Suffolk County Council is responsible for major services which are provided countywide, including:
- Education and learning: schools, evening classes for adults, youth clubs and higher education grants.
- Environment: conservation of the countryside and public access to it, waste disposal and archaeological services.
- Leisure and culture: archives and support for arts and museums.
- Public safety: Fire & Rescue Service and emergency planning advice.
- Registrars: registration of births, marriages and deaths.
- Social care: care for older people who are physically or mentally infirm, or have a mental health problem, those with physical or learning disabilities, and children and families who need protection and support.
- Trading standards: protecting consumers and giving advice.
- Transport and streets: maintaining and improving Suffolk's roads, footpaths and public rights of way, road safety, and public transport co-ordination.
Suffolk County Council’s priorities for 2020/21 are:
- Inclusive growth: Suffolk needs to improve its economic productivity and levels of educational attainment, and build more homes – ensuring that everyone benefits, including people who are vulnerable and facing disadvantage.
- Health, care and wellbeing: Caring for Suffolk’s vulnerable residents, enabling everyone to live long, healthy and fulfilling lives. Thriving families and communities and thriving economies support each other.
- Efficient and effective public services: At a time of diminishing resources, increasing demand, and changing customer expectations, we need to change the way that we operate to meet our customers’ needs and balance our budget.