Browsing: Council News & Politics

A look back over Southend East and Rochford’s achievements in 2025, celebrating community wins, restored funding, improved youth provision, and strengthened local action — with optimism for 2026.

More than 30 young people came together for a youth-led event exploring consent, safety, and support around violence against women and girls, including a self-defence workshop and discussions led by Essex Police and local organisations.

Southend-on-Sea City Council has successfully prosecuted two private landlords for serious housing hazards including damp, mould, excess cold and fire risks, reinforcing its pledge to crack down on unsafe rental homes and urging tenants to report problems via MySouthend.

The Southend Green Party joined local residents on the High Street to call for stronger protection of the city’s remaining Green Belt and demand homes be built on brownfield sites first. Green candidates and councillors warned that proposed large-scale developments risk damaging communities and infrastructure.

Government launches a major consultation on re-organising local government in Essex, with Southend and Chelmsford leaders urging residents to have their say and highlighting the benefits of a five-council unitary model.

ForwardMotion supported Eastwood Primary School’s Cycle to School Week, delivering Bikeability training to pupils in Years 4 and 6. The sessions taught practical safety skills, enabling some children to ride for the first time while preparing others for independent travel to secondary school. Council Leader Cllr Daniel Cowan praised the initiative for building “confidence, independence, and healthy habits.”

Southend-on-Sea is set to install over 3,000 new public EV charging spaces from early next year, backed by Government funding and major investment from Zest, making clean, accessible travel easier for communities across the city.

Southend-on-Sea City Council is offering free festive parking every Sunday in December, plus all-day free parking on Small Business Saturday, to encourage residents and visitors to shop locally and support small businesses during the Christmas season.

Southend-on-Sea City Council is pleased to announce that Better Queensway highway works will begin on Monday 8 December 2025, delivered in partnership with Taylor Woodrow. These improvements will make Queensway safer, easier to get around, and ready for new homes.

Poppies on the Pier has been extended until Sunday 23 November after attracting more than 17,000 visitors in its first week. The installation of 110,000 hand-knitted poppies continues to draw huge crowds, with the Royal British Legion stall remaining on the pier throughout the extended run.