Southend budget meeting descends into chaos over council tax hike
Source: echo-news.co.uk
- A public meeting in Southend turned chaotic as residents clashed with council leaders over the council tax increase.
- The council approved a 4.99% council tax rise plus a 2% adult social care precept, adding £81.91 yearly to band D homes.
- Tensions boiled over with shouts and walkouts, highlighting deep anger at budget cuts and service failures.
Southend Council faced fierce backlash at a packed budget meeting where residents vented fury over rising council tax and slashed services. Council leader Daniel Cowan defended the 4.99% tax hike as unavoidable due to funding shortfalls from central government. The uproar underscores growing frustration with years of austerity, poor service delivery like potholes and bins, and demands for better accountability from councillors.