Councillors contribute in different ways to their communities, not just in a political capacity.

Felixstowe’s Grove Medical Centre has an active Patient Participation Group (PPG) at which Councillor Mark Jepson, chairs meetings between patients and the surgery to ensure the patient voice is heard.

Earlier this month, Cllr Jepson attended the opening of an extension at the Haven Health Surgery, Felixstowe which received £630,000 in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding.

East Suffolk Council’s CIL was adopted in the former Waveney District area in August 2013, and in the former Suffolk Coastal District area in July 2015. 

CIL is paid on commencement of planning permissions for liable development where exemptions or relief from CIL has not been granted, allowing local authorities to raise funds from developers undertaking new building projects in their area. 

Funding can be used on range of infrastructure needed as a result of development, including education, health and social care facilities, green spaces and leisure provision.

Picture 1 (L-R): Cllr Jepson, Carol Florey, with the Corrine Franklin; Mayor of Felixstowe, Cllr Mike Deacon, Cllr Seamus Bennett and Dr Paul Driscoll, senior partner of Haven Health.

Picture 2: Cllr Jepson with fellow PPG chairs Carol Florey and Alan Rose.