Plans to charge seafront visitors for parking up until 9pm are set to be axed.
Southend Council had proposed scrapping free parking after 6pm as part of a plan aimed at helping the council to achieve a £140.3 million balanced budget - in the face of looming cuts in Government funding.
But it has now been revealed this plan will be axed after councillors found a way to "balance the books".
In a Facebook post council leader Ian Gilbert said: "This afternoon I will be chairing a meeting of the Cabinet to agree our final budget proposals for 2022/23.
"I'm incredibly proud that despite the difficult circumstances, we have managed to put together a budget which not only balances the books, but provides desperately needed investment for adult social care.
Read more:
- 'Council's proposed night-time parking wardens would kill off businesses'
- Plans being drawn up to ban cars on Southend seafront at key times
"And I'm delighted to be able to announce that after listening to residents and local businesses, we have found a way to balance the budget without extending parking charges in zone 1a (the seafront) to 9pm.
"The administration I lead will always listen to residents, and will continually work to deliver the best possible value for money from residents."
Plans published last month showed the council was preparing to raise council tax by 3.99 per cent in order to support the rising cost of adult and children’s social care.
If approved the 2022/23 draft budget will see a council tax rise of 1.99 per cent, with an additional 2 per cent precept for adult social care.
This precept and other council investment, including £380,000 for children’s services, will be used to look after the most vulnerable people in the borough.
The proposed rise equates to a 77p increase per week for a Band A home, 89p for Band B, £1.02p a week for a Band C and £1.15 for Band D.
There will be £5.5m invested in adult social care and children’s services will see five new children’s social workers employed and an advanced practitioners scheme set up.
The council will also invest £120,000 to stop the use of glyphosate, a weed killer, in parks and open spaces, and a further £250,000 investment into the community safety team, to provide additional community safety officers and an operations co-ordinator.
Share