News | Thurrock Council

Secondary school places announced for September 2022

1 March 2022

Parents of Year 6 students in Thurrock today (Tuesday 1 March) have been offered their child's secondary school places for September 2022.
Cllr Barry Johnson, Cabinet member for Education, said: "90.9% of parents were offered their top three preference school for this September. Year-on-year, Thurrock helps thousands of young people secure a place in one of their preferred schools in the borough.

Balanced budget ring-fences millions for social care

24 February 2022

Thurrock Council has approved a balanced budget that will see a ring-fenced spending boost for children's and adult social care in the coming year.
The 2022/23 budget includes a 2%-under-inflation council tax increase – a 1.99% increase in council tax that will be ringfenced on children’s social care, and a 1% increase in the adult social care precept to be spent on looking after vulnerable adults.
The increase for an average Band D property comes to less each week than the price of a 2-pint bottle of milk or a first class stamp.

Meet the team and find out about fostering

22 February 2022

Thurrock Fostering are holding an in-person information event on Monday 28 February, 6pm to 8pm at The Orsett Hall Hotel, Orsett, RM16 3HS.
Cllr Barry Johnson, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: "Local Foster Carers in Thurrock make a huge difference to the lives of the borough's children and young people by opening their home and family to a child who needs one.
"Thurrock Fostering welcomes people from all backgrounds to join them, regardless of their ethnicity or sexuality, relationship status or if they already have children or not.

Report storm damage online

21 February 2022

Clean-up operations are ongoing following 4 days of storms and high winds affecting Thurrock.
Council teams have been hard at work clearing up fallen trees and lamp post columns as well as making repairs to roads and road signs.
Leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr Rob Gledhill, said: "The high winds we saw on Friday damaged a number of trees, lamp posts and road signs as well as some of our buildings.

Joint operation to target fly-tippers

21 February 2022

A joint operation between Thurrock Council and Essex Police tackled potential fly-tippers transporting waste in the borough.
Over the course of 2 evenings, officers:
stopped and checked more than 30 vehicles they suspected of transporting waste to make sure they were properly licensed
issued 9 on-the-spot fines to drivers that were found to be in breach of waste carrier regulations
Police also issued a £100 fine to the owner of a vehicle that did not have an MOT.

Great benefits for Thurrock Foster Carers

16 February 2022

As a Thurrock Foster Carer you will receive financial support, incentives and will be guided throughout your fostering journey by a committed team of professionals.
Cllr Barry Johnson, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: "Our fostering rates are very competitive and include council tax exemption for carers who live in Thurrock.

New online parking permits to offer more flexibility for residents

11 February 2022

This week, Thurrock Council announced changes to significantly improve how it processes and issues parking permits, including permits for business, residents and visitors.
Under the new system, due to go live at the end of March, applicants will instantly be registered on the system and given an electronic permit at the same time they are applying – making the wait for a physical paper permit a thing of the past.

Ofsted report highlights a step change in support for SEND

10 February 2022

A report published by Ofsted today, Thursday 10 February, has praised Thurrock Council's special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services as having made "sufficient progress" and improvements across a number of key areas.
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited Thurrock from 13 December to 15 December 2021 to assess the levels of progress made by the council in addressing areas identified as needing focus and development, highlighted through a joint local area SEND Ofsted inspection report in April 2019.

Proposals for balanced budget focus on children and adult social care

10 February 2022

Thurrock Council's Cabinet has set out proposals for a balanced budget next year, which will see a spending boost for children and adult social care.
Cllr Shane Hebb said: "We want to ensure that any extra money provided from council tax will be for key services which deal with the caring and wellbeing of the borough’s most vulnerable children and adults - and so the increase will be ring-fenced to social care need.

Help protect green spaces in the borough

9 February 2022

Thurrock Council is seeking residents' views on Green Spaces as part of the Local Plan, which will guide development in the borough until 2040.
Cllr Andrew Jefferies, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "We know just how important green spaces are for residents, they are places to meet, exercise and enjoy the outdoors. That is why we want to hear from residents about the green spaces near them which are important to communities but are not currently designated as Local Green Spaces.