Southend's first new council house since 1989 has been completed - and more could follow soon.


Construction has finished on the three-bedroomed, two-storey property in Byron Avenue, with off street parking behind 159 Bournemouth Park Road, Southend.

This project used Essex-based companies - with AK Design providing architectural services and Kingdom Facilities & Construction (KFC), with partners Every Project Counts (EPC) contracted to build the property.


The Council has identified more Council-owned land in Shoebury as suitable to develop for affordable housing for Southend residents and work is being finalised to progress with these plans.

Executive Councillor for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing, Councillor David Norman said: “We are very pleased indeed to see this project completed and ready for its first tenants.

“It is the result of a review of council-owned land in the borough, as part of our commitment to provide affordable homes for residents.
“We have used this as a pilot scheme so we hope it will be the first of many. We very much need to increase the borough’s stock of affordable housing.

“We are intending to start building more homes on Council land in Shoebury later this year. In addition we are now actively considering further sites for the building of council homes elsewhere in the borough.”

Southend Council has committed to doing its bit to tackle climate change and has set out its ambition to be at the vanguard of the low-carbon economy.

Cllr Graham Longley, Executive Councillor for Enterprise, Tourism and Economic Development, yesterday (21 January 2015) signed the council up to Climate Local – a local authority pledge to combat climate change at a local level – just a month after the Council agreed a pioneering Low Carbon Strategy.

This will see the Council helping local residents and businesses to make the most of the benefits of acting on climate change, such as saving money on energy bills, generating income from renewable energy and attracting investment into green industries.

Cllr Longley said: “Southend already goes above and beyond many local authorities when it comes to tackling climate change and embracing the opportunities presented by the transition to a green economy.

“We are currently encouraging businesses and residents to ensure they are getting the best deal on their energy prices through the Energy Switch.

“Further, we have recently announced our proposals to set up our own energy company in partnership with supplier OVO Energy Ltd, which would see market-leading tariffs on offer to local residents and businesses and a new income stream to help the council meet the challenge of protecting services against shrinking budgets.

“This is an ambitious strategy that will see Southend at the vanguard of rapidly-developing green industry.” 

Proposed Government changes that could allow Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Borough Council’s to create a joint partnership to boost the economy and improve transport are to be discussed.

The Council’s Cabinet (20th January) will deliberate the possibility of working with Thurrock Borough Council to form a ‘Combined Authority (CA)’ or Economic Prosperity Board (EPB).

A Combined Authority is not the merging of Council services, but involves creating a legally structured partnership that can bid for additional delegated powers from central government to drive economic growth and carry out statutory transport duties.

The move could even lead to district councils within South Essex, along with Essex County Council, becoming part of a South Essex CA or EPB.

The Government is currently consulting on the proposed changes, which if approved, would allow non-neighboring local authorities (like Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock) to form combined authorities.  Cabinet will also discuss the council’s official response to the consultation, which support the proposed changes.

Cllr Ron Woodley, Leader of the Council, says: “Following the disappointing news that Essex County Council are withdrawing from the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership (TGSEP), this seems to be the natural next step for a revised Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership.

“We have seen in the North of England how Combined Authorities can act as a real driver for jobs and improved transport links, acting as a stronger voice for more investment and powers to deliver change locally.

“Our ambition would be to deliver transport and economic policy more effectively over a wider area and build on the work already done by the TGSEP."

Ventrica, the Southend-based contact centre business, has opened a new "designer" contact centre wing, creating at least 80 new jobs in 2015.

Since the business was founded five years ago during the height of the recession, it has created 160 jobs and has plans to extend its workforce to 300 within the next 18 months. Part of the company’s £750,000 investment came from a European grant of £114,000 that was secured with the help of Essex County Council’s Economic Development Service.

Rob Tinlin, Southend Council’s Chief Executive who opened the new extended office facility with wall-to-wall, panoramic sea views said: “We are delighted to see Ventrica growing as a business. In just a few years it has gone from a new business start-up to a successful company with an international client base. Ventrica is taking an entrepreneurial lead which we hope many others will follow.”

Ventrica Founder and Managing Director Dino Forte commented: “The first few years have certainly been tough, however I always believed there was a huge untapped demand for innovative, high quality, multichannel, outsourced customer services. Southend was the perfect place to satisfy this need – it has long held an unrivalled reputation for the delivery of superior contact centre services and is able to draw on a large pool of high calibre and dedicated personnel who are essential for a business like ours to thrive.”

“One of the biggest areas of growth that we’ve seen in the last 12 months, has been from e-businesses. As last year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday has demonstrated, businesses often need to flex their resources to cope with additional demand and outsourcing is a cost-effective way to ensure that all customer opportunities are captured and that high service levels are maintained. We are also seeing increased demand from organisations that want to extend their sales into Europe and globally by taking advantage of our multilingual speakers. The beauty of the Internet, is that there are no boundaries and companies are beginning to grasp the lucrative revenue opportunities that are possible by selling into overseas markets.”

Dino explains the thinking behind newly expanded facility that boasts over 15,000 square feet of office space equipped with the latest contact centre equipment, “One aspect that sets Ventrica apart from the competition is the aptitude, passion and commitment of our staff. I believe that the work environment plays a big part in attracting, inspiring and retaining* a loyal and motivated workforce. Many firms, particularly contact centres, often overlook or fail to invest in areas such as office design, but it’s the little touches that make all the difference.

"When you step out of the lift and in to the centre, visitors immediately get that wow factor. Not only are they blown away by the light and airy feel of the contemporary design, they can see immediately the positive impact this has on the staff who work here. With our new sea-facing wing the vision was to create a stunning centre-piece, with amazing views across the bay. From the striking carpets through to the recessed lighting, fluorescent desk dividers and modern glass panelled training room; it is an amazing space that all the staff love. Even when they need to take a break they have the opportunity to relax in the ‘café culture’ break-out area, that also boasts vistas over the estuary.”

The company has ambitious targets for the future. Last year’s turnover grew by over 50% and Ventrica’s target for this year is £4.8million. The eighty new jobs at Ventrica will comprise a variety of positions including customer service advisors (including multilingual) IT, finance and admin.

A host of local community groups could benefit from a Council funding windfall if recommendations are approved.

The cross-party Grants Strategy Working party met in December 2014 to receive presentations from bidders and have made a series of recommendations to hand out grants totally nearly £625,000. The recommendations will be discussed at Cabinet next week (20th January) and Full Council on 26th February.

The news comes as the cabinet released its draft budget proposals for 2015/16 earlier this week and despite the council facing a funding gap of £12.4m due to a 28% cut in central Government funding.

The list of successful bidders is:

 ·        HARP & Southend Vineyard – to provide homeless support

·        CAB & Royal Association of Deaf (RAD) – to provide good quality, easily accessible & legally based advice and support services

·        Southend United Community and Educational Trust  & Trust Links -  to provide positive opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people aged 16-25 years to get back into work

·        Age Concern, SEEAFOP, BATIAS and Trinity Family Centre – to help over 60’s stay independent and active

·        Southend Mencap and Trinity Family Centre – to provide opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged people aged 25 and over stay active in the community

·        SOS Domestic Abuse Project – to provide community based support to those who are victims of domestic abuse and its effects

·        SAVS – Two awards; one for their work which helps support and strengthen local charities, voluntary and community groups and one award to promote and encourage meaningful volunteering across the Borough.

It is also being recommended that additional awards are given to:

·        Southend YMCA, Southend Vineyard and Trinity Family Centre - to provide opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged people aged 25 and over stay active in the community

·        Southend United Community and Educational Trust - to help over 60’s stay independent and active

Cllr Ian Gilbert, Executive Cllr for Community Development, says: "Whilst councils up and down the country are cutting their support to community groups like this, this council is determined to continue supporting the community and voluntary sector where good cases for funding are put forward.

"It would be easy to look at the cuts we face and end this funding stream, but it would be foolish and counter-productive in my view.  All of these groups deliver excellent services to the community, and by working with them and providing  this funding we can actually reduce dependence on some council services whilst providing members of the community most in need with good voluntary led services and programmes. 

"I am delighted to be recommending this to cabinet and full council and look forward to working with the organisations concerned."

Gary Turner, Service Operations Manager for HARP says: “We are delighted that we are being recommended for further council funding. If approved, we can look forward to continuing to provide a valuable service to those homeless, isolated, impoverished and in need in Southend, and working in partnership with the council to do that.”

Southend Council has today approved plans for a £16 million hospice, 231 new homes and office blocks on the former Ekco site in Priory Crescent, Prittlewell.

The joint application by Havens Hospices and Bellway Homes was agreed by Southend’s Development Control Committee by a majority of 12 votes to two. It concludes Havens’ long-running saga to find a home for its new hospice.

The charity has an agreement with Bellway Homes to purchase 3.5 acres in the south west corner running alongside Priory Crescent to build a new Fair Havens Hospice so it can care for twice as many patients as it currently does.

The development scheme will also create 720 jobs.

Andy Smith, Chief Executive of Havens Hospices, said: “Although our vision will take many years to become a reality whilst we raise the funds and build the new Fair Havens Hospice, we are a step closer to ensuring that specialist hospice care is there for everyone who needs it.

“The new Fair Havens will be able to care for twice as many people as the current hospice does thanks to more outpatient services like transfusions, infusions, counselling and a larger Day Care, as well as the 16 bedded In Patient Unit. All of the care will continue to be free of charge, which can only continue thanks to the goodwill and support of the community.”

The project will cost £16 million and the charity has already secured the money needed for the purchase of the land.

Mr Smith added: “We hope to open the doors to the new Fair Havens Hospice in five years’ time. In the meantime, our focus will be on continuing to raise money for our existing hospice in Chalkwell Avenue (as well as Little Havens Hospice for babies, children and teenagers) to make sure that our nurses can continue caring for patients and their families when they need us most.”

Southend Council has approved proposals to join forces with energy supplier OVO Energy Ltd to create a bespoke energy tariff for residents of the Borough.

Under the proposals, some households could save over £100 per year on their bills with some able to save even more. The fuel-poor and those on pre-payment meters would be likely to benefit most as a proportion of their current costs, as this is the part of the market that is least competitive. Competitive tariffs will also be available to business customers in the Borough.

Cllr Graham Longley, Executive Councillor for Enterprise, Tourism & Economic Development said: “For many years now, energy prices have continued to rise faster than average pay, making heating and lighting the home less affordable every year. For some of the poorest families in our Borough, this means sometimes having to choose between heating and eating.

“We’re determined to do what we can to help alleviate the financial pressures on local businesses and residents and I welcome these innovative proposals, which are just one of several exciting energy-based projects we will be looking to progress this year.

“The new Southend energy company would benefit all members of the local community by offering some of the cheapest tariffs on the market and possibly providing extra support for those suffering fuel poverty from income we receive through energy generation.

“The Council could also benefit by opening up new sources of income at a time of ever-reducing Central Government funding, thereby protecting essential services.”

“We settled upon OVO because of their solid record in providing some of the lowest and combined with high levels of customer service. Essentially, I believe they are big enough to make a difference but small enough to care and I personally hope to become the first resident to sign up.”

Over the coming weeks, the Council and Ovo will need to negotiate to formulate an official agreement to be signed by both parties. Once signed, a detailed implementation and marketing plan would be formed, after which the new energy company could be set up within six months.

Switch now to make instant savings

Until the launch of the Southend Energy Company later this year, the Council is once again working in collaboration with Essex County Council to offer residents and small businesses the opportunity to save on their electricity bills through the Energy Switch.

The scheme, in collaboration with iChoosr, is active and residents and businesses have until the 2 of February 2015 to register their interest without obligation.

Residents can register at: www.essex.gov.uk/energyswitch or call 0800 048 8285 before February 2nd. They will need their name and address, their current energy suppliers details and their current consumption or their current spend both of which can be found on a recent bill.

It is important to note that customers who successfully switch supplier as part of Energy Switch will need to enter a 12-month contract. This will mean they are not able to sign up to the new Southend energy company until their existing contract has expired.