July 2026 Update

Cllr Kathryn Cross, Chair of SNC wishes this to be the Year of the Volunteer. Each Councillor has been asked to nominate a volunteer group on which the Council will shine a light. In addition, Kathryn will try to meet each group nominated during the year. There are so many wonderful volunteer groups in our Ward. I would like to nominate many, but I can choose only one. It will be very difficult decision.

There is a push to remind people not to put batteries in their waste bins as they can cause fires in the vehicles and processing centres. Please take then to somewhere which collects and safely disposes or book a kerbside collection from SNC: https://orlo.uk/u5H3d.

Sadly, the government is largely removing the right of members to call in a planning application for decision at committee. I liken it to trial by jury as opposed to trial by the judge. There will remain a small number of situations where applications will go to committee such as those having an impact on employment. Another change is that applications for housing of more than 150 homes where the council is minded to refuse, must go to the Secretary of State for the final decision. This does not appear to align well with the concept of greater local democracy.

I had the pleasure of joining officers from SNC to visit some of the projects which received grants from Nature Conservation Fund. They are very varied. Some starting with a farmer’s field blank canvass, others cutting back overgrown shrubs and bramble. What they have in common is enthusiasm and commitment from the project groups. The Harleston ‘Magpies Meadow’ project provides inspirational ideas: involving environmental bodies; running action days; engaging with the community; and especially the w3w sponsorship of the mini forest.

Remaining with the environment, recommendations for biodiversity improvements at 11 SNC owned sites are starting to be implemented. One of these is at Chaffinch Mews in Harleston where a section of grassland will be seeded with a native wildflower seed mix and additional trees will be planted.

I will be holding my surgery on 11 July at Harleston Information Plus on Exchange Street in Harleston at 10:00. So, if you have any questions, it would be great to see you there.

I will be holding my surgery on 11 July at Harleston Information Plus on Exchange Street in Harleston at 10:00. So, if you have any questions, it would be great to see you there.

Cllr Trevor Graham

South Norfolk Council

Member for Harleston