Southend-on-Sea City Vision

Consultation has concluded - Thank you for your feedback

• New city vision unveiled

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  The Southend City Vision, setting out a long-term ambition for the City will be discussed by councillors at a meeting of Cabinet (Monday 3 March, item 7), followed by Full Council on 20 March 2025.

  The Southend City Partnership has spearheaded the development of the refreshed City Vision, building on findings from an extensive consultation conducted between 29 August and 22 November 2024. This consultation engaged residents, businesses, and stakeholders to ensure the Vision reflects the diverse aspirations of the Southend community

  The refreshed vision will be presented to the City Council, which is one of the members of the partnership, with a recommendation to endorse the document, recognising its potential to guide collaborative efforts for the city's growth and development.

  The public launch of the Southend City Vision is set to coincide with City Day on 1 March 2025, marking the start of an exciting programme of activities. These initiatives will continue the conversation about the type of city residents want to live, work, study, and visit. The programme will also highlight existing initiatives that can be strengthened, address gaps, and encourage pooling of resources and ideas to tackle challenges collectively.

  Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of the Council said: "Endorsing the Southend City Vision will set a clear direction for the city's development and ensure we maximise the collective efforts of our partnerships. It’s a vision that reflects what matters most to our residents and stakeholders and will guide our priorities for years to come."

  Tara Poore, Chair of the Southend City Partnership and CEO of City Family, said:
  "The Southend City Vision is a partnership led initiative and signifies a landmark opportunity for Southend-on-Sea, bringing together the voices and aspirations of our diverse community. It highlights our collective ambition for a safe, thriving, inclusive, and sustainable city. We are grateful to everyone who participated in shaping this vision and look forward to continuing the conversation on City Day and beyond."

  Colin Ansell, Co-Chair of the Partnership and Chief Executive of the Council, added:
  "This vision is not just a document; it’s a call to action for all of us—residents, businesses, and partners—to work together for the future of Southend-on-Sea. By endorsing this vision, we are committing to a shared path towards a better future."

  Next Steps

  The Vision will be discussed at Cabinet on 3 March 2025 and Full Council on 20 March 2025.

  To learn more about the Vision and City Day activities, visit:

  • Southend City Partnership: The Southend City Vision cabinet report on our democracy website

  • City Day: https://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/cityday/

• Prize Draw Winners for City Vision Project

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  City Vision survey generates over 2,000 responses as prize draw winners announced ahead of City Day

  Over 2,000 responses were received as part of the consultation for the Southend City Vision, which took place at the end of last year.
  
  The Southend City Partnership has led the city vision work and has been analysing the feedback, identifying common themes, and shaping a refreshed vision for Southend that reflects the aspirations and priorities of its residents and stakeholders.

  The previous Southend 2050 Ambition, developed six years ago, has guided the city through significant challenges and achievements. However, with Southend's elevation to city status, the impacts of the pandemic, economic uncertainty, and a cost-of-living crisis, it was essential to revisit the community's views and develop a renewed vision.

  The consultation survey, complemented by a series of engagement activities, sought to capture the voices of a broad and diverse audience. The aim was to create a vision that resonates with everyone in Southend.

  Survey questions invited participants to reflect on their aspirations for the future, including what a "good day" in Southend might look like in 2035. One participant envisioned:

  "A nice day out at the seafront, feeling safe and not having to walk far to access parking and family-friendly places to eat."

  Another response highlighted:

  "Spending time at a thriving, diverse high street and clean beach at the weekend."

  Speaking on behalf of the partnership, Tara Poore, Chair of the Southend City Partnership and CEO of City Family, said:

  "We extend our thanks to everyone who took the time to complete the survey and share their vision for Southend’s future. Congratulations to our prize draw winners and a special thanks to our generous sponsors, whose contributions made this initiative even more engaging. These prizes also reflect the diverse and vibrant offerings of Southend."

  Looking ahead, Colin Ansell, Co-Chair of the Southend City Partnership and CEO of Southend City Council, said:

  "The Southend City Vision represents a pivotal step forward for our city, providing a long-term ambition to guide residents, businesses, and organisations in achieving a brighter, more sustainable future. The feedback received during this consultation has been vital in shaping a vision that reflects the values and aspirations of our community. We look forward to unveiling the final City Vision on Saturday, 1st March, at City Day."

  The Southend City Partnership looks forward to unveiling the final City Vision and inviting everyone to join in its shared journey toward a brighter future for the city.

  To encourage participation, the consultation included an exciting prize draw, generously supported by local sponsors.

  The Southend City Partnership is pleased to announce the following prize winners

  
  

  Public prize draw winners
  1 x 2 tickets for the Pantomime and Gala Night at Cliffs Pavilion	Samantha H
  Afternoon tea at Roslin Hotel for two	Peter J
  Sunday Lunch for two at the Roslin Hotel	Jackie S
  1 x £20 voucher for hair and beauty treatment at Beauty Academy South Essex College	Amanda C
  1 x £20 voucher for hair and beauty treatment at Beauty Academy South Essex College	Eva L
  1 x £15 voucher for hair and beauty treatment at Beauty Academy South Essex College	Alison W
  1 x voucher for family bowling - Kingpins Southend	Suzanne H
  1 x R1 Bluetooth Radio (light cream) Ruark Audio	Nick A
  1 x Family ticket – Southend Planetarium	Garry S
  1 x £10 voucher for museum and gallery shops	Mike H
  1 x 50% discount voucher for Forum library shop	Ollie N
  1 x VIP visit for up to four people to Southend Fire Station	SB
  1 x £20 voucher for hair and beauty treatment at Beauty Academy South Essex College	Claire F
  1 x £20 voucher for hair and beauty treatment at Beauty Academy South Essex College	Laura W
  Employee and family prize draw winners
  1 x £10 voucher for museum and gallery shops	Boglarka N
  1 x Family ticket – Southend Planetarium	Clare E
  1 x £5 Voucher for drink or food in the Civic Café	Megan G
  1 x 50% discount voucher for the Forum library shop	Adam K
  1 x £5 Voucher for drink or food in the Civic Café	Paul C