The Council is saddened to hear of the passing of former councillor, former leader of the council and Mayor, Mr Howard Briggs.
Howard served as the Mayor of Southend-on-Sea from 2001 to 2002, where he demonstrated exceptional dedication to our community. He continued his service as the Council Leader from 2003 to 2005, guiding the council with vision and integrity. In April 2018, he was honoured with the title of Alderman, recognising his long-standing commitment and contributions to the then Borough.
Cllr Ron Woodley, the Mayor of Southend-on-Sea, said: "On behalf of the City, the Council and councillors, I would like to send my condolences to Howard's family and friends.
"Howard was rightly respected, and his work, efforts and dedication have left a lasting impact on our City and its residents. He will be remembered for his passion, his kindness, and his influence on our community."
Cllr Daniel Cowan, leader of the Council, said: "I was saddened to learn about the passing of Howard Briggs. He was a highly respected and esteemed former councillor, leader and Mayor. His dedication to Southend-on-Sea was unwavering, and he will be missed. My thoughts are with his family and friends during this time."
Cllr James Courtenay, leader of the Conservative party, said: "I'm very saddened to hear about the death of Howard Briggs, who gave decades of service to our City, as both Mayor and Leader of the Council. His legacy lives on given the record £127,000 he raised during his mayoral year and the formation of the Southend Fund which continues to support local charities today. Personally, Howard was very supportive of me as he retired from and I started my career in local politics, acting as my agent and a great sounding board in my formative years. He will be sadly missed."