News | Thurrock Council

Have your say on proposed Purfleet name change

19 July 2019

Proposals to formally rename Purfleet as Purfleet-on-Thames are being put to the public.
The online consultation, which will run for 12 weeks from Monday 22 July to Sunday 13 October, offers everyone an opportunity to give their views about the proposed name change.
Businesses, community groups and residents will all be engaged throughout the process, and posters promoting the plans will be displayed in Purfleet Community Hub, local bus stops and by local organisations.

'Outrage' over CCG merger plans to Secretary of State

19 July 2019

Letters have been written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and to Thurrock MPs, raising serious concerns about plans by NHS England to merge Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) with 4 other CCGs in South Essex.
The action comes after it emerged NHS England has instructed the 5 CCG accountable officers to set out a clear and agreed timeline for a formal CCG merger by the end of September 2019.
Thurrock Council last week criticised the plans, which it fears would lead to the loss of local accountability and strong existing partnerships.

Appeal for dash cam footage after truck spills concrete on A13

15 July 2019

Thurrock Council is appealing for help identifying a truck that spilt concrete onto the A13.
The driver failed to stop after concrete fell from a yellow and grey tipper truck onto the inside lane of the Southend-bound carriageway on the approach to the exit for the Orsett Cock roundabout at about 3:10pm on Thursday 11 July.
The council's highways contractor attended and briefly closed the slip road to remove debris from the road.

Thurrock celebrates best ever KS2 results

12 July 2019

Primary schools in Thurrock are celebrating after initial Key Stage 2 results revealed the percentage of 11 year-olds achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths is higher than ever before.
The number of pupils achieving this expected standard across all 3 subjects combined has risen from 66% in 2018 to 70% in 2019. This year's result is also higher than the national figure of 65% for these subjects combined, as reported by the Department for Education.

Performance report shares council successes in 2018/19

11 July 2019

More young people in education or employment, potholes being filled more quickly and more new apprentices recruited were just some of the notable successes for Thurrock Council last year.
An end of year performance report, presented at a meeting of the council’s Cabinet tonight (Wednesday 10 July), showed 68% of the authority's performance indicator targets were met in 2018/19 – up from 66 per cent in 2017/18, 59% in 2016/17 and 49% in 2015/16.
Among the indicators highlighted in the report were:

Man fined and car seized after being caught on CCTV fly-tipping

10 July 2019

A man has been fined and his vehicle seized after being caught on CCTV fly-tipping in South Ockendon.
Eight bags of household rubbish were dumped at the roadside in Dennises Lane at 1:30am on Sunday 30 June.
The offence was reported to Thurrock Council and swiftly investigated.
A car was this morning (Wednesday 10 July) seized in connection with the fly-tip and a Thurrock resident was interviewed and subsequently fined £400 and ordered to pay £220 costs. The resident has already paid in full and the vehicle will now be returned.

Call for complete re-think on CCG merger proposals

10 July 2019

Thurrock Council has criticised NHS England's "dreadful" proposals to merge the 5 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in south and mid-Essex.
Initial discussions have been held with the various CCG boards, including Thurrock CCG, about a potential switch to create a single executive structure, with a view to then forming a single CCG in the near future.
Thurrock Council fears the loss of local accountability and strong existing partnerships, together with the varying needs and combined size of the 5 affected areas, mean the proposals are flawed.

Travellers moved on from Blackshots, Grays

10 July 2019

Essex Police and Thurrock Council have once again taken swift action against illegal incursions in the borough with a large encampment at Blackshots, Grays being evicted within 24 hours.
An incursion of 16 vehicles was reported to the council at approximately 9pm on Monday 8 July when they set up an unauthorised encampment on King George V memorial play field by Blackshots Leisure Centre.

Residents' views sought in polling station review

9 July 2019

Residents are invited to have their say in a public consultation reviewing what voting facilities are like in Thurrock.
The consultation, which runs until Sunday 18 August, offers everyone in the parliamentary constituencies of Thurrock or South Basildon and East Thurrock an opportunity to give their views on the polling districts, places and stations currently used in Thurrock's 20 electoral wards. Local political parties, MPs and councillors can also have their say on factors including location and accessibility, and provide suggestions for improvement.

Join the Space Chase this summer!

9 July 2019

Children of all ages can take part in an out-of-this-world adventure as the 2019 Summer Reading Challenge returns to Thurrock this month.
From Saturday 13 July to Saturday 14 September, pre-schoolers, children and young adults can join in this year's challenge, Space Chase, at libraries in Aveley, Belhus, Blackshots, Chadwell, Corringham, East Tilbury, Grays, Stanford-le-Hope and Tilbury.