The Ipswich Council Executive met on 30 September 2025, and among the items discussed were the council's budget monitoring report for the first quarter of 2025/26, a review of hackney carriage fares, and the Customer Access Strategy for 2026-2029. The executive approved a new digital contact channel, and supported the publication of the Suffolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy. They also discussed updates to the Portman Road Multi-Storey Car Park project.

Financial Management and Control: Corporate Budget Monitoring - 2025/26 Quarter 1

The Executive reviewed the council's financial performance for the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The report, presented by Councillor Martin Cook, Resources, detailed the forecast outturn position for the General Fund Revenue Budget, the Housing Revenue Account, the Shared Revenues Partnership, the Capital Programme, and Treasury Management.

The original 2025/26 budget anticipated £1.327m would be drawn from balances, and this remained unchanged. However, an adverse variance of £1.218m was identified during Quarter 1, which it was proposed would be funded by contingencies. The General Fund Working Balance is forecast to be £2.100m at 31 March 2026. The year-end forecast position for the Housing Revenue Account is a deficit of £0.510m, and the Housing Revenue Account Working Balance is forecast to be £5.533m at 31 March 2026. The year-end forecast position for the Shared Revenues Partnership is a surplus of £0.287m, and SRP balances are forecast to be £0.514m at 31 March 2026. The total capital spend for 2025/26 is currently projected to be £67.839m against a budget of £96.744m.

The Executive approved the budget changes for the General Fund, the Housing Revenue Account, and the Shared Revenues Partnership, and approved the transfers to/from reserves and contingencies. They also noted the position on the 2025/26 and future years Capital Programme and approved the changes to the capital programme.

The report also detailed five write-offs to be considered this quarter, including debts from The Loungers Group Limited, Shajitah Chalyath & Vadakke Zaheer T/A My Keralam, Saxon House (Ipswich) Limited, NSP-SUB Limited and FXT Cargo Ltd. The Executive approved the write-off of these debts.

Hackney Carriage Fare Review

The Executive considered a request to increase taxi fares, presented by Councillor John Cook, Communities & Sport. The request came from the Chair of the Ipswich Station Taxi Tenants Association, and proposed a 2.55% increase in hackney carriage fares for 2025, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The report noted that since 2011, the council has worked with hackney carriage trade representatives with an ongoing agreement that any applications for a fare increase should be firstly proposed in line with the CPI for the preceding 12 months unless there are other factors requiring a different approach.

The Executive approved the proposal for a 2.55% increase, and authorised officers to undertake the statutory consultation with the public and the local taxi trade. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the revised fares would be implemented on 12 November 2025. The Executive also authorised the Portfolio Holder for Community and Sport, in consultation with the Head of Public Protection and Monitoring Officer, to review any objections received during the statutory consultation period.

Customer Access Strategy 2026-2029

The Executive considered the Customer Access Strategy 2026-2029, presented by Councillor Jane Riley, Culture & Customers. The strategy outlines how the council will continue its focus on existing priorities, whilst updating the strategy to include new opportunities available with digital technology developments.

The new strategy focuses on the following key aims:

• Customers at the Heart of everything we do
• Resolving Queries at First Point of Contact
• Flexible Services That Adapt to Changing Needs
• Digital First Approach
• Maximising the Use of Technology

The Executive adopted the Customer Access Strategy 2026 to 2029.

Improving Access to Council Services via New Digital Contact Channels

The Executive considered a report seeking authority to procure and award the contract for a new digital contact channel, presented by Councillor Jane Riley, Culture & Customers. The new channel would be in the form of a Smart Customer Services Assistant, acting as a digital assistant in the format of a chat bot on the website and a voice assistant for phone contact.

The Executive authorised the procurement and award of the contract for a period up to three years with the option to extend for a further year.

Suffolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy - Supporting Authority Publication Advisory Stage

The Executive considered the Suffolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy, presented by Councillor Carole Jones, Planning & Museums. Suffolk County Council (SCC) is preparing a Local Nature Recovery Strategy ('LNRS') for Suffolk, as required under the Environment Act 2021. The aim of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy is to halt the depletion of nature and support its recovery.

The Executive resolved not to submit a Publication Advisory Notice to Suffolk County Council, thereby enabling the Suffolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy to progress to adoption without delay.

Portman Road Multi-Storey Car Park

The Executive considered an update on the project to develop a Multi-Storey Car Park at Portman Road in Ipswich, presented by Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of the Council: Place. The proposed Portman Road Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP) forms a critical element of the Portman Road Masterplan¹.

The Executive authorised the Director of Operations & Place to instruct Handford Developments to submit a new full planning application for the revised Multi-Storey Car Park design, and approved a budget of £19.7m for the project.