Unexpected news from Suffolk County Council

Last week, Suffolk County Council unveiled the New Strategic Direction (NSD). Under the current proposals, the Council propose to divest themselves of the following services;

• Transactional property
• Registrars
• Suffolk traded services
• Employment enterprises, learning and careers advice
• Libraries
• Home First (this is a social care service)
• A record office
• Independent Living Centres (these provide advice and information on equipment which can be used by disabled people)
• Highway Services
• Country Parks
• Economic Development
• Youth clubs, and Integrated Youth Support and Outdoor Education
• Early Years & Childcare, including Children’s Centres
• Home Shield Plus
• Hate Crime Service

The timescale is an ambitious one, in that there will be three phases, beginning in April 2011, with the final phase starting in Autumn 2011. The first phase includes the divestment of the library service.

We'll see what this means for the village, as the Parish Council is yet to be properly briefed, consulted or, as far as I am aware, even told. I don't doubt that this will be an issue for discussion at our next meeting.