On Monday night we had a meeting of the cabinet, with several important matters discussed.
In October 2023, the previous administration determined that we would change to alternate weekly collections, and bidders for our waste contract prepared bids on this basis. Following submissions, these have been extensively evaluated and we agreed a preferred bidder on Monday night. Bidders have now been informed, and we have now entered the legally required 10-day standstill period before the full contract award.
Councillor Lydia Hyde, cabinet member for environment and waste, has been closely scrutinising the contract details with our officers for months, ensuring that we include every mechanism to best prepare for this transition. We will continue to assess housing and HMOs across the city, ensuring the new scheme works for everyone. For those needing assistance with their collections, we will continue to offer support.
We understand that residents have questions, concerns, and ideas about the new waste collection scheme. There will be plenty more communication between the successful contractor, the council, and residents before the changes are implemented in 2025. In the meantime, please visit our web page to see our frequently asked questions and answers.
We also discussed the first budget report of the financial year, which, like previous reports, highlights the challenges we face as a council. Actions are already underway to manage these challenges.
We are currently forecasting a budget overspend of £8.1m, but this is only a projection at this stage and would only be this amount if we did nothing. However, we are actively working to reduce this overspend and deliver a balanced budget by the end of March 2025.
Demand and costs for essential services, especially for vulnerable children and adults, have risen so quickly that universal services are being squeezed to keep local authorities financially stable. Over 65% of the Council's budget is allocated to these areas, which currently account for over 84% of the forecasted overspend.
My cabinet colleagues and I will continue to work closely with officers and others across the chamber to ensure that we deliver the transformation needed. We will reduce the pressures while still supporting our residents. One simple way residents can help is by recycling as much as possible to reduce waste disposal costs.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Essex Police and our community safety team for their swift response to an incident early Sunday morning on Southchurch Road. Police arrived within ten minutes, three arrests have already been made and thankfully no one suffered serious injuries. This incident has been confirmed as unrelated to the isolated event on Southend High Street in July, and specialist police officers are now investigating the cause of the attacks.
I understand there is concern in our city following this incident. Essex Police and our community safety team have increased their patrols in and around the town centre to reassure residents, businesses and visitors that safety remains our top priority.
Finally, I encourage everyone in Southend to participate in the Your Say Southend consultation. Share your aspirations for the city and help shape its vision. As part of the Southend City Partnership the council is working to refresh and strengthen Southend's shared vision. The consultation closes on Friday 22 November, and the new vision will be launched on City Day.
City Day will be celebrated on Saturday 1 March 2025. This date marks three years since we gained City status. We're planning a weekend of community events to foster local pride and celebrate our culture and heritage. We invite you to join in and help us build a stronger sense of community.
Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of the Council