Mark Whitehead 30 January 2023

Thurrock Council requests over £182m to stabilise services

Thurrock Council requests over £182m to stabilise services  image
Image: SevenMaps/Shutterstock.com.

Trouble-torn Thurrock Council has requested £182.5m in Government support over the next year to shore up its services.

The Tory-controlled council said it would cover 57% of its spending, paying for social care, refuse collection and road maintenance.

It has a £469m blackhole this current financial year and an additional £184m for 2023/24.

By the end of March, Thurrock Council's total borrowing will stand at £1.511bn, mostly made up of loans from the Public Works Loan Board which it has used to pay back other councils which it borrowed millions from to invest.

The council’s finances collapsed after a series of controversial commercial investments failed.

It has now proposed increasing council tax by 4.99%, the maximum allowed without a referendum.

The emergency funding follows the announcement of a full intervention by the Government amid concerns over the authority’s finances.

In September ministers sent commissioners from Essex County Council into Thurrock to oversee its financial management.

A Best Value inspection team recently provided an interim progress update to local government secretary Michael Gove ahead of a full report next month.

Leader Mark Coxshall, interim chief executive officer Ian Wake and Essex County Council Commissioner Nicole Wood said: ‘the scale of the issue at Thurrock Council is so profound that the levers currently available to the council are not sufficient to achieve financial sustainability, even over a long-term period, and we will continue to discuss creative options with your officials’.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Biodiversity and Climate Resilience

Cherwell District Council
£68,930 - £73,320.50
This is a high-impact leadership role focused on delivering Cherwell's Climate Action Plan Oxfordshire
Recuriter: Cherwell District Council

Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services

Cherwell District Council
£113,435.50 - £125,379 / Grade
This is more than a leadership role - it's an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy Oxfordshire
Recuriter: Cherwell District Council

Head of Chief Executive's Office

Cherwell District Council
£68,930 - £73,320.50 / Grade M
This is a pivotal leadership position at the heart of the Council Oxfordshire
Recuriter: Cherwell District Council

Short Breaks Community Officer

North East Lincolnshire Council
£28,142 FTE
This is a varied role where no two days will be the same. North East Lincolnshire
Recuriter: North East Lincolnshire Council

Casual Cleaning Assistant

Durham County Council
Grade 1 £24,796 Pro rata to hours worked £12.85 per hour
Are you looking for work that fits around your schedule and lifestyle? Casual Cleaning Assistants required post based at the Empire Theatre, Consett. Consett
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner