The most difficult decisions are always around budgets. Most councils are making these now.

The main reasons for financial stress are reduced council funding from the previous Tory government, the long-term impacts of Covid, economic shocks like the Ukraine conflict and the Liz Truss mini-budget, increased regulation without increased funding e.g. fire safety following Grenfell, and the rising costs associated with the high inflation in the last few years.

Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) has published its package of savings proposals that would address a significant proportion of its financial gap.

The proposed savings measures are expected to deliver between £13million and £17m for the General Fund, which covers most of the council’s spending, and up to £4.5m for the Housing Revenue Account, a ring-fenced budget for council housing. These savings are vital for maintaining financial stability and delivering the services that local people value.

I am not expecting people to like everything in these proposals, but I do hope that people understand the current financial position and will bear with us while we work through the proposals. We are still committed to a vibrant and prosperous Ipswich.

It is not all doom and gloom. IBC is still committed to Broomhill Pool and the Ipswich Museum refurbishments, because we have already committed the money, and that commitment will bring in twice as much from the lottery. They are both great projects that will enhance Ipswich.

The Towns Fund deal, funded by the Government, will provide money for several other projects: Lloyds Avenue re-development, a Greener Ipswich route linking the town centre to the Waterfront and Christchurch Park, as well as improvements to the Stoke Bridge entrance to the Waterfront.

The Lloyds Avenue redevelopment consultation is now open until Thursday, September 26 - see https://www.ipswich.gov.uk/lloyds-avenue-redevelopment

Lloyds Avenue forms an important gateway to the heart of the town centre. Proposals will make this a more attractive space, including green space, pedestrianisation and seating to increase footfall, bringing a regular passing trade and benefiting the local shops.

The taxi rank will be smaller, though still taking 11 cars. IBC has approved a new taxi rank for five cars at the Waterfront. A notice has to be published, and 28 days are allowed for objections.

Greener Ipswich will redevelop, regenerate, re-imagine and reconnect the central area with the Waterfront, creating a variety of green spaces throughout the town. This will run from Christchurch Park to the Waterfront. Ipswich Central, who represent the town centre businesses, are calling this the Cardinal Route – will this name catch on?

As the Silo project has been removed from the Towns Fund projects, some of the money has been redirected to improve the entrance to the Waterfront from the Stoke Bridge end. This will involve landscaping the slip road and the current car park. Perhaps a Tudor-style Garden as part of the landscaping would be an appropriate finish to the Cardinal Route?

County Council money will uplift to Stoke Bridge. New seating and planting will be installed with new permanent displays and a viewing gallery on the bridge.

Also at the Waterfront entrance, you will see that the Loungers restaurant chain have started fitting out work on the old Burton Warehouse at St Peter’s Wharf. This building will be converted into the Marinero Lounge, opening in spring 2025.

Slightly upriver, the Galliard Homes development, on the former B&Q site, has been launched as Merchant’s Yard. There are 163 properties for rent “from late summer”. I’m sure that the new Cardinal Route will give the new residents an attractive way to guide them, and many others, to the town centre.