A draft budget proposal to dim streetlights for longer in residential areas of the City to save £25,000 a year, is to be withdrawn.
Since the draft budget was announced, residents and councillors have raised safety concerns about the proposal to keep streetlights on but dim most of them for longer (between 10pm and 5am).
The change will be discussed by the council’s cabinet next week when they will discuss other amendments to the council’s draft budget for 2023/24 (cabinet, 14 February, agenda item 4). Other additions include five new investments and changes to two car parking proposals (see separate media release).
Cllr Stephen George, leader of the council, said: "Residents and fellow councillors have raised concerns about safety and it is clear this is a very important issue for many people who live and work in Southend-on-Sea. There was never any proposal to turn streetlights in our City Centre and main roads down at night, and the removal of this proposal will see things stay as they currently are everywhere else across the City.
“As part of the draft budget process, we discuss and get feedback on proposals. We value our residents safety and the Cabinet have duly listened to the public and their concerns on this matter, and we have agreed that we will remove this proposed saving from the budget and seek the saving elsewhere. These changes are now included in the final budget proposals which will be recommended to Council for approval at the end of the month.”
Cllr Paul Collins, cabinet member for asset management and inward investment, said: “This budget process has been difficult, in part because of the unexpected double-digit inflation, and the energy crisis. It has made us look hard at all of our spending on behalf of our residents and businesses, to ensure we maintain value for money and protect the most vulnerable people in the City.
“We will continue to keep our streetlights on during the night, unlike our neighbours in Essex, who currently turn them off for four hours every night and are now consulting on proposals to make that six hours a night from April 2023.”