Thurrock Council’s Cabinet met on Wednesday 17 December 2025 and approved draft budget proposals for the next financial year, which will now go out to public consultation.
The proposals include a council tax increase of 2.99%, alongside a further 2% adult social care precept. This approach reflects the position facing most councils across the country.
The council’s financial position remains challenging, alongside ongoing national pressures facing local government, including rising homelessness, increasing demand for adult social care and continued growing pressures within services for children and young people with special educational needs.
The draft budget includes proposals to deliver £13.9 million of savings, while continuing to prioritise essential services and investment in key areas. Savings cover a range of services and wherever possible avoid any negative impact on residents, including:
- increasing the amount of waste we recycle as it costs less to recycle waste than send it to landfill
- using more technology to improve council systems to modernise and streamline the way we work and increase efficiencies
- due to the financial performance of the Pension Fund the council is able to reduce its contribution without impacting on individual pensions
- getting more value out of contracts with external partners
Alongside the savings proposals, the draft budget includes more than £10 million of additional investment in 2026/27 to respond to growing demand and protect essential services. This includes funding to support residents at risk of homelessness, protect adult social care for older and vulnerable residents, improve support for children with special educational needs, and ensure waste and environmental services keep pace with a growing borough.
Cllr Valerie Morris-Cook, Cabinet Member for Resources, said, “We have put forward proposals that will mean that we continue to deliver against ambitious saving targets while protecting frontline services, which we know residents value, and improving the way we work with residents, partners and other stakeholders to make us a friendlier and more approachable council.
“On top of that it will see us investing in support for children with special educational needs and our most vulnerable residents, services that have already been rated as outstanding and good.
“There will be a chance for everyone to have their say on these proposals before they go to all 49 councillors for a decision next February.”
A public budget consultation will run from Thursday 18 December to Thursday 29 January, giving residents, businesses and stakeholders the opportunity to have their say on the proposals.
Following the consultation, the budget will be considered again by Cabinet in February before being presented to Full Council for final approval.
Residents can find out more about the proposals and take part in the consultation at consult.thurrock.gov.uk/budget-2627