A senior government official has requested a meeting with Ipswich Borough Council to ensure the town does not miss out on investment worth £25 million.

The letter from Dehenna Davison, parliamentary under-secretary of state for levelling up, follows concerns voiced by MPs Tom Hunt and Dan Poulter about the authority's "ineptitude" in securing the Town Deal. 

Ipswich Star: Dehenna Davison. Credit: PADehenna Davison. Credit: PA (Image: PA)

The letter - seen by this newspaper - requested a meeting with new chief executive Helen Pluck, while also calling for all "outstanding information" by March 31 to ensure there is "no risk to future project funding".

Downing Street has agreed to provide up to £25m to help deliver 11 projects proposed by IBC's Town Deal Board.

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt said: "Due to the failures at the council very late in the day external consultants have had to be brought in to ensure the business cases are finalised before the deadline.

Ipswich Star: Ipswich MP Tom Hunt. Credit: House of CommonsIpswich MP Tom Hunt. Credit: House of Commons (Image: House of Commons)

"I feel strongly that, due to the poor performance of the council, Ipswich would have missed out on millions of pounds of investment.

"I can now see a pathway to the issues being resolved but it’s late in the day.”

MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, Dr Dan Poulter, said he is pleased the minister will work with the council "to help get the funding back on track".

Ipswich Star: Dan Poulter and Tom Hunt met with Dehenna Davison to discuss the Town Deal. Credit Elaine Joseland/Office of Dan PoulterDan Poulter and Tom Hunt met with Dehenna Davison to discuss the Town Deal. Credit Elaine Joseland/Office of Dan Poulter (Image: Elaine Joseland/Office of Dan Poulter)

"It is clear that the Minister shares our concerns that Ipswich Borough Council is very much an outlier and is the only Council in Norfolk and Suffolk not to have secured their Town Deal funding," he added.

In response to the letter, leader of the Ipswich Borough Council David Ellesmere said the authority was "already working" to the March 31 deadline and has "had recent confirmation from civil servants that they are happy with current progress."

Ipswich Star: Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, David Ellesmere. Credit: NewsquestLeader of Ipswich Borough Council, David Ellesmere. Credit: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

He added: "We’d be pleased to have a meeting with the minister to discuss Ipswich’s Town Deal but note that we’ve still not been contacted to arrange this which might indicate that the minister doesn’t regard it as a matter of urgent concern."