News | Thurrock Council

Hard work of council staff highlighted in report to Council

1 October 2020

Significant achievements across core services and the dedication of council workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic have been highlighted in a report presented to Full Council.
The report, delivered by Cllr Deborah Huelin, Cabinet member for central services and communities, showcased the work of services across her portfolio.

Council Tax boost for Thurrock Council foster carers

29 September 2020

An innovative plan could see Thurrock foster carers living in the borough given a huge financial boost by making them exempt from paying Council Tax.
People will become eligible for total exemption from Thurrock Council Tax if they:
live in Thurrock
are approved Thurrock Council Foster Carers
are available to foster in line with council policies
This represents a saving of £1,600 a year on a band D property.

Scaffolding company fined for unauthorised vehicle movements in Stanford-le-Hope

28 September 2020

Acting on complaints from residents, Thurrock Council has successfully brought a prosecution against a nuisance scaffolding company, which has cost them more than £1,000 in fines and costs.
NXT GEN Scaffolding pleaded guilty at Southend Magistrates Court on Wednesday 23 September for breaching notices served in December last year to cease out-of-hours movements of vehicles entering and leaving Stanhope Industrial Estate in Wharf Road, Stanford-le-Hope.

Traffic measures to make Ockendon Academy pupils safer

25 September 2020

A new crossing point, traffic calming measures, new yellow lines and off-road parking bays will be installed outside the Harris Ockendon Academy to help make the route safer for pupils going to and from school.
The announcement follows a recent incident in which a child was injured after being involved in a collision with a car as they crossed Erriff Drive, Ockendon, on their bike.

Hospital trust invited to overview and scrutiny meeting

21 September 2020

Thurrock Council's Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee will hear from senior hospital trust members from Basildon University Hospital – part of the Mid and South Essex Hospitals Group – about improvements they have made following the findings of a Quality Care Commission (CQC) inspection of their maternity unit.
The maternity unit was given an inadequate rating after an unannounced focused inspection carried out by the CQC in June 2020.

Find out about becoming a childminder in Thurrock

18 September 2020

Residents interested in starting a career as a childminder can access a free online information session this October.
Cllr Andrew Jefferies, Cabinet member for education, said: "Childminding is a career that provides rewarding opportunities to work with children and their families. As a childminder you will be supporting children in their important early years development and providing an exciting start to their adventures in life.

Proposals to tackle youth violence and vulnerability

17 September 2020

Thurrock Council's Cabinet has approved plans to take a public health approach to tackling the issue of youth and gang violence in the borough.
The approach will see this type of violence – most usually associated with gang crime and county-line drug dealing operations – tackled in the same way as an infectious disease, through prevention, intervention and recovery.

Closing the gap

17 September 2020

Like councils across the United Kingdom, Thurrock Council's Cabinet has discussed the future financial challenges ahead as it begins to plan to shape budgets for a post-lockdown world.
Modelling completed by the council indicates there is a budget gap of around £19m to close. Financial pressure has been caused by a variety of factors, including COVID-19 spending pressures and loss of earnings over the last 6 months, along with a pause to the investment approach.

Council performance remains strong throughout pandemic

17 September 2020

A quarterly report has highlighted the outstanding work of council workers during the coronavirus pandemic as it reveals that two-thirds of services achieved their performance targets during the height of 'lockdown' in April to June this year.
Cllr Deborah Huelin, Cabinet member for central services, said: "This report presents an impressive picture of how our staff have gone above and beyond during a time of great uncertainty and continued to deliver excellent services for our residents.

Five more libraries to reopen in Thurrock

16 September 2020

A further 5 libraries will open in Thurrock over the next two weeks, following the successful reopening of Grays, Belhus and Corringham in July.
From the week commencing Monday 21 September, libraries in Tilbury, East Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary will open, with Aveley and Blackshots due to reopen from the week beginning Monday 28 September. All 5 libraries will operate under reduced hours, and measures will be in place to keep residents and staff safe in line with government guidelines.