THE level of public health funding in Essex has been boosted by 5.2 per cent over the past year to 2015/2016 levels – but the county council receives one of the lowest allocations in the country reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

The public health allocation per head for Essex County Council has increased from £44.87 in 2024/2025 to £46.97 in 2025/26. It follows a population increase from 1.534 million to 1.542million.

The per head funding brings it back to levels in 2015/2016 when the population stood at 1.436m.

However the funding represents one of lowest allocations per head. Neighbouring Havering, Cambridge and Hertfordshire both marginally receive more.

Southend is set to receive £58 per head, Thurrock is set to receive £72 per head.

The money is ring-fenced to be used to provide vital preventative services – including smoking cessation, drug and alcohol services, children’s health services and sexual health services, as well as broader public health support across local authorities and the NHS.

Councillor John Spence, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Adult Social Care, Public Health and Integration said “Essex County Council warmly welcomes the 5.2 per cent increase in our public health grant.

“The role of public health is often misunderstood and underrated.  Public Health colleagues play a significant role not just in addressing the consequences of poor health, addiction etc, but also in working to prevent issues becoming significant.  The prevention agenda is critical not just for ensuring the best quality lives for the residents of Essex, but in enabling the future sustainability of the NHS.”

The boost in in the public health grant allocations to local authorities, Adam Briggs, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation, said: ‘Today’s public health grant announcement is a welcome first step in putting prevention back at the heart of the government’s agenda and one we have long called for.

“Investment in prevention provides significant value for money and the public health grant supports vital services that improve health and tackle health inequalities within local communities.”

He added the allocation was smaller in in real terms per person than in 2015/16 and  restoring the public health grant to 2015/16 levels in the future would help counter declines in healthy life expectancy and reduce inequalities.

He added: “Councils are also in desperate need of multi-year funding settlements instead of single-year allocations, and this announcement will leave little time for effective planning before the new financial year.

“The government placed prevention as a cornerstone of the health mission.

“While increasing the public health grant is very welcome, it will need to be backed up with a multi-year plan to fully restore the grant to 2015/16 levels by the end of this parliament.

“And for its impact to be fully realised, it should be paired with wider policy action on the building blocks of health: stable jobs, good pay, quality housing and good education.”