This evening I attended Southend-on-Sea City Council's civic service, at St Mary's Church, Prittlewell. This is an annual service of evening prayer, which offers prayer and blessing for the Mayor of Southend-on-Sea, currently Cllr Tony Cox.

Young people should not be priced out of education, employment or training, which is why this Labour government is making is transport more affordable for 16 to 18-year-olds.

🍽SOUTHEND FOOD BANK'S MOST NEEDED ITEMS THIS WEEK🍽 This week, the items @southendfoodbank.bsky.social most urgently need are: 🥔Instant mash - single packets 🥫Tinned meatballs 🌭Tinned hot dogs 🍑Tinned fruit 🐄Tinned minced beef and onion

The inaugural Southend Business Show is intended to establish, a single, citywide platform bringing together businesses, employers, residents and support organisations from across Southend‑on‑Sea under one roof.

Join the intrepid, intergalactic team at Southend Museums for a full weekend of planetarium shows, meteorite handling sessions and space themed activities at Southend Central Museum and Planetarium. Its like their Space Days…but Supermassive!

Is there anyone left at Reform UK who ISN'T under investigation?

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.

Essex and Suffolk Water have implemented a temporary hosepipe ban over their entire supply area (including Southend) from 00.01 this morning (Monday 3 August). The ban restricts the use of a hosepipe and any attachment to a hosepipe such as a pressure washer, sprinkler, irrigation system.

📆WHAT I DID THIS WEEK AS YOUR COUNCILLOR - 27 JULY TO 2 AUGUST📆 As an elected councillor, I think it's important to be transparent and accountable with the residents I represent. As such, I will be sharing each week what I did as your councillor.

Some scenes from the combat demonstration on the first day of Southend Museums' Anglo-Saxon weekend

Happy 119th birthday to Scouting!

I had a great time at the Anglo-Saxon weekend at Priory Park today. Southend Museums have once again done a fantastic job organising this event, with combat demonstrations, falconry, archaeology, and loads to keep the kids occupied! A real celebration of our history and heritage.

The #KursaalWard councillors hold two community advice surgeries each month. For August these will be: 🗣️10.00 to 11.00 on Saturday 8 August, at Belle Vue Baptist Church. 🗣️16.30 to 17.30 on Thursday 20 August, at Southend Adult Community College. No appointment is required.

🏡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 were five.

📅WHAT'S ON THIS MONTH IN SOUTHEND?📅 Today is the start of a new month, and there's plenty on to keep everyone entertained in Southend.

Today I was in London for my partner's birthday, and we happened to be at St Katharine Docks, only to be confronted by Endeavour, a cockle boat from Leigh and one of the boats that participated in Operation Dynamo - the evacuation of Dunkirk.

Free film on the Big Screen outside Focal Point Gallery is back this summer - and this week's film is Pixar's Coco! The film starts at 15.00, on Saturday 1 August - and it's completely free. Early arrival is advised to find yourself a comfortable area to sit, to avoid disappointment.

Following the announcement by the Environment Agency of a drought across East Anglia, Essex & Suffolk Water are introducing a temporary hosepipe ban across its entire supply area (including Southend).

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: Jackie Wilson Says ❖Sunday: The Waterside Choir Acts perform between 15.00 and 16.30.

This summer your little ones can take part in musical themed crafts on Saturdays at Southchurch Library. These crafts sessions are designed in conjunction with the Summer Reading Challenge, the theme of which Read to the Beat. This Saturday, the craft will be CD Guitars.

The £8.4 billion investment in the next generation of nuclear submarines will help keep our country safe, and boost jobs and the economy.

This is unambiguously good news, and the right move from UEFA. I hope that some of the other continental confederations will join Europe in boycotting the World Cup if FIFA's disastrous plans to sell it off to private interests goes ahead. The World Cup is NOT for sale.

The Puppet Festival is back at Southend Pier this weekend, for its 35th year! Join Southend Pier for a fun-filled celebration of Punch and Judy with lively puppet shows throughout. Bring the whole family along to enjoy the laughs, discover the history - and don’t miss the face painting.

🗣HEALTH OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE MEETING TONIGHT🗣 This evening at 18.30 the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee of Southend Council will be meeting to discuss the items on the agenda.

Southend-on-Sea City Council is encouraging residents and visitors to make safety a priority when enjoying the city's seven miles of coastline this summer.

School’s out, summer’s here, and it’s time to start ticking off some family fun across Southend! The Southend Summer Bucket List is packed with 20 free things to do during the school holidays. Browse free events on Visit Southend, grab your leaflet, and see how many you can tick off this summer!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to join senior Council officers to be shown around the Kursaal by Star Amusements' Nick Singer. We got to see the repair work that's already well underway and discuss the plans for the rest of the restoration and how the Council can support it.

A busy day, starting off this morning with a meeting of the Southend Tourism Partnership, discussing all things affecting our tourism sector.

🍽SOUTHEND FOOD BANK'S MOST NEEDED ITEMS THIS WEEK🍽 This week, the items @southendfoodbank.bsky.social most urgently need are: 🥔Instant mash - single packets 🥫Tinned meatballs 🌭Tinned hot dogs 🍑Tinned fruit 🐄Tinned minced beef and onion