearly setting out the deadline for registering to vote.
HOPE AWARDS
The Hope awards were created as a platform to acknowledge and celebrate some of
the amazing work our young community are doing outside of their academic studies.
Please help us spread the word and encourage people to make a nomination.
Coming in to its third round the HOPE awards are open to any student aged between
11yrs and 18yrs old covering key stage two, three and sixth form.
The awards are categorised in to four areas as follows;
Diversity / inclusivity – where a group or individual has promoted diversity, taken
a stand to prevent/stop discrimination, undertaken activity to help challenge
negative mindset and affect positive change. They strive to motivate change and
educate, raising awareness of how as an inclusive community we can promote
equality
Respect and Kindness– Kindness is often an often underestimated attribute; the
HOPE awards look to recognise actions (both large and small) which demonstrate
compassion and an understanding of another’s struggles. In showing respect, we
show a regard for the feelings, wishes and rights of others.
Teamwork –Teamwork is a skill we carry forward from school to higher education,
work and the rest of our lives. By working as a team, we acknowledge the benefits of
sharing our ideas and experiences and finding a common approach to solve an issue.
Standing together we can see the impact we have.
Determination – The HOPE awards look to tackle, highlight and discuss important
topics, some not always easy to find the confidence to take on. We are looking to
celebrate and recognise the determination and resilience of our young people and
reward their positive attitude to finding solutions or helping each other and their
community.
Previous years have shown we have so many young people in our community taking
the initiative to enact change, making kind and thoughtful choices affecting those
around them and showing such an impressive amount of strength and resilience
during difficult times. Please spread the word and encourage everyone to partake
and make a nomination. Nominations are now open until Friday 24 February
2023.
Following nominations, a panel will meet, and winners selected. Prizes will be
announced in the new year where we aim to share the winner’s success in local news
and social media.
Nominations can be made via the link below.
6. Apply Here | Suffolk Constabulary
Suffolk Mind: Suffolk Needs assessment – please can you
help by completing the survey and disseminating it to
anyone living in Suffolk?
Join over 24,000 people taking a moment to check in with themselves. Suffolk Mind’s
short, anonymous Emotional Needs Survey will give you a better understanding of
your wellbeing, and these answers also help give Suffolk Mind and its partners, a
window into local mental health needs and strengths in our area. It will enable
partners more understanding in what support people need across our county and
what helps people. Click the link below to start the survey:
https://www.suffolkmind.org.uk/emotional-needs-survey/.
“Suffolk Mind and Suffolk County Council are working together to understand
wellbeing across the county. The data collected will be used by Suffolk County
Council to determine what actions may be needed to support wellbeing, so your
response matters.”
Data from across Suffolk will be collected until 30 April
2023.
For further information, please contact Lucy Pettitt,
Service Manager (Families and Communities)
lucy.pettit@westsuffolk.gov.uk