SOUTHEND Council leader Tony Cox has insisted “nothing has been ruled out” in an effort to tackle the huge deficit.

Councillors from political parties across the city have put forward their suggestions on how the council can save big bucks and slash its £10.7million deficit.

Controversial suggestions also include a Ulez-style charge for motorists, selling Belfairs golf course and building homes on it and taxing those who work from home.

One suggestion from Lib Dem Leigh councillor Carole Mulroney that may find favour is to have a Southend community lottery.

Mr Cox said: “I’d like to thank those members who took the time and trouble to give their suggestions. There was a fair amount of them. While there is a handful of them that can be factored in in terms of budget savings there is a lot of revenue generation ideas which we are happy to take on board.

“It will have to be worked on. For example the lottery, Carole Mulroney’s suggestion, I think that could be worked on. There are some others in there. I don’t want to rule out any of them but there will be some accepted or a recommendation to reject an idea or go for further work.

“A lot of these income generation ideas require a lot of input. You can start working them up in the current financial year and start implementing it and you might get some certainty for the following year.”