In the first of Hadleigh Nub News' trusted contributor articles, Babergh leader John Ward, delivers this message:

I wish to extend a warm welcome to Nub News in their latest venture covering Hadleigh and the neighbouring villages here at the heart of Babergh. As a resident of Polstead, I am looking forward to reading their coverage of life in this part of the district.

Digital media platforms are an increasingly important part of the way residents access news and enable businesses such as Nub News to provide a truly local offering.

2020 has been a strange and difficult year and it looks like we are not in the clear yet, with further local lockdowns around the country. We are fortunate in having had only 296 confirmed cases of Covid-19 here in Babergh, although this is much less than the true number as many cases have gone unreported, but sadly 59 deaths.

The district council's response to the Coronavirus crisis has been excellent. We have distributed the government's business support grants and our own community grants, and responded to the increased homelessness. We have provided food, medical and counselling assistance to those who were shielded at home, and worked with the many local support groups that sprang up. I am immensely proud of our officers. Many have worked long days and weekends to ensure that all this has been successful, as well as carrying out the normal business of the district.

Councillors and officers moved rapidly and surprisingly easily from working in Endeavour House to cyberspace. We have online Cabinet, Council and Planning Committee meetings, which are working well. If this crisis had hit us even as little as five years ago things would have been very different and much more challenging.

Our budget for 2020-21 will be severely affected by Covid-related costs and income losses. However, we have had substantial support from the government and, whilst our reserves are not large and we will have to use some of them, we will be fine this year. The medium term prospect, however, was difficult before this and has now got worse.

The impact of Covid-19 has been felt by many businesses around the county and we have seen many adapt by changing the way they operate and support their customers. Babergh wants to recognise those businesses as well as celebrate those who have put innovation at the heart of what they do. To this end we are holding a virtual Innovation Awards Event on 3rd November and are now inviting nominations for 11 categories.

So, if you know any businesses who you think should be considered please feel free to nominate them or encourage businesses to enter themselves here. The closing date for nominations is Sunday 27th September.

One of the consequences of Covid-19 has been the delay to the much-anticipated opening of the new pool at the Hadleigh Leisure Centre. This has been a great shame but work is now progressing rapidly and we won't have much longer to wait.

The Covid-19 'Rule of Six' is in place, but don't forget the 'Stick With It Suffolk' campaign which highlights what we must all continue doing to keep each other safe and ultimately to defeat the virus.