News in Brief - Leigh-on-Sea

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News in Brief Leigh On Sea News

New council budget invests in children and adult social care

The council’s budget for 2023/24 has been approved, with significant investment earmarked for adult social care and children’s services.

The budget includes £7m for adult social care and £2.5m for children’s services, along with an overall capital investment programme of £169m for a range of projects.

These include £1m for playground refurbishment, £1m for sea wall refurbishment and access improvements, continued investment into the council’s road and pavements programme, £17m investment into the creation of more council housing, and £1.5m towards tackling climate challenge.

Council tax will rise by 4.99%, made up of 2.99% for general use and a further 2% which will be used to deal with the ongoing pressures and demand in adult social care.

The rise will mean an additional £1.32 a week for a Band C home, with 99p for Band A, £1.16 for Band B and £1.49 for Band D.

Coun Stephen George, leader of the council, says: “This has been the toughest budget setting process for a decade and the scale of challenge that local councils face is huge.

“However, we have approved a robust, sustainable, and balanced budget that protects services for the most vulnerable and continues to invest in our wonderful city where it is appropriate and prudent to do so.

“Whilst the budget proposes savings in many areas, we are protecting and investing in services for the vulnerable and maintaining universal services that all our residents value and rely on.

“This includes significant revenue investment of over £10m into both children’s and adult services and retaining an ambitious but realistic capital investment programme that will see £169m invested into key projects over the next five years.”

Initial proposals to turn street lights off in certain areas to save money were withdrawn prior to February 14th cabinet along with other amendments.

For more information on the council’s budget process, visit: southend.gov.uk/council-budgets-spending

Southend Festival Chorus’ next concert

THE next concert of the Southend Festival Chorus will see them sing Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Nelson Mass.

The performance will take place on Saturday, April 1st at 7.30 pm at St. Augustine’s Church, St. Augustine’s Avenue, Thorpe Bay, SS1 3JH.

The choir will sing under the baton of Music Director, Dr. Joseph Fort, with organ accompaniment by Stephen King, organist at Brentwood Cathedral with soloists

Alto Ruby Bak, Tenor Colin Gilmore, Bass Freddie Benedict and Soprano Elizabeth Dunlop. A spokesperson said: “Colin used to sing as a member of SFC before he moved to Norfolk, Freddie is the grandson of former Southend Mayor, Beryl Schofield, and Elizabeth is a well known local soloist and Music Director of the ladies’ choir Cantare, so there are lots of local connections.”

They added: “Southend Festival Chorus always welcomes new competent singers so if you would like to join us, we meet every Wednesday during term time at St. Peter’s Church, Eastbourne Grove, Westcliff, between 7.45 and 9.45 pm.

“We start next term on April 19th to rehearse Rutter’s Gloria and Feel the Spirit, amongst other items, for a concert on July 1st, venue to be arranged.”

Tickets for the concert cost £10, available from 07956799989, from any member of the choir, at the door on April 1st or from the choir’s website

southendfestivalchorus.org.uk

Speed fine

A DRIVER from Eastwood has been find more than £300 of speeding on a major road.

Adetola Steven Okuromade, of Four Sisters Close, was caught on the A127 between London and Nevendon driving at 60 mph on January 21 last year.

The speed limit was 50 miles an hour.

The 50-year-old admitted the offence on February 1 and has been fined £320.

His driving license has been indoors for three points and it must also be a surcharge to fund victim services are £34 and prosecution cost of £105

NHS 1,000 miles challenge

THE NHS are celebrating 75 years on July 5.

The organisation is leading a fundraising campaign that is encouraging people to take on the 1,000-mile challenge to celebrate the milestone.

Those taking part are encouraged to walk, run, swim or cycle (or a combination) a distance of 1,000 miles in the year, making it an average of 2.74 miles per day.

An NHS spokesperson said: “Participants are asked to keep a record of their weekly miles and are invited to share their progress on Twitter on Sunday nights at 7.30pm using the hashtag #NHS1000miles.

“It’s completely free to take part in NHS1000miles. However, participants might want to get sponsored to complete their 1,000.”

For more information and ideas, visit: www.england.nhs.uk/nhsbirthday/get-involved/

LLSG meeting

THE next of the Leigh Lymphedema Support Group (LLSG) meeting will take place on March 13th.

The meeting will feature speaker Hina Patel talking on life and stress.

The event, which all are welcome to, will be held at Leigh Community Centre between 1.45 and 3.30pm.

Anglo-Italian Circle

THE next meeting of the Southend Anglo-Italian Circle will take place on Wednesday, March 15.

This month the group welcomes speaker Gosia Edwards, who returns to talk about “Taormina and the Lady Who Created Her.”

A spokesperson explains: “In her presentation, Gosia invites you to discover this little corner of paradise in the shadow of the majestic Etna and the story of Lady Florence Trevelyan, who invented the Pearl of the Ionian Sea.”

This meeting will take place in Room 8 at the Leigh Community Centre, Elm Road.

Doors open 7:30pm for 8pm start, with entry at £6

For further information, visit: www.italiancircle.co.uk and on Facebook: Southend Anglo Italian Circle.

Bereavement drop-in

A LEIGH counsellor and psychotherapist is running a monthly free drop-in for people in the community experiencing bereavement.

Katy Acton runs the group on the second Tuesday of every month at 10.30 am at Leigh Road Baptist Church.

Coun Acton said: “Whether the bereavement was years ago or more recent, anybody who is struggling is welcome to attend.

“Leigh Road Baptist Church gifted us use of their community space the “Living room” on Leigh Road.

“It’s completely free of charge and there is no need to book ahead.”

Canewdon assault witness appeal

POLICE are making an appeal for information following an assault in Canewdon that saw a man stabbed.

Two men appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court charged in connection with the serious assault that occurred on January 22nd.

Wayne Kavanagh, 31, of West Road, Shoeburyness was charged with GBH, two counts of false imprisonment and assault by beating; whilst Thomas Sitek, 27, of Elmsleigh Drive, Leigh was charged with GBH and two counts of false imprisonment.

Detective Inspector Nick Brunton, leading the investigation, added: “We understand that this will cause concern in the community, but we’d like to reassure our residents that there is no wider risk.

“Officers are carrying out high visibility reassurance patrols and remain in the area to answer anyone’s concerns.

“If you know anything about this incident that may help our investigation, please call us or approach one of our officers and tell them what you know.”

A police spokesperson said: “We were called just before 8.55am on Sunday January 22 to reports of an injured man at a property in Paddocks Close, Canewdon.

“Officers attended and found a man, 20s, had sustained a single stab wound and facial injuries.

“We are continuing to investigate and would ask if you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.”

Submit a report online or by using the Live Chat service, available on our website Monday to Friday between 10am-9pm.

Alternatively, call 101.

Make an anonymous report via charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Quote incident 324 of January 23 when providing any information.

Westcliff drug sentencing

A MAN has been jailed for hiding drugs in a sock in the car that he was driving.

Actin on information received, officers from Essex Police’s Disruptor Team stopped a car in Kings Road on Wednesday, December 14 last year.

Officers searched the car and the driver under Section 23 of the Drugs Misuse Act, and found 13 wraps of white powder –later identified as cocaine – hidden in a sock in the car, alongside almost £750 cash, and two mobile phones.

Gentian Gjulja, of no fixed abode, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply.

He was charged and remanded to appear at Southend Magistrates’ Court the following day.

On February 16, the 24-year-old pleaded guilty to possession of drugs with intent to supply and acquire, use, or possess criminal property.

Gjulja, who was jailed for a total of 28 months, also pleaded guilty to having no car insurance. and was disqualified for 26 months.

Detective Sergeant Matt Harriss said: “We are here to work with communities to tackle drugs and drug dealing.

“We will always act on information received, it’s our job to take drugs and drug dealers off our streets, to keep our communities safe.

“The cocaine had an estimated value of £650 and would have caused harm in the community wherever it was destined for.”

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