Political Viewpoint

By Coun Paul Collins, Lib Dem Group Leader, Southend City Council.

ON May 2, Southend City Council held the election across the 17 wards.

I was very proud to lead 17 people, who stood under the Liberal Democrat banner, supporting residents and offering them an option to vote for our shared values of Liberalism and compassion at these troubling times, thank you all.

In the country, the Liberal Democrats saw 522 Councillors elected, a gain of over 100 seats and moving the Party to the second most popular party in Councillors elected in the country, ahead of the Conservatives.

We as a Group in Southend, had a mixed night, with an excellent gain in Eastwood Park with local campaigner, Dave Poulton joining the Liberal Democrat Council group. Sadly, we missed out in Leigh and West Leigh, with our fantastic candidates, Jean de Tourtoulon and Peter Wexham both finishing second.

The Council itself, saw the Conservatives lose four seats, which were gained by Labour (3) and the Liberal Democrats (1). The Conservative minority administration will very likely fall, and we will be in discussion with other Parties on the Council about being part of a progressive alliance to take Southend forward over the next two years.

It was noticeable as we spent the last couple of months on the doorsteps across the city, how very unpopular the Conservatives have become and that voters were turning to alternatives to support.

In Southend, there was welcomed support of the agreed opposition groups budget amendment in February, which, amongst many changes, reversing the closure of the Dementia Navigator Team and stopping the stripping back the Parks Department budget. We increased the number of Community Support Officers and Civil Enforcement Officers and secured more funds for new trees to be planted. We were listening to residents, where the local Conservatives were clearly not.

I want to finish by making a personal comment of gratitude of my long-time friend, Peter Wexham.

Peter departed the Council chamber on May 2, after 34 years as an elected Lib Dem Councillor and being a great mentor to myself and vital supporter of Liberal Democracy and the environment in Southend.

He worked very hard in securing grant funds for the regeneration of Leigh Port from Government. This will be a new quayside at the port and dredging of the Leigh Creek for a more sustainable future for our local fishing industry. This will be a wonderful legacy that he leaves behind for his beloved Leigh.

I am assured by Peter, that he will remain a champion for all aspects of our environment – from monitoring our coastal water quality and working for our sea defences and supporting our local nature reserves.

Thank you, Peter, your extraordinary breadth of knowledge of Leigh and our environment will be sorely missed by many Councillors, across the whole chamber, not just our Liberal Democrat Group, but we will still be taking your well thought out advice!

Thinking ahead, we now look forward to the upcoming General Election this year and getting our positive Liberal Democrat message to all residents across Southend.

Picture: Coun Paul Collins with past Coun Peter Wexham.

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