Budget's £46million getting Southend ready to be a city

Southend Pier, coastal defences and updating council-owned properties will see a further £10million investment in the council’s capital programme over the next five years are laid out in the council's draft budget for 2022/23

The landmark pier is set to get a £2.5million investment in addition to the £5million already agreed for maintenance and improvements for year-round visitors.

Plans also include £335,000 to enhance East Beach car park by widening the existing entrances and exits and improved street lighting.

There are also plans for £2.5m to refurbish the borough’s coastal defences over the next five years and an additional £1.5m added to the fire safety works programme in council-owned properties.

It is also proposed to add £10m to the road and pavement improvement budget for 2026/27, building on the £10m per year already planned up to March 2026, bringing the total level of investment to £60m over six years.

The council is planning to use a large portion of a proposed 3.99 per cent council tax increase on a £5.5million boost for adult social care and further investment in children's services.

In addition, the council's Housing Revenue budget will also see almost £77 million invested over the next five years buying and maintaining council housing. This will include electrical rewiring, new bathrooms, new kitchens, new roofs, new windows and doors, and the installation of more energy efficient and economical boilers. The programme to continue buying private homes and turning them into council housing will also continue.

Ian Gilbert, leader of the council, said: “We appreciate that the past two years have been difficult for everyone due to the pandemic, and we take our responsibility very seriously to make sure all of our tenants are safe and well in their homes and that is why we are proposing new and continued investment into improving and creating more council housing.”

Paul Collins, councillor responsible for corporate services and performance delivery, said: “This is an ambitious and exciting capital budget, and one we feel will bring a multitude of benefits to our residents for the next five years. This budget will allow us to continue providing good facilities for our residents, whilst also being forward-thinking and considering areas that need additional funding to help push us on as a city.

Investment - Southend Pier

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