“Welcome to summer!”, says Southend-on-Sea City Council leader Cllr Tony Cox.
The summer holidays are finally here, although you wouldn't necessarily know it by looking out of the window! Let's hope it improves soon and our residents and visitors can enjoy all that our wonderful City has to offer.
The last term at school is always full on for parent, families and of course teachers - and that doesn't always stop in the six-week holidays as children still need to be cared for and entertained, and parents often still need to work.
Hopefully families who are eligible have taken advantage of the Holidays Activity Fund or HAF as it's known, which does as it says on the tin and provides fun activities and delicious food for the children who take part.
If you are not eligible there is a whole host of free and cheap fun activities on over the six-weeks holidays, including the fabulous Herd in the City trail, events and activities at the City's museums and galleries, with a special living history event next weekend at Priory Park to celebrate the City's Anglo-Saxon heritage.
As Cllr Davidson announced last week, we now have nine award-winning green flag parks for children to enjoy a range of different playtimes, sports, picnics and more in. Plus there's our seven miles of beaches to enjoy.
And now parking is back to being free from 6pm, there's even more reason to take a trip out to the City centre and we're spoilt for choice - so hopefully the weather will improve, and we can get out there and make the most of our wonderful and beautiful City.
You may have seen in the media that at Full Council on Monday (24 July) councillors agreed to Rob Tinlin MBE returning to Southend-on-Sea City Council as interim chief executive.
Rob previously led the organisation to LGC council of the year in 2012 and achieved many other successes during his previous time here. He is well respected and well regarded locally, and I know that he will provide the strong leadership and vision to take us forwards onto our next stage as an organisation and to a place where a permanent chief executive can be appointed in the future.
Rob has already started his nine-month fixed-term contract and I know he is looking forward to meeting local stakeholders and the community.
Have a great weekend.
Cllr Tony Cox, leader of the council