Two year balanced budget to deliver millions in improvements across West Suffolk

27 Feb 2026

A balanced budget over two years that protects services and delivers millions in improvements to leisure, economic, and community facilities for West Suffolk has been agreed.

West Suffolk Council approved budget proposals which include an additional £4.5 million investment in the physical, mental, economic and environmental health of West Suffolk communities and businesses.

The money, which is allocated from the Strategic Priorities Reserves includes:

• creation of a new £3.5m Leisure Investment Fund to offer new facilities across the whole district, improving health and wellbeing and also improving energy efficiency in leisure centres to ensure a more financially stable future. This includes:
  • £2.5m of leisure centre improvements across the whole of the district such as gym refurbishments, improvements or provision of padel tennis facilities, interactive soft play, 3G pitches, pool facilities, studio and activities
  • £0.7m of leisure centre environmental improvements reducing carbon emissions, energy use and costs
  • £0.3m transitional utility support grant for 2026-27
• up to £1m additional investment to support town centre improvements, including play facilities within the Haverhill High Street project
• £100,000 to create important improvements, lever match funding and deliver vital building blocks and initiatives in response to the Brandon Commission Recommendations.

Parking charges have been frozen for two years and existing free parking initiatives kept.

Pavement licence fees will also be reviewed for new applications and renewals subject to existing safety and accessibility requirements.

The budget protects vital services that communities already rely on such as almost £650,000 for locality funding and Thriving Community Fund grants that go to support community-based services.

It also includes an investment of £2.95m for the introduction and delivery of Better Recycling and food waste collections in the district.

In addition, it continues investment in:

• £130,000 investing in markets (part of an ongoing £300,000 three-year package)
• £900,000 helping people find a place to call home – including investing in ways to bring more affordable homes to West Suffolk and reduce the risk of people becoming homeless
• £300,000 new investment in West Suffolk’s national award-winning parks as well as play equipment and open spaces – including Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill and Mildenhall
• £17.2 million in total making West Suffolk the lead in Suffolk for Advanced Manufacturing – helping bring billions of pounds in investment for the county
• protects the remaining funding from a £500,000 financial package agreed last year to progress growth objectives and potential economic benefits for Brandon, the A11, A1307 and A14 corridor
• £860,000 supporting town centres by improving parking facilities across West Suffolk. Including essential works at Newmarket and new facilities in Clare
• £395,000 in improving and maintaining our residential and temporary accommodation.

It also includes a two-year pilot programme worth up to £1.2 million of additional support for town centres, which includes free parking trials in Haverhill, Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds.

The budget also supports services that residents and businesses rely on such as emptying bins 4.45 million times a year, grass cutting, street cleaning to drive civic pride, supporting traders meet legal requirements and promoting skills.

The council is also continuing to invest in capital projects to support the local economy, drive income, provide homes and meet the authority’s strategic priorities.

This includes the redevelopment of Olding Road, Bury St Edmunds, to create commercial leisure facilities, developing a former waste hub as a gateway site for new businesses and supporting Barley Homes, the council’s own housing development company.

One way the council is continuing to deliver value for money and income generation is through investment in property and green energy. This has secured an annual income of over £10 million which helps pay toward day-to-day services. Alongside this council has delivered a further £1 million in savings and income generation in the past financial year.

Councils nationally are facing a range of funding pressures including the cost of inflation. In providing funding to councils the Government also expects authorities to increase Council Tax. The budget will make the West Suffolk pound stretch even further by reducing the reliance on Council Tax payers.

This will be done by continuing to be more efficient and investing wisely in initiatives that bring an income to fund services. The amount residents pay through Council Tax now covers 16 per cent of the cost of delivering council services (last year it was 20 per cent). Most West Suffolk residents live in a home which has a Council Tax of Band B. This means they will see an increase on their bill of only £4.69 for the whole year or 39p a month.

Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “This is a balanced budget for two years, providing financial certainty and investing in the health of our communities, businesses and environment.

“Despite funding challenges, such as inflation, we have been able to secure an additional £4.5 million to invest in the economic, environmental, physical and mental health of West Suffolk communities. We have also protected nearly £650,000 in vital targeted grant funding that has benefitted hundreds of community groups and local projects over the years.

We continue to support our town centres to thrive, and we have agreed to trial targeted free parking sessions in Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill and Newmarket. This is alongside our existing commitment to maintain all the current concessions and free parking. As well as this, we have committed to freeze charges in all of our car parks for the next two years.

“At the same time, our services are being maintained and improved with no reductions or cuts.

“The proposals meet the funding challenges public services are facing while protecting services - delivering as well as driving forward our strategic priorities. Importantly this is about protecting, investing in and funding not only the services and initiatives that local residents and businesses rely on but also the future of a thriving West Suffolk.

“We are supporting the most vulnerable by continuing to prevent people from becoming homeless and helping those rough sleeping. Equally this budget ensures West Suffolk remains the location for business from helping with skills to growing local companies and our markets.

“We are also continuing to make our towns and rural areas attractive places to live and work in by building on the investments we have already made. This includes investing in our high streets and supporting businesses as well as strengthening essential services such as improving grass cutting and grounds maintenance operations making tidier and safer streets, better biodiversity and supporting civic pride.

“We know the cost of living is a struggle for many, which is why we have found ways other than Council Tax to fund 84 per cent of the real cost of delivering services. We have also proposed that the majority of people, those who live in Band B Council Tax homes, will see their bills rise by just 39p a month for the services we deliver. In addition, we have maintained the 100 per cent Council Tax Reduction Scheme for those who would otherwise struggle to pay their council tax.

“I’m proud of the value for money and excellent service West Suffolk Council continues to offer. I’m also proud that the budget builds on the council’s strong financial management track record. It allows us all, residents and businesses, to rely on a strong and financially resilient council right up to Local Government Reorganisation in 2028.”

Council agreed the proposals at its meeting of Tuesday 24 February.

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