News | Thurrock Council

Thurrock Council Tax proposals

12 February 2024

Councillors will discuss proposals for the borough's Council Tax to increase by 5.99%, plus a 2% adult social care precept when Extraordinary Corporate Overview and Scrutiny meet on Wednesday 14 February.
These are proposals at this stage, for debate at meetings running up to Budget Council at the end of the month when the council budget for the year is due to be set.

Transport Safety Officers launched

12 February 2024

This week sees the launch of new Transport Safety Officers across public transport in Essex, Thurrock and Southend.
This pilot scheme, developed in collaboration between Thurrock Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council, and councils under Essex County Council, has received funding from Department for Transport (DfT), totalling £490,000.

Freedom of the Borough ceremony

1 February 2024

Reverend Canon Darren Barlow, Team Rector of Grays Thurrock Team Ministry, has been given Freedom of the Borough, the highest award Thurrock Council can give.
Revd Barlow received the honour at a special ceremony which took place in the Town Hall Council Chamber yesterday evening (Wednesday 31 January 2024). It was awarded in recognition of the outstanding contribution he has made to the borough.

Inspiring the next generation of voters for Make Your Mark week

29 January 2024

On Monday 29 January, Make Your Mark kicked-off in Thurrock with the aim of inspiring young people across the borough to take part in the UK's largest youth consultation.
Make Your Mark is part of UK Youth Parliament's ambition to determine which topics are most important to young people including crime, transport and the environment.
The previous campaign in 2022 showed that health and wellbeing was the biggest issue that young people wanted addressing.

Toucan Energy asset sale will reduce Thurrock Council debt

25 January 2024

The successful sale of Toucan Energy's solar portfolio will see Thurrock Council divesting a significant asset and allow the council to pay down hundreds of millions of pounds of debt.
Toucan Energy Holdings entered administration in November 2022, with Thurrock Council as the primary creditor.
It has today been announced that the portfolio of 53 solar farms has been acquired by Schroders Greencoat at a sale price of circa £700m. The sale will see a significant sum returned to Thurrock Council and is the single biggest contributor towards the council's financial recovery.

Have your say on a new political map for Thurrock Council

23 January 2024

A new pattern of wards is being developed for Thurrock Council.
The Local Government Boundary Commission has decided that the number of councillors in Thurrock should be 49, the same as now. The Local Government Boundary Commission wants to hear what residents and organisations think about their local area. A 10-week consultation inviting proposals will run until 1 April 2024.

New Assistant Chief Executive joins the top team at Thurrock

22 January 2024

Alex Powell, the new Assistant Chief Executive, joins Thurrock Council today (Monday 22 January). The Assistant Chief Executive (ACE) role is essential to the council's improvement journey and a core part of the new senior leadership team being formed by Dave Smith, Chief Executive and Managing Director Commissioner. The ACE is tasked with delivering change and forging a healthy council culture for the future.

Planning peer review will help build on improvements already underway

11 January 2024

Thurrock Council leaders have welcomed the findings of a peer review of the council's planning service.
The review, which was carried out by the Local Government Association’s Planning Advisory Service (PAS) at the council's request, took place between 30 October and 2 November 2023. A range of partners and community and business representatives were interviewed as part of the review as well as council officers and councillors.

Tilbury Ferry

10 January 2024

Cllr Andrew Jefferies, Leader of Thurrock Council and Cllr Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council have spoken about this and agreed that meetings will take place to discuss the future of the Tilbury to Gravesend Ferry and look at joint work that can take place between the two councils to maintain the service without recourse to public funds.
Cllr Jefferies said: "We look forward to our two councils working together to explore what possibilities exist to maintain the ferry service without having to use local council tax payers' money to provide financial support."

Financial regulator to carry out independent investigation into failed investment strategies

3 January 2024

The UK body that regulates auditors and accountants has today announced it will begin an investigation into an individual's conduct regarding the financial management of Thurrock Council’s failed investment strategies.
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has stated it will investigate the individual’s compliance with governance and professional standards relating to Thurrock Council's operations and investment activities for the financial years ended 31 March 2018 to 31 March 2022.