I am very privileged and proud to have joined Southend-on-Sea City Council as chief executive earlier this year. You may know the area for its pier – the world's longest pleasure pier, with its own train service no less – or our sunny Thames Estuary position just 36 miles from London. As with many seaside areas, we also face some unique challenges, with areas of deprivation shoulder-to-shoulder with affluent areas.

My first impressions of the council still hold – it is a fantastic organisation with dedicated councillors and officers working hard every day to make a positive difference to residents and communities.