Increased car parking charges on match days and reduced hours at swimming pools have been agreed in the council's bid to balance the books.

Ipswich Borough Council's executive committee discussed on Tuesday night what changes the town can expect in the upcoming financial year. 

Leader Cllr Neil MacDonald said last week the council's budget gap had risen from £17.5million to £23m over the last six months.

To try to bridge the gap a series of large cuts will be made, including the delaying of projects; including the arrival of the new Cardinal Medical Practice surgery at the old Tooks site and redevelopment of Arras Square.

Most of these changes will start from the beginning of the next financial year in April 2025.

Executive members questioned why now to address the budget gaps after its meeting in February.

Cllr MacDonals assured the council will continue to protect essential services. Cllr MacDonald assured the council will continue to protect essential services. (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr MacDonald assured the committee that they will continue to support essential services. 

He told the meeting that these cuts are being made because of multiple issues that have impacted the local economy such as economic shocks, the war in Ukraine, increased regulations, Liz Truss' mini-budget, and inflation.

He said: "I am not expecting people to agree with everything in this proposal, but hope that they do understand why we have had to take these steps. 

"We want to keep the town growing and make Ipswich a better place."


Charges to be introduced to visit Wolsley Gallery.Charges to be introduced to visit Wolseley Gallery. (Image: Ipswich Borough Council)

The changes include swimming pools being closed one day a week, and charges being introduced at exhibitions at the Wolsey Gallery at Christchurch Mansion, which will also shut on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 

Council tenants living in communal blocks will have a service charge introduced, and the fee for sports and leisure centres will rise to. 

The subsidy for the summer holiday iCard for children will be reduced - although it will remain free for youngsters who get free school meals.

Significant changes are also to come to the contributions the council makes to non-profit organisations, and cancelling council-run entertainments in the town, although Ipswich Music Day will continue.

The council also proposes the addition of premium parking of £15 at long-stay council car parks near Portman Road on match days - which could start in January next year.

The council states that other Premier League clubs have an average price of £35 for such parking spaces.

Another change affecting long-term car parks is that the pay and display ticket machines will be removed and users will have to use the MiPermit parking app.

Plans to restore Arras Square have been delayed by a year.Plans to restore Arras Square have been delayed by a year. (Image: Paul Geater)

The council is also planning to push back plans to restore Arras Square and the former Burtons building by at least a year.

Additionally, work will not start until 2025/26 at the earliest to build a new surgery for the Cardinal Medical Practice on the Tooks' site at Old Norwich Road.

Households will also be charged £49.50 a year for brown bin collections.

Cllr Martin Cook presented the cuts to the executive committee.Cllr Martin Cook presented the cuts to the executive committee. (Image: Cllr Martin Cook)

Portfolio Holder for resources, Cllr Martin Cook, introduced these changes. 

He said: "We have to make these decisions here tonight because we do not want to go bust.

"If we do go bust then we would see outside people come in and we do not want that." 

He said the council has tried to protect these services as long as possible but they are to make these changes now.

Cllr Ian Fisher said:..Cllr Ian Fisher said that these gaps could have been addressed earlier. (Image: Archant)

Executive member Cllr Ian Fisher said that a lot of these budget gaps could have been addressed during the budget meeting in February. 

He pointed to Cllr Cook's report stating that the council had failed to rent offices in their building, Grafton House.

He said: "A lot of these costs were known in February.

"What's changed to allow us to know that information now that we did not know in February?"

Cllr Inga Lockington asked the meeting: "How soon did you realise after setting the budget in February did you realise that you needed to change the budget?"

Cllr Cook responded to this stating the council did not know how big the gap would be as at the time the budget gap was at £17.5million. 

He added that it was only after getting the first quarter report that the council knew that the budget gap had risen and hence the need to make these cuts.