I am at present sittng on both the Scrutiny Committee and Planning Committee North. I will be the opposition leader on East Suffolk Council from next month as leader of the Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent group.
I am focussing on two main concerns at the moment.
Our local young people cannot afford to live here when “affordable” housing requires an annual income of £50k a year, as in the shared equity flat at Southwold Hospital. Even an ex-council house in Reydon asks for £900 a month in private rent. We need to provide more social housing for rent to keep our community alive. The Scrutiny Committee agreed with me that we should double our targets but the Conservative cabinet rejected it.
After a four year campaign, the Government will finally close the iniquitous loophole that allows second homes to avoid council tax and rates, but not until next year. Neighbourhood plans in Southwold and Reydon now oblige all new houses to be for full time residents only. I am now pushing for a requirement that planning permission be needed to turn a permanent home into a holiday home so that we can ensure that at least half our homes are lived in.
I am also worried about the threat of sea level rise and our coastal erosion. I have set up a local flood and coastal defence board to bring all the agencies together to look at our area in the round. – from Easton Bavants sea wall to Potters Bridge to the Harbour. We have been closely involved with the £100k Harbour Study. The consultants are recommending that we spend £10m on a new South Pier otherwise we will lose the Harbour – as well as some of Walberswick, Ferry Road, the Town Marshes, the estuary and maybe Buss creek to the sea. The scientists predict the coast will be on the red line if we lose the Harbour. Feel free to email me at davidbeavan@live.com or call 01502724904 with any problems.