Southend councillors ditch City of Culture 2029 bid plans

Southend-on-Sea was granted city status earlier this year

Councillors have scrapped plans to submit a bid to become the UK's City of Culture in 2029.

Southend-on-Sea City Council's cabinet members voted unanimously to ditch the idea because of poor timing and "an unpredictable economic future".

Anna Firth, Conservative MP for Southend West, said the news was "very disappointing".

The borough was granted city status this year in tribute to her predecessor, Sir David Amess.

Sir David Amess championed the bid to make Southend a city

The council outlined steps towards making a formal bid at a meeting in July.

However, a report discussed at a council cabinet meeting on Tuesday referenced a cost-of-living crisis that "has worsened nationally".

The local authority said it had a forecasted budget overspend of £12.1m for 2023-24.

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Carole Mulroney, the Liberal Democrat cabinet member for environment, culture and tourism, said last week: "Local authorities are looking like they are going to be squeezed really tight. We have to consider our resources, not just in money, but in staff."

She told BBC Essex a bid would cost up to £5m to put together.

Ms Firth said: "It seems the most logical thing in the world to go for UK City of Culture.

"It would bring countless jobs and investment into the city."

The decision from the cabinet will be discussed at a cross-party scrutiny committee and could be put to the full council meeting in December.