🦐THANK YOU AND FAREWELL TO KEVIN MAHER🦐 Southend United has announced that Kevin Maher, the man who has managed the team since 2021, is to depart the club.

Happy 120th birthday, @southendunited.bsky.social. There's certainly worse ways to celebrate a major birthday than by winning your first ever domestic trophy!

A Joint Administration will continue to lead Southend-on-Sea City Council after being voted in at Full Council (Monday 18 May).

The much-loved motoring event Classic Cars on the Beach is set to return to Southend’s City Beach, bringing heritage, horsepower and nostalgia back to the seafront for 2026.

From 18.00 at Prittlewell Priory on Thursday 21 May enjoy a complimentary drink before delving into the forgotten, fascinating and occasionally fantastical history of one of the city’s most treasured heritage gems, as part of the 'Museum Lates' event series.

Last night was the appointments meeting of Southend Council, and I am delighted to be staying on for another year as cabinet member. My brief is mostly unchanged, but with a few additions around marine and maritime affairs. I remain the cabinet member for Business, Culture, Music & Tourism.

The Labour-led joint administration at Southend Council is officially back in business - and I am continuing on as cabinet member for fun!

Southend-on-Sea City Council has just re-elected Cllr Daniel Cowan as Leader of the Council.

🚧HIGHWAY WORKS IN KURSAAL WARD THIS WEEK🚧 The following highway works are scheduled for this week either in #KursaalWard, or close enough to Kursaal ward to potentially affect residents.

The Southend Council SEND Team holds monthly SEND surgeries in locations across Southend to answer questions and provide advice to parent carers of children and young people with SEND. The next surgery will be 09.00 to 11.00 on Wednesday 20 May, at Thorpedene Primary School.

Every Tuesday morning, from 10.00 to 13.00, come and work on your crafting projects at Southchurch Library. Crafty Crusaders welcomes all to work on your projects in the warm and relaxing atmosphere of the library, alongside like-minded crafters.

🕙SOUTHEND PIER MOVES TO SUMMER OPENING HOURS🕙 As of today, Southend Pier & Railway moves to its summer opening hours. These are: 📆Open every day 🕙10.15 to 20.00 Last entrance is one hour before closing.

🗣📅SOUTHEND COUNCIL MEETINGS THIS WEEK📅🗣 This week there is one meeting taking place at Southend Council.

SOUTHEND UNITED FC, FA TROPHY CHAMPIONS 2026!

SEA! SEA! SEASIDERS!

Who else is off to Wembley today?

🍺LICENSING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED THIS WEEK🍷 Each week I post details of any applications for new or varied premises licences and club premises certificates received by the Council in the past week, within #KursaalWard. This week there was one.

The new Reform deputy leader of Essex County Council claims that at an induction session for new councillors, a Labour councillor was only interested in their pension. But there's only one Labour councillor on ECC, who not only was not at the induction, but wasn't even in the country at the time.

🏡PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED THIS WEEK🏡 Each week I post details of any planning applications received by Southend Council in the past week, within #KursaalWard. This week there was one.

Stuck for what to do this weekend? Why not try one of the free music events at Priory Park? This weekend the acts are: ❖Saturday: Nomad ❖Sunday: The Sarfendas Band Acts perform between 15.00 and 16.30.

Every Saturday morning, @southendlibraries.bsky.social host free drop in brick building sessions for ages 4+, from 10.00 to 12.00 at: 📚Kent Elms Library 📚Leigh Library 📚Shoeburyness Library 📚Southchurch Library 📚Westcliff Library All children should be accompanied by a parent or carer.

At yesterday's "mayor making" meeting, I made a speech of thanks to outgoing Mayor of Southend-on-Sea, Nigel Folkard, in gratitude for his year of service as first citizen.

Councillor Tony Cox has been formally elected as the 105th Mayor of Southend at today’s Annual Meeting of the Council [14 May], taking over the role from Cllr Nigel Folkard.

For anyone wanting to watch along from home, this meeting will be starting in approximately 10 minutes.

The industrious folks at @projectsouthchurch.bsky.social are holding a community meeting next Thursday. The meeting will take place at Belle Vue Church, doors opening at 18.45 for a 19.00 start, on Thursday 21 May. Let’s keep our community informed, involved, and moving forward together.

A week on from the local elections, the dust has settled and it's becoming clearer what they mean for Southend.

🗣ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING (MAYOR MAKING) TODAY🗣 This afternoon at 15.30 the Full Council of Southend-on-Sea City Council will be meeting to hold the annual council meeting.

Councillor David Garston has been nominated for the Freedom of the City of Southend-on-Sea in recognition of an extraordinary 50 years of public service to the community.

The Old Leigh Shanty Festival is back for 2026 this weekend! This weekend a score of shanty crews will navigate their way to the atmospheric fishing village of Leigh on Sea to celebrate in the only way they know how – singing songs of the sea.

I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, the voters of Kursaal ward for re-electing me as their councillor.

On Saturday 16 May, the Fishermen's Chapel will host Konsztrukting Soundz Evening Twenty-Five. Konsztrukting Soundz is a beacon for established and emerging musicians, and with its acoustically unique space promises to be a haven for unorthodox creative expression.

🍽SOUTHEND FOOD BANK'S MOST NEEDED ITEMS THIS WEEK🍽 This week, the items @southendfoodbank.bsky.social most urgently need are: 🥔Instant mash 🌭Tinned hot dogs 🥫Tinned meatballs 🌽Tinned sweetcorn 🍛Tinned chilli/curry

🏡PLANNING DECISIONS LAST WEEK🏡 Each week I post details of any planning decisions made by Southend Council in the past week, within #KursaalWard. Last week there were two. Some decisions are made by officers on delegated powers, and others by the Planning Committee.

Every Tuesday morning, from 10.00 to 13.00, come and work on your crafting projects at Southchurch Library. Crafty Crusaders welcomes all to work on your projects in the warm and relaxing atmosphere of the library, alongside like-minded crafters.

🚧HIGHWAY WORKS IN KURSAAL WARD THIS WEEK🚧 The following highway works are scheduled for this week either in #KursaalWard, or close enough to Kursaal ward to potentially affect residents.

🗣📅SOUTHEND COUNCIL MEETINGS THIS WEEK📅🗣 This week there is one meeting taking place at Southend Council.

Reform maths! Increasing council tax is actually keeping a promise to cut council tax, apparently 🙄

Happy 100th birthday to Sir David Attenborough, a true British legend.

🏡PLANNING DECISIONS LAST WEEK🏡 Each week I post details of any planning decisions made by Southend Council in the past week, within #KursaalWard. Last week there was one. Some decisions are made by officers on delegated powers, and others by the Planning Committee.

Today is VE Day. 81 years ago today, the Second World War ended in Europe, with the liberation of the continent from Nazi occupation. We remember and we honour the sacrifices made by so many, to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.

A reminder that the #KursaalWard councillors will be holding a community advice surgery, 10.00 to 11.00 tomorrow at Belle Vue Baptist Church. Any #KursaalWard resident is welcome to come and speak to us about any local concern or personal issue. No appointment required.

A very tired thank you to the voters of #KursaalWard for re-electing me as their councillor!

🗳️ KURSAAL WARD ELECTION RESULTS 2026🗳️ 🟡Billy Boulton (LD) - 69 🎡Lee John Clark (CNF) - 380 🌹Matt Dent (LAB) - 849 ➡️Richard John Felton (REF) - 748 🟢Faye Heffernan (GRN) - 360 ⚫Lara Michelle Hurley (HER) - 15 🌳Liam Mannix (CON) - 161

And that's a wrap! The polling stations are still open until 22.00, but it's time for me to get ready for the count. Thank you to everyone who has followed along with my reelection campaign. I'll see you on the other side!

I'm Cllr Matt Dent. I'm standing for re-election in #KursaalWard. This is reason #10 why you should vote for me today: Optimism. #ReElectCllrMattDent

I'm Cllr Matt Dent. I'm standing for re-election in #KursaalWard. This is reason #9 why you should vote for me today: Transparency. #ReElectCllrMattDent

I'm Cllr Matt Dent. I'm standing for re-election in #KursaalWard. This is reason #8 why you should vote for me today: Southend United Football Club. #ReElectCllrMattDent

I'm Cllr Matt Dent. I'm standing for re-election in #KursaalWard. This is reason #1 why you should vote for me today: Potholes. #ReElectCllrMattDent

I'm Cllr Matt Dent. I'm standing for re-election in #KursaalWard. This is reason #6 why you should vote for me today: The Arts. #ReElectCllrMattDent

Cass is one of those people for whom helping her community is in her very nature. Whether through her work at the Foodbank, or just in day-to-day life, she has been a constant role model, and I am incredibly proud to have her backing at this election.