On February 12, 2026, Essex County Council approved a new £2 billion budget that includes an extra £6 million to repair potholes and maintain roads across the county. While Southend-on-Sea City Council is a separate unitary authority responsible for its own local streets, the new county investment is set to improve major regional routes used by thousands of city commuters every day.
The spending plan for the 2026/27 financial year aims to address deteriorating road surfaces following several years of difficult winter weather. For residents living within the Essex County Council area—such as those in neighboring Rochford and Castle Point—council tax will increase by 3.95 per cent. The council states this is a rise of roughly £1.20 more each week for a typical Band D home.
In contrast, residents within the Southend-on-Sea city boundary are subject to their own local budget, which includes a separate 4.99 per cent council tax increase and a long-term £30.3 million investment in city roads. However, the two authorities are beginning to work more closely under the new ‘Greater Essex’ devolution framework, which focuses on strategic transport projects for the entire region.
The new county money is expected to help maintain major arterial routes like the A127 and A13, which serve as essential lifelines for Southend businesses and travelers as they pass through the wider county area. Councillor Chris Whitbread, the Chancellor of Essex and cabinet member for finance, said the budget was built using feedback from residents about what mattered most to them, highlighting highways as a top priority.
