Representative politics is not just a matter of what happens in Westminster. As a former district councillor, I understand the crucial importance of local government and how that deeply impacts the electorate as well.

I do my upmost to stand for the concerns and values of the people of Ipswich – I only wish this was the case for their other representatives, Labour led, Ipswich Borough Council.

I worked very hard to secure £25 million worth of funding as part of the Towns Fund, money that is vitally needed for the regeneration of Ipswich and would improve our local community.

The £25 million in question was intended to fund 10 projects in the town, all of which important, some of said projects are as simple as rejuvenating the aesthetic of the town and others are considerably more transformative, such as repurposing the currently derelict Paul Silo, which, as it stands is an eyesore.

MORE: How is Ipswich delivering £25m Town Deal amid damning report

Although I myself played a key role in securing this money for Ipswich, the managing of these various projects falls in the lap of Ipswich Borough Council. To my great disappointment and constant frustration, the progress they have made in carrying out said projects is, to say the least, not up to scratch – with only 3 of the 10 projects actually completed.

Initially I assumed incompetence rather than conspiracy - now my assumptions are considerably more grave.

In fact, I fear that the Labour controlled Ipswich Borough Council, knowing that this is a regeneration fund provided by a Conservative government and secured by a Conservative MP, are putting politics before the people of Ipswich and being purposely lackadaisical in implementing these crucial improvements.

One of the projects in question concerns local shopping parades – with those selected intended for an aesthetic refurbishment – making said streets more attractive for local people to shop and spend time.

I was given a list of streets where work had supposedly started - Cliff Lane and Wherstead Road.

I visited said streets in question and it was evident that no such work has been either completed or carried out.

The council employs people on very high salaries who are supposed to be responsible for managing these essential projects and we have, so far, very little to show for it – in fact one of the projects that has thankfully been completed, Suffolk New College Tech Campus was partially organised by another organisation – further singling out the Borough Councils failings.

Only this week in the chamber did The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove, also criticise the lack of progress shown by Ipswich Borough Council – echoing my own frustrations.

In fact, this is not the only time a Minister has been bogged down by the extremely poor performance of the council – when she was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Dehenna Davison also faced similar obstacles.

I do not publicly criticise Ipswich Borough Council lightly, it would be beneficial for all the residents of Ipswich for me and the council to have a cordial relationship and work together to improve the town.

However, the Labour led council has failed my constituents so shambolically on this issue I feel I must raise this publicly, in the hope it may spurn on some action to make some progress with this vitally needed work.

Further adding to my disappointment, I saw in a document published by the Office for Local Government comparing local authorities that Ipswich Borough Council was slacking in several areas including council tax collection and recycling.

I feel that this is so important to raise on behalf of the people of Ipswich and our community because one of the main concerns about the town that constituents bring to my attention is its need for regeneration in certain places.

This is in part the council’s responsibility – I’m repeatedly told, car parking charges are too high and that there seems to be little attempt to empower the police to deal with anti-social behaviour, especially the large groups of young men who have taken to hanging around the town centre, acting in an intimidating manor in recent years.

Such regular, and in my view entirely justified, complaints from my constituents mean that I cannot rest on my laurels in holding the borough council to account and this disgraceful slacking on the 10 projects funded by the money I secured only adds insult to injury. We must be united in our efforts to make our town a better place.