News

Dog boarding owners fined for unlicensed business

4 December 2020
An illegal dog boarding business was shut down and its irresponsible operators forced to pay more than £3,000 each following action taken by Thurrock Council.
On Thursday 26 November, the council successfully prosecuted Jay Hayers, 30, and Susan York, 56, for operating an unlicensed home dog boarding business, known as Max's Home Boarding, between Friday 11 January 2019 and Friday 5 July 2019.
The pair, who pleaded guilty at Southend Magistrates Court, were each fined a total of £2,500, ordered to pay costs of £1,250 and a £170 victim surcharge.

Online private fostering workshop takes place this December

2 December 2020
If you are looking after a child on behalf of a friend or family member, you may be entitled to a range of support from the council.
A free private fostering workshop will take place on Friday 11 December, offering advice and guidance to residents, volunteers and professionals.
Cllr James Halden, Cabinet member for children's and adult social care, said: "Our virtual workshops are a great opportunity for attendees to learn how to identify and recognise what private fostering is.

Thurrock Council disappointed to enter Tier 2 once lockdown ends

26 November 2020
The government has announced that Thurrock will enter 'Tier 2 High Alert' restrictions once the current lockdown period comes to an end.
From midnight on Wednesday 2 December, all non-essential shops and businesses will re-open. New rules will come into force for the hospitality sector, however, which will see some venues remain closed.

Businesses boosted by free parking in December

26 November 2020
For the fourth consecutive year, Thurrock Council will offer free car parking every Saturday in December to support high-street businesses during the festive season.
The initiative, which starts on Saturday 5 December, includes all council-owned car parks and pay and display on-street parking.

Accounts get a clean bill of health for the sixth year in a row

25 November 2020
Independent external auditors have found that Thurrock Council's financial reporting and value for money plans are in good health and do not require any moderation.
This is the sixth consecutive annual external audit to come to the same conclusion. Two separate independent external auditors performed the audit over the last three occasions, and both reached the same conclusion.
The report, which auditors from accountancy firm BDO presented to members of the Standards and Audit Committee at their meeting yesterday evening (Tuesday 24 November), says:

Thameside Theatre brings panto online for 2020

23 November 2020
Panto season is back with a special edition of Sleeping Beauty for Thurrock residents to enjoy at home, thanks to Thurrock Council's Thameside Theatre and production company Polka Dot Pantomimes.
For the first time, the theatre has teamed up to offer a professionally pre-recorded performance available to watch online from Monday 14 December 2020 to Sunday 3 January 2021.

Additional support for small businesses and the self-employed

23 November 2020
Thurrock Council will help small businesses with a £3.5 million grant scheme launched today, designed to help those that have not been eligible for other grants.
The Additional Restrictions Grant (Discretionary) has been created by Thurrock Council, using Government funding, to help smaller businesses which have been affected by COVID-19 restrictions and work from home or provide services from rented halls or other similar premises.

Joint statement on Lower Thames Crossing

23 November 2020
Joint statement from Thurrock Council and Gravesham Borough Council
The Lower Thames Crossing is one of the largest transport infrastructure projects we will see in our lifetimes.
While we are yet to understand the full reasons behind the withdrawal or what feedback Highways England has received from the Planning Inspectorate, the impact a project of this scale will have on our communities means it is only right that as much time as necessary is taken to ensure every last detail of the project is understood and has been assessed thoroughly.

Time-lapse camera captures the transformation of Grays

20 November 2020
Works set to transform Grays reached a significant milestone recently as the construction of a new Civic Centre extension started.
To capture the first of many transformational projects set to regenerate the town, a time-lapse camera has been installed. The camera lets residents to watch real-time, minute-by-minute footage of the building work, by going to thurrock.gov.uk/timelapse

Christmas comes early as Give a Gift opens for online donations

20 November 2020
Christmas has arrived in Thurrock as online donations for Give a Gift 2020 open today.
Now in its fifth year, Give a Gift gives people the opportunity to donate a Christmas present to a local child in need for whom Christmas can be a difficult time of year.
This year, due to government's coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance, unfortunately there will not be a store at intu Lakeside Shopping Centre as in previous years. Instead, Give a Gift will be run online to ensure the safety of our residents and council staff.

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