Leigh Town Council for the past 3 years were able to keep the annual rise in the tax for residents at less than 3% per annum. In 2020-21 it is essential that we carry out necessary emergency repairs to the community centre to ensure it meets current regulations to provide a safe environment for the thousands of our residents and visitors from all over the Southend-on-Sea Borough who enjoy its facilities. This has necessitated a slightly higher increase to the tax of 6%, the equivalent of £2.88 for a Band D tax payer.
The council continues to remain totally committed in helping to provide services to meet the needs and aspirations of our community and the 2020-21 budget will provide the following:
What is your money spent on?
- help, support and provide information for our residents on a huge range of issues
- our role as statutory consultee on planning, highways and licensing issues to help influence the shape of the future of Leigh
- working with volunteers and partners and supporting community groups
- helping to protect the environment and heritage of Leigh
- an extension to the skate park to accommodate all wheel-based sports
- steps to implement a Special Constables programme for the Leigh Town Council area
- funding a school crossing patrol and Leigh Old Town first aid post
- providing and managing community facilities in particular the Community Centre, Skate Park, Strand Wharf, Bell Wharf beach paddling pool and 17 acres of allotment space
- community engagement with our residents
- a community news magazine twice a year and a newsletter in the local press twice a year
- regular and new town events such as Leigh Lights and VE Day 75 afternoon tea
- supporting the arts in Leigh with our Art Wall exhibitions and Artist in Residency Programme
- christmas lights, street decorations and street hanging baskets of flowers
- promotion of initiatives and incentives to help local businesses
- representing our residents to other authorities
- a Council run monthly Farmers Market
- provision of two weekly youth clubs and a youth forum
- a Council run community centre children’s holiday programme
- a community trips scheme supporting elderly residents and providing social contact including a social club every two weeks to combat isolation
- a chatty bench initiative to help those that feel socially isolated
- be a local employer of 13 staff to facilitate and manage all Council services including apprentices
- be a facilitator of a community café which is a local employer of 8 staff
- continue with repairs and improvements at the community centre
- host the Annual Town Community Meeting
Leigh-on-Sea Town Council expenditure plans 2020-21
£
| Information and Support Services | 169.550 |
| Finance and Governance | 35,450 |
| Community Facilities | 205,400 |
| Health and Wellbeing programme | 57,100 |
| Community programmes | 10,500 |
| Allotments | 31,850 |
| Environment facilities/services | 21,050 |
| Planning and Licensing | 9,200 |
| Capital and Strategic Projects | 90.000 |
| Increase to General Reserves | 5,392 |
| Finance and Governance | (2,100) |
| Community Facilities | (152,000) |
| Health and Wellbeing programme | (13,000) |
| Allotments Income | (19,000) |
| Environmental facilities/services | (2,000) |
| Total Precept 2020-21 | 447,392 |
