Important new funding for key frontline services and other projects, such as boosting civic pride, fixing more roads and pavements, and enhancing tourism, is being proposed in the council’s draft budget for 2025/26.
Cabinet councillors will discuss the report next week (Cabinet: Monday, 13 January, Items 5–7), which includes increasing council tax by 4.99% (2.99% for general use and 2% for adult social care). This increase will help fund vital investments in frontline and statutory services and ensure cost pressures can be met in 2025/26.
Key Investments and Proposals:
- Civic Pride:
- £185,000 investment to support City Jam in 2025 and future years.
- Establishment of an annual Southend City Day.
- Promotion of volunteering opportunities across the community.
- Events Budget:
- An additional £100,000 to enhance events for residents, businesses, and visitors.
- Roads and Pavements:
- £250,000 added to the highways maintenance revenue budget for pothole repairs.
- Doubling of capital investment in fixing roads and pavements.
- New Roles:
- Creation of seven new staff positions, including four focused on managing children’s external care placements.
- Service Budgets:
- £9m in permanent investments to address demand and cost pressures in children’s and adult social care, as well as temporary accommodation.
- Savings and Income Generation:
- £3.6m in new savings and increased income, adding to the previously agreed £1.7m savings, totalling £5.3m for 2025/26.
- A balanced net base budget of £165m is proposed, supported by council tax and business rates.
Council Leader’s Comments:
Cllr Daniel Cowan, leader of the council, said:
“I am pleased that through hard work and having a clear vision and priorities, we can present a budget that invests properly in our frontline and statutory services, alongside other important projects.
“We must continue to provide good services to local people and promote our city as a great place to live, visit, and invest. While the financial environment remains challenging, we are protecting these services by being realistic about spending and addressing long-term pressures.
“Although we do not wish to raise council tax, this is necessary to protect services and ensure financial sustainability. Despite the increase, Southend will still have the second-lowest council tax rates in Essex and remain among the lowest in the country.”
Future Financial Plans:
The council projects a budget gap of £32.5m up to 2029/30, reduced from last year’s projection of £35m. A separate Cabinet report (Item 4) shows the forecasted in-year overspend has decreased from £8.1m (July 2024) to £4.7m (November 2024).
Cllr Cowan concluded:
“This budget invests over £25m to fix known pressures, supporting services now and in the future as we strive to build a city everyone can be proud of.”
Next Steps:
The draft budget will be considered by:
- Cabinet: Monday, 13 January
- Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee: Thursday, 30 January
Any changes to the draft budget will be reviewed by Cabinet on