Cllr. Richard Longstaff
Green Party City Councillor, working for Leigh Ward, Southend City Council
Councillor Richard Longstaff,
Your Green Party Councillor for Leigh
Richard Longstaff is your Green Party Councillor for Leigh Ward on Southend City Council.
Richard was the first Green Party Councillor elected to the City council, elected to represent Leigh in May 2023.
+ 44 7740 291951
cllrrichardlongstaff@southend.gov.uk
42 Leigham Court Drive, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 1PU
About Richard:
A Senior Lecturer of Architectural Technology at Anglia Ruskin University since 2005, Richard also founded a local award-winning design and research studio in 2002, where he practices as a Chartered Architectural Technologist.
Essex born and bred, Richard has lived in Leigh for over 20 years and has three children. Richard helped Leigh Town Council save the community centre when it was considered for demolition, and also set up and helped organise the well-known campaign to save the Grand Hotel. He was also the local architectural designer behind the restoration of Strand Wharf in the Old Town.
In 2019, Richard formed the successful Once-Upon-a-Tree (Southend) campaign, which seeks to pressure Southend Council into stopping needlessly felling healthy mature trees, and instead develop a new green tree-planting initiative.
Richard was elected as a Green Councillor for Leigh in May 2023.
Richard's Committee places at Southend Council:
Richard has two Council Committee appointments. These are;
Development Control Committee:
The purpose of the Development Control Committee includes:
To exercise the powers and duties of the Council in all matters of Development and Building Control as specified in Part A of Schedule 1 to the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000 (as amended) including:
(a) All applications for planning permission, listed building consent, advertisement consent, conservation area consent, and hazardous substances consent (including the Council’s own development proposals);
(b) Tree Preservation Orders;
(c) Enforcement Notices, Breach of Condition Notices and Stop Notices;
(d) To undertake as necessary visits to sites prior to the determination of applications.
Where an application is to be considered by the Committee, an objector may be able to present their views directly. The applicant is similarly given a right of reply if an objector does address the Committee. The protocol for public speaking is set out at paragraph 6C of Part 4(a) of the Council’s Constitution and further details can be found in the Development Control Committee leaflet.
People Scrutiny Committee:
The remit of the People Scrutiny Committee includes:
- All Child and Adult Education
- Youth Services
- Children’s Social Services
- Adult Social Services
- Public Health
- Commissioning/Procurement for Children, Adults and Public Health
- Health Scrutiny Role
Some of Richard's latest campaigns:
Listening to residents:
Richard has been our hard-working Green campaigner in Leigh since 2019. In that time, he's spoken to hundreds of Leigh residents and businesses.
Richard is Leigh's strongest voice on Southend City Council, working hard and standing up for what matters. Get in touch with Richard using the contact details above.
Fighting for action on the Climate and Ecological Emergency:
Richard is the leading figure on environmental issues at Southend Council, pushing hard to ensure bold measures to protect our green spaces and fighting for meaningful action on issues like sewage and air pollution.
Richard has spent many years battling Southend Council over its dire record of tree-felling across the City, and now in the Council chamber, he's scrutinising decisions and fighting for action on Green issues.
Standing up for our Community:
Richard works collaboratively with other Councillors to ensure the very best outcomes for Leigh. He holds the administration to account on important issues and speaks out for our town and our interests.
Richard is currently engaged in reviewing several major planning applications and supporting residents through the Cost of Living crisis.
The latest news from Richard:
Greens’ Tree Motion Passed at SCC
At the Full Council meeting of 7th September 2023, Green Party City Councillor Richard Longstaff proposed a motion to shake up the way Southend Council manages our City’s Trees. Local residents have long dispaired at the City Council’s brutal “cut before complaint” approach to tree management, which has led to the unnecessary and premature removal […]
Green Party’s Richard Longstaff elected in Leigh
4th May 2023 THE GREENS are celebrating a successful Local Election this year, electing the first-ever Green Councillor to Southend City Council. Well-known community campaigner Richard Longstaff has been elected as a Councillor for the Leigh Ward. Richard won the seat with 1042 votes, which represented 39% of the total vote. The Liberal Democrats finished […]
Natalie Bennett visits Leigh for Action Day
On Saturday 25th March 2023, the Green Party held a Campaign Launch event in Leigh-on-Sea, attended by former Green Party Leader Baroness Natalie Bennett and Green Councillor for Stratford Olympic Park Nate Higgins. Hosted by local Green campaigner Richard Longstaff and Green Party volunteers, the team held a day of campaigning in Leigh speaking with […]
Subscribe to Richard's Leigh Green News e-Mailing list:
Would you like to be the first to hear about local news, issues, and events?
Richard runs a periodic email newsletter, in which he details updates from his role as a Councillor, shares news and stories about our community, and lets you know about upcoming events. Subscribe by filling out the form below.
Join Richard's #GreenTeam of volunteers in Leigh:
Any help you can give Richard and the Green Party would be appreciated.
Richard is supported by a small team of local volunteers who help him report issues, speak with local residents, and deliver his leaflets.
No experience required, just enthusiasm!
Could you?
- help for one hour a month to deliver newsletters in your area
- speak with your neighbours about local issues
- help at local street clean events
If yes, then please tick the appropriate boxes when filling out the below form.
Help Richard and the Green Party in Southend-on-Sea:
