News Archive - Thurrock's Budget, Let's Talk

Thurrock Council launched its discussion with local people about next year's budget last week - and responses have been pouring in.

By midnight on Sunday (8 August) at the end of the first week of the consultation, the council's Thurrock's Budget, Let's Talk web pages had received 2,615 votes in favour or against proposals.

In addition to the original 58 council ideas a further 33 proposals had been put forward by the people of Thurrock.

On Friday, Leader of the Council Cllr John Kent, took time out from his busy schedule to have a look at written suggestions in the Civic Offices' foyer in New Road, Grays.

He said: "It's really heartening to see that local people are taking this so seriously. We had hits on the website before it was publicised and the number of people voting on ideas and providing new ones is expanding day by day.

"Equally impressive is that just a day after the suggestions box was placed in the council foyer, ten people have taken the time to add a suggestion during their time here.

"Over the coming days we will get similar suggestion cards out to the libraries and housing offices so people who can't get online can let us know their ideas."

The Thurrock's Budget, Let's Talk website is easily accessible from the council's homepage (www.thurrock.gov.uk) or can be reached directly be keying in www.thurrock.gov.uk/talk

Suggestion cards were placed in two local newspapers last week, but you do not have to send in your ideas on one of these cards. Simply write to Let's Talk, Communications, Thurrock Council, New Road, Grays RM17 6SL.

All ideas provided by ordinary mail or via the council offices will be placed on the website so people can also vote for - or against - them as will ideas sent in across the Internet.

However, some of the suggestions have been duplicated and others relate to services which are not provided by Thurrock Council. In the latter case, the suggestions will be passed on to the relevant public authority.

Cllr Kent said: "We will look at all the cards and letters as well as the ideas provided online - counting the number of duplicates will also help us understand how popular or not each one is in combination with the online voting."