A senior Southend councillor has condemned planned cuts to the arts, tourism, special events and marketing team as "leaving Southend devoid of a soul."

Graham Longley, leader of the Liberal Democrat group said the team would be cut from nine to four and turned into a "cultural development team."

He added: "This decimation will mean the town will be left with a gaping hole in the heart of its wish to be the cultural capital of the area."

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