# Council tax in Southend-on-Sea

url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/southend-on-sea/
updated: 29 September 2026
licence: Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Figures: each source's own licence, listed under Sources.
publisher: [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk)

# Council tax in Southend-on-Sea



Last updated 29 September 2026.
Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/).





Council tax in **Southend-on-Sea** for 2026-27 is **£2,265 a year for a Band D home**, £1,510 for Band A and £4,530 for the top band. That is £146 below the England average of £2,411. It ranks 259 of 296 billing areas in England. Figures are the council's own set rates.



Figures for the 2026–27 financial year. Source:
[Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics).





## Key figures



- £2,265Band D a year, 2026-27

▲
As of 6 April 2026
- £1,510Band A, the lowest


As of 6 April 2026
- −£146Band D against the England average of £2,411

Below average
As of 6 April 2026
- 259 of 296Rank in England, highest first


As of 6 April 2026




Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics).






## What is the bill for each band?




£2,265
Band D, Southend-on-Sea, 2026-27







| Band | A year | A month |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Band ADetails | £1,510.11 | £125.84 |
| A month£125.84 | | |
| Band BDetails | £1,761.80 | £146.82 |
| A month£146.82 | | |
| Band CDetails | £2,013.48 | £167.79 |
| A month£167.79 | | |
| Band DDetails | £2,265.17 | £188.76 |
| A month£188.76 | | |
| Band EDetails | £2,768.54 | £230.71 |
| A month£230.71 | | |
| Band FDetails | £3,271.91 | £272.66 |
| A month£272.66 | | |
| Band GDetails | £3,775.28 | £314.61 |
| A month£314.61 | | |
| Band HDetails | £4,530.34 | £377.53 |
| A month£377.53 | | |






### What does this mean for you?



Choose your band to see your bill in Southend-on-Sea for 2026-27. Your band is on your bill, or on the Valuation Office Agency’s search.


Your band

Band ABand BBand CBand DBand EBand FBand GBand H




Band D in Southend-on-Sea: **£2,265 a year**, or £226.52 a month over the usual ten instalments. Living alone as the only adult, it would be £1,699 after the 25% discount.



The council’s set rates, before any council tax reduction or other discount. You can ask to pay over twelve months instead of ten.



Figures for the 2026–27 financial year. Source:
[Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics).








## Who gets the money?



1888

377



Southend-on-Sea 83%Other precepting bodies 17%





| Who receives it | Band D | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Southend-on-SeaDetails | £1,888 | 83% |
| Share83% | | |
| Other precepting bodiesDetails | £377 | 17% |
| Share17% | | |





Each body sets its own precept and the council simply collects them together. The council that
sends the bill keeps only its own share.



[Where your council tax goes: from your bill to each service](/council-tax/england/southend-on-sea/where-it-goes/)





## How does it compare?



Band D here is **£146 below** the England average, 259 of 296 councils from the highest.




**Southend-on-Sea among the England councils nearest it, Band D 2026-27**



- 255. East Lindsey

£2,276
- 256. Fareham

£2,271
- 257. Tendring

£2,270
- 258. Enfield

£2,268
- ◆259. Southend-on-Sea

£2,265
- 260. Bracknell Forest

£2,265
- 261. South Kesteven

£2,260
- 262. Brentwood

£2,258
- 263. Telford and Wrekin

£2,256




England average: £2,411 ◆ Southend-on-Sea



Ranked highest first. [Every council](/councils/) is in the full table.




**Show as a table**





| Name | Band D |
| --- | --- |
| 255. East Lindsey | £2,276 |
| 256. Fareham | £2,271 |
| 257. Tendring | £2,270 |
| 258. Enfield | £2,268 |
| 259. Southend-on-Sea (Southend-on-Sea) | £2,265 |
| 260. Bracknell Forest | £2,265 |
| 261. South Kesteven | £2,260 |
| 262. Brentwood | £2,258 |
| 263. Telford and Wrekin | £2,256 |






Figures for the 2026–27 financial year. Source:
[Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics).






## How does Southend-on-Sea compare? The report card



Official figures on complaints, finances, audit, pay and services for Southend-on-Sea, each from the body that
published it and set against the figure for England. See every council on the
[council map](/councils/map/?council=E06000033).



- Council tax rise this year5.1%Higher than the England figure of 4.9%
- Council tax per head£749Lower than the England figure of £796
- Ombudsman uphold rate78% (14 of 18)Lower than the England figure of 86%
- Reserves as a share of net spending23%Lower than the England figure of 50%
- Borrowing per home£4,163Higher than the England figure of £3,474
- Accounts, 2024-25Delivered by backstop92% of bodies had an opinion delivered by the backstop date
- Ofsted, children's servicesGood73% of English councils are good or outstanding
- CQC, adult social careGood62% of assessed councils are good or outstanding
- A roads needing maintenance considered9%Higher than the England figure of 5%
- Recycling rate39.4%Lower than the England figure of 42.0%
- Major planning decisions on time100.0%Higher than the England figure of 91.0%



Each figure is set against the figure for England as a whole. They are plain comparisons, one measure at a
time: there is no overall score and no ranking of councils. Higher is not always better or worse; what each
measure does and does not show is on the [methodology page](/methodology/#council-report-cards).




### What do complaints to the ombudsman show?





| Measure | Southend-on-Sea | For comparison |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Complaints and enquiries receivedDetails | 145 | — |
| For comparison— | | |
| Complaints and enquiries decidedDetails | 87 | 61 in 2024-25 |
| For comparison61 in 2024-25 | | |
| Detailed investigationsDetails | 18 | — |
| For comparison— | | |
| UpheldDetails | 14 | — |
| For comparison— | | |
| Uphold rateDetails | 78% | 86% for every body the Ombudsman covers; 85% for similar councils |
| For comparison86% for every body the Ombudsman covers; 85% for similar councils | | |
| Upheld cases where the council had already offered a satisfactory remedyDetails | 14% | 13% for every body the Ombudsman covers |
| For comparison13% for every body the Ombudsman covers | | |
| Ombudsman’s recommendations the council complied withDetails | 100% | 99.9% for every body the Ombudsman covers |
| For comparison99.9% for every body the Ombudsman covers | | |
| Uphold rate in 2024-25Details | 100% | — |
| For comparison— | | |




An uphold rate depends on how many complaints reach a detailed investigation. With few investigations, one decision moves it a long way.

Source: [Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Annual review of local government complaints](https://www.lgo.org.uk/information-centre/reports/annual-review-reports/local-government-complaint-reviews), 2025-26.



The Housing Ombudsman, which handles complaints from council tenants, made
**0** findings of severe maladministration
against Southend on Sea City Council in 2025-26, out of 24 findings in
13 determinations. Its maladministration rate for this landlord was
58%.

Source: [Housing Ombudsman Service, Annual complaints review: landlord tables](https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/annual-complaint-review-reports/), 2025-26.






### How healthy are its finances?





| Measure | Southend-on-Sea | For comparison |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Net revenue spending, 2025-26Details | £191.7m | — |
| For comparison— | | |
| Reserves at the end of 2025-26Details | £43.1m | — |
| For comparison— | | |
| Reserves as a share of net spendingDetails | 23% | 50% for England; 35% in 2024-25 |
| For comparison50% for England; 35% in 2024-25 | | |
| Outstanding borrowing at 30 June 2026Details | £346.9m | — |
| For comparison— | | |
| Borrowing per home on the valuation listDetails | £4,163 | £3,474 across English billing authorities |
| For comparison£3,474 across English billing authorities | | |




Earmarked and unallocated revenue reserves at the end of the year, excluding schools and public health, as a share of net revenue expenditure. Much of any council’s reserves is set aside for particular purposes. Borrowing is total outstanding loans of every kind; councils borrow mainly to pay for buildings, roads and housing, and the figure does not show what the borrowing was for.

Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: revenue outturn time series](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing), 2025-26; [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Local authority borrowing and investment live table](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-local-government-finance), 30 June 2026; [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Council Taxbase statistics](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-taxbase-statistics), 2025.







### What have the auditors said?





| Accounts year | Status recorded by PSAA | Opinion signed |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-25 | Delivered by backstop | 13 January 2026 |
| 2023-24 | Delivered by backstop | 27 February 2025 |




“Delivered by backstop” means the auditor gave an opinion by the statutory backstop date. Many opinions given that way
were disclaimed or qualified because the deadline cut the audit short; PSAA publishes which type of opinion each
council received only as national totals, so it is not shown here. Auditors’ value-for-money findings are in each
auditor’s annual report on the council’s website.

Source: [Public Sector Audit Appointments, Monthly audit opinion data](https://www.psaa.co.uk/managing-audit-quality/monthly-audit-opinion-data/), 2024-25.






### What are senior staff and councillors paid?



Senior pay and councillor allowances for Southend-on-Sea have not yet been read from its statement of accounts. There is no
central dataset of either; they are being added council by council, each with a link to the page of the accounts
it comes from.






### How are its services rated?





| Measure | Southend-on-Sea | For comparison |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Children's services, Ofsted overall effectiveness | [Good](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/44/882) | 3 December 2024. 73% of English councils judged good or outstanding |
| Adult social care, CQC assessment | [Good](https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports/southend-on-sea) | 15 August 2025. 62% of assessed councils rated good or outstanding |
| A roads where maintenance should be considered, 2024-25 | 9% | 5% in England |
| B and C roads where maintenance should be considered, 2024-25 | 13% | 7% in England |
| Unclassified roads where maintenance should be considered, 2024-25 | 24% | 17% in England |
| Household waste sent for reuse, recycling or composting, 2024-25 | 39.4% | 42.0% for England |
| Major planning decisions on time, 24 months to end of june 2026 | 100.0% | 91.0% for England |
| Non-major planning decisions on time, 24 months to end of June 2026 | 99.5% | 90.7% for England |




Inspections happen at different times, so a rating can be several years old; the date is shown with each.
Planning figures are measured differently in each nation: share of decisions made within the statutory time (13 weeks for major, 8 for non-major) or an agreed extension, over 24 months.
Recycling rates are measured differently in England, Scotland and Wales, so compare within a nation.

Source: [Ofsted, Children's social care: local authority inspection outcomes](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/childrens-social-care-statistics), as at 31 March 2026; [Care Quality Commission, Local authority assessments](https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports), latest assessment; [Department for Transport, Road condition statistics: data tables (RDC)](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/road-condition-statistics-data-tables-rdc), 2024-25; [Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Local authority collected waste management: annual results](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-collected-waste-management-annual-results), 2024-25; [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Live tables on planning application statistics (P151, P153)](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-planning-application-statistics), 24 months to end of June 2026.








### What has happened recently?



Decisions and publications by official bodies about Southend-on-Sea, newest first. Each links to the body that made
or published it. News reports are not included.



- 7 May 2026
Election
[Local election: 17 seats won](https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/local.southend-on-sea.2026-05-07/)
Reform UK 8, Conservative and Unionist Party 2, Green Party 2, Labour and Co-operative Party 2, Labour Party 2, Liberal Democrats 1
Democracy Club
- 1 April 2026
Council tax
[Council tax for 2026-27: Band D £2,265, up 5.1% on the year before](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics)

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- 13 January 2026
Audit
[Auditor’s opinion on the 2024-25 accounts signed](https://www.psaa.co.uk/managing-audit-quality/monthly-audit-opinion-data/august-2026-audit-opinion-data/)
PSAA records the status as “Delivered by backstop”; auditor KPMG LLP.
Public Sector Audit Appointments
- 25 February 2025
Ombudsman
[Ombudsman report: upheld, disabled children](https://www.lgo.org.uk/decisions/children-s-care-services/disabled-children/23-004-755)
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 23-004-755.
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
- 2 May 2024
Election
[Local election: 17 seats won](https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/local.southend-on-sea.2024-05-02/)
Conservative and Unionist Party 7, Labour Party 6, Green Party 1, Independent 1, Labour and Co-operative Party 1, Liberal Democrats 1
Democracy Club
- 4 May 2023
Election
[Local election: 17 seats won](https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/local.southend-on-sea.2023-05-04/)
Conservative and Unionist Party 5, Labour Party 4, Independent 3, Labour and Co-operative Party 3, Green Party 1, Liberal Democrats 1
Democracy Club
- 5 May 2022
Election
[Local election: 18 seats won](https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/local.southend-on-sea.2022-05-05/)
Conservative and Unionist Party 6, Labour Party 6, Independent 2, Labour and Co-operative Party 2, Liberal Democrats 2
Democracy Club







### Does the council think something here is wrong?



If you represent Southend-on-Sea and think a figure here is wrong, out of date or unfairly presented, email
[hello@whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk](mailto:hello@whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk?subject=Right%20of%20reply%3A%20Southend-on-Sea%20report%20card) with this page’s address and the source you would point to.
Every correction is logged, with its date, on the [corrections page](/corrections/).






## How much of the council's spending does this cover?



Council tax paid for **22.1%** of the money
Southend-on-Sea had to spend in 2025-26. The rest came from government grants
(41.5%), business rates
(9.5%) and fees, charges and other income
(21.7%), with 5.1% taken from reserves.
That is why a grant cut can raise your bill even when the council has not changed what it does.
[See where it goes](/council-tax/england/southend-on-sea/where-it-goes/#d-bill).





## Where can I find out more?



[What council tax is and why it works this way](/council-tax/), including why the bands
are still based on 1991 property values in England and Scotland, and
[how every area compares](/councils/), everything else on
[Southend-on-Sea: parking, roads, your MP and local services](/your-area/southend-on-sea/), and
[Southend-on-Sea on the council map](/councils/map/?council=E06000033).






## Common questions


How much is council tax in Southend-on-Sea?
Band D is £2,265 a year for 2026-27. Band A is £1,510 and the top band £4,530.Is council tax in Southend-on-Sea higher than average?
No. Band D here is £146 below the England average of £2,411.





## Sources for this page





| Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics) | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | the 2026–27 financial year | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |





Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations
are ours, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Related pages

- [Next in this section: Where your council tax goes in Southend-on-Sea](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/southend-on-sea/where-it-goes/)
- [Back to Southend-on-Sea: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/southend-on-sea/)
- [How much is council tax and what does it pay for?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/)
- [Who is my MP, and what does their office cost?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/mps/)
- [Where does my tax money actually go?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/for-every-100-pounds-of-tax/)

## More from this publisher

- [UK tax calculators](https://howlongisit.co.uk)

Published by [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). The figures belong to the publishers listed under Sources and are used under their licences. Figures last updated 29 September 2026.