Leadership blog - 8 December

The countdown to Christmas has officially begun and while for many it will be the usual food, festivities, and gifts, for some it is going to be a different sort of Christmas this year.

With the cost of living rising and the financial challenges the public sector is facing, including here at the council, there are going to be more families who are reminded of the true meaning of Christmas. Because it doesn’t matter how many presents are under the tree, but who you have around you that you love and care about.

It is why community during challenging times is so important because we can lean on those who have more to give and support one another to get through.

For example, the Toy Drive launched ten years ago with the aim of giving every child in Southend a new toy for Christmas. The generosity from individuals, businesses, not to mention Argosy Toys and Toys N Tuck, has been huge. So, if you can donate, a toy, big or small, please do.

For those buying gifts, it's worth remembering that by purchasing gifts from local independent retailers, restaurants and outlets, you are ploughing your money back into Southend’s local economy and helping a fellow neighbour's business survive.

We are lucky in Southend to have so many independent businesses and entrepreneurs offering their services in such a wide range of different areas. I encourage you to think outside the box when it comes to gift giving and take the time to shop local.

It is one of the reasons we are again running the Best Festive Business competition. We want to see local businesses lit up with their festive best so we can publicise them on Business-on-Sea Facebook page and residents can vote for their favourite. There are some cracking prizes for the winners from local companies;

• first prize - ￡500 cash prize donated by ISpy Group
• second prize - ￡300 cash prize donated by Dedman Gray
• third prize - ￡100 cash prize donated by 3D Filaprint

You have until Wednesday 20 December to cast your vote for the best festive decs and be in for the chance of being randomly selected to watch a show and enjoy dinner for two - donated by Genting Casino Westcliff.

A special cabinet meeting is being held on Tuesday (12 December) to allow discussion and review of suggestions that have been put forward from all councillors to improve efficiency and reduce costs in order to help the council balance the budget for the new financial year in April.

This is a meeting I have requested as leader, taking politics out of the equation momentarily, to focus on the bigger picture and the financial stability of Southend-on-Sea City Council. The aim is to have a draft budget published in January, that looks after residents and services and that all 51 of my fellow councillors can get behind and support.

I look forward to hearing the ideas from our councillor community and relish the opportunity of doing our job to provide the best service we can for the residents of Southend.

Enjoy the weekend and look after one another.

Cllr Tony Cox