Southend Borough Council last week voted to provide members with a £100 increase on their basic expense allowances. This comes after the recommendation from the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel, which said that the Council should scrap travel and food allowances altogether and instead provide councillors with a flat-rate increase on their general allowance. Whilst...
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During last Thursday’s full Council meeting, questioning from Deputy Labour group leader Cllr Ian Gilbert revealed that there are plans for two Southend schools to become academies. Cllr Gilbert asked Roger Hadley (left), the Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, “Can the Executive Councillor tell me how many Southend Schools are now likely to...
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Last Thursday, the Council’s meeting was dominated by the recent cuts from central Government, which left Southend Borough Council with £1.4 million less funding than planned at the start of the financial year. Here, Deputy Leader of the Labour group Cllr Ian Gilbert gives Councilbust.com his view of what might be this year’s most...
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Funding from central government will force Southend Borough Council to make a series of harsh cuts, Council leader Nigel Holdcroft (left) announced today. The Coalition Government has withdrawn £1.4 million of capital and revenue grants to Southend Council, which will mean that a variety of grant-aided projects and services will face immediate funding cuts....
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Labour councillors last night launched a series of questions to the Conservatives over what the future of Southend’s schools will be with the new government’s education proposals. Under the new system, schools will be able to apply for academy status, and parents will be able to set up their own independent ‘free’ schools. There...
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Ian Gilbert, Labour councillor for Victoria ward, has opposed Cllr Anna Waite on tower blocks as solutions to the affordable housing shortage. Cllr Waite said on her blog that well-designed high rise blocks of flats in the town centre would take the pressure off the housing market, make housing more affordable, and avoid building...
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As the Labour party takes to the Opposition benches for the first time in 13 years, Councilbust.com asks local Labour supporters, councillors and activitists who they are backing the the party’s leadership contest. Here’s what Ian Gilbert, Labour councillor for Victoria, had to say. I’m hoping for a full and wide-ranging debate on the...
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By Rachel Charman Southend Borough Council has increased efforts to raise the standard of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) in the borough. The Council is extending its inspection programme for HMOs to cover properties not previously identified in a bid to better protect vulnerable occupiers and in turn prevent anti-social behaviour. HMOs of three...
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By Rachel Charman As the country gears up for local and general elections, which are likely to fall on 6th May, Southend’s Labour Party last night launched a local manifesto entitled ‘Southend Deserves Better’. At an event at the Cliffs Pavilion last night, Cllrs David Norman (Labour group leader), Judith McMarn, Stephen George, Margaret...
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By Rachel Charman Cllr Ian Gilbert, Labour councillor for Victoria, has claimed that the budget amendments proposed today by the Cabinet are ‘disguised cuts in services.’ In today’s cabinet meeting, Southend Borough Council proposed an amendment to its draft 2010/11 budget that it claims will boost tax payers. The Cabinet today recommended to the...
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