The Strategic Overview & Scrutiny Committee of Ipswich Council met on Thursday 25 September 2025 to discuss the annual portfolio holder update for parks and climate change, and to review the committee's work programme. The committee was also scheduled to discuss topics for future briefing papers.

Parks and Climate Change Update

Councillor Lucy Trenchard, Portfolio Holder for Parks and Climate Change, was scheduled to provide an annual update. As part of this update, the committee was scheduled to discuss a report covering carbon sink value and how Ipswich Borough Council would be implementing Suffolk County Council's Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

The report stated that there is no standardised methodology for assessing the carbon storage potential of Ipswich Borough Council's green spaces. It noted that while the council carried out a basic scoping study in 2021, any data from it should be viewed with caution due to the many factors involved in measuring areas and assessing carbon storage. The report quoted Natural England, saying that their original document included huge variations in the figures due to the many different factors involved complicating the attempt to provide a simple value.

The report also stated that the council believes that land managed for the benefit of biodiversity will be better for capturing and storing carbon than other land uses.

Regarding the implementation of Suffolk County Council's Local Nature Recovery Strategy, the report stated that Ipswich Borough Council's duties and responsibilities are limited as it is a supporting authority. The council will have a role in implementing the strategy through the planning process, Biodiversity Net Gain¹, the enhanced Biodiversity Duty², and functions which directly impact on nature.

The report included performance data for the following indicators:

• Allotments: percentage of available plots let
• Cemeteries: percentage of cremation services provided within 10 days of initial enquiry
• Parks: percentage of tree surgery work proactively managed in a systematic and regular scheduled cycle
• Cemeteries: percentage of public health cases where costs are likely to be recovered
• Parks: improved local biodiversity - proportion of Local Sites³ where positive conservation management has been or is being implemented

Work Programme and Portfolio Update

The committee was scheduled to discuss and update its work programme for 2025/26. The work programme included annual portfolio holder updates, budget proposals, and reports from the Suffolk Health Scrutiny Committee and on crime and disorder matters.

The committee was also scheduled to decide what topic they would like an additional briefing paper on from within each portfolio. To assist with this, the report pack included information on the responsibilities, corporate strategy links, and key performance indicators for Councillor Neil MacDonald, Portfolio Holder for Place, and Councillor Bryony Rudkin, Portfolio Holder for Strategy and Transformation.

Councillor Neil MacDonald's portfolio responsibilities include property, economic development, and communications. The corporate strategy aims within this portfolio include revitalising the town centre, delivering the £25 million Towns Fund programme⁴, improving the public realm, ensuring buildings are in use, encouraging conversion of vacant spaces, campaigning for a fairer business rates system, improving the Energy Performance Certificate ratings of council buildings, and communicating borough-wide to show residents how to access support.

Councillor Bryony Rudkin's portfolio responsibilities include the Business Improvement Team, Human Resources, and IT. The corporate strategy aims within this portfolio include taking a digital-first approach, redesigning and relaunching the council website, developing a workforce development plan, and delivering a high-quality corporate training programme.