News | Thurrock Council

New taxi licensing rules introduced

8 July 2022

Thurrock Council has approved a new taxi licensing policy that will reassure passengers that all taxis that operate from the borough are safe.
The new rules mean drivers are not only required to be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, they also need to sign-up to the constantly-updated DBS Update Service. This will make sure they do not have any unspent criminal convictions that mean they are not safe or suitable to be a Thurrock taxi driver.
Before they can be licensed, all drivers must also:

Children welcome Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay

8 July 2022

School children from Grays, Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary cheered on the Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay when it arrived at Tilbury on Friday 8 July.
Pupils at The Gateway Learning Community Trust – a multi-academy trust of 5 schools in Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary – waved flags as Woodside Academy's 'Woodside Steel' played steel pan drums to welcome the Queen's Baton Relay to the London International Cruise Terminal at the Port of Tilbury.

Asset review opens opportunities for local committees and communities

5 July 2022

On Tuesday 12 July, Thurrock Council's Corporate Overview and Scrutiny committee is set to consider a paper discussing the future of several their properties. Members of the committee will hear of the success of the council's last asset release programme, which generated capital receipts totalling £9.3million in the 2021/22 financial year.
The council's '3R' policy – Release, Reuse, Retain – is reviewing and releasing a number of surplus and under-used properties wherever possible. This could be by private sale, public auction, tender or on a leasehold basis.

Commemorative events remember Srebrenica

4 July 2022

Cllr James Halden, Mayor of Thurrock, and Cllr Qaisar Abbas, Cabinet Member for Communities and Equalities, were joined by residents and speakers representing the Bosnian community on the morning of Monday 4 July where they raised the flag at St Peter and St Paul’s Church outside the Civic Offices.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Plan: national call for evidence

1 July 2022

Following the government's commitment to help to improve the nation's mental health and wellbeing as part of its 'levelling up' agenda, they have begun developing a new 10-year mental health strategy to help and improve mental health services for years to come.

New Cabinet member for Communities keen to hear from local groups

1 July 2022

Thurrock Council's new Cabinet Member for Communities and Equalities, Cllr Abbas, met with 6 local community groups last Friday (24 June), to hear their experiences of supporting residents in the borough.
The meetings – which also have colleagues from the council's Communities team present – were arranged to give local groups a chance to share ideas and talk through practical ways in which the council can better support our local communities. The meetings were held in a committee room in the new Civic Offices, providing a comfortable and modern setting for good discussions.

Parking enforcement to help to keep the borough moving

30 June 2022

Thurrock Council has focused parking enforcement on known issues and hotspots to help make sure that nuisance parkers don't block roads. The recently published Parking Annual Report highlights last year's successes and lays out plans for the future.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy plans to 'level the playing field'

30 June 2022

An ambitious plan for improving the health and wellbeing of Thurrock residents, ensuring fair and improved access for all, was agreed by Health and Wellbeing Board last week and noted at the meeting of Council last night (Wednesday 29 June).

The Summer Reading Challenge returns this July

29 June 2022

The Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge returns this summer, inviting children and young people to get reading and to use their creativity and curiosity to discover science.
By taking part in the challenge young people will be able to read exciting science-themed books, allowing them to collect rewards and develop their reading ability. Delivered by The Reading Agency in partnership with the Science Museum Group, the challenge aims to create 'Gadgeteers' – young people who are excited and passionate about science in our world.

Srebrenica Memorial Week event set for 4 July

27 June 2022

Residents are invited to a special commemorative event on Monday 4 July to mark the beginning of Srebrenica Memorial Week.
At 10am, Monday 4 July, Cllr James Halden, Mayor of Thurrock, and Cllr Qaisar Abbas, Cabinet Member for Communities and Equalities will be joined by speakers representing the Bosnian community to raise the Remembering Srebrenica flag at St Peter and St Paul's Church outside the Civic Offices in New Road, Grays. This will be followed by the blessing of a commemorative tree and a memorial plaque laid in Grays Town Park at 10:45am.