THURROCK Council’s cabinet agreed to propose no increase to the borough’s Council Tax bill when it met on Friday (18 February) evening.
The overall council tax bill for local people is made up of three elements or “precepts”. As well as Thurrock Council’s charge, it also includes precepts from the fire and police authorities. All three are proposing a zero increase.
Yet despite agreeing an overall reduction in the council’s budget for the coming financial year (2011/2012), several areas for growth — especially in social care for adults and children, as well as education — were also agreed.
Demand on social care, both for adults and young people is putting ever-increasing pressure on local authorities’ budgets. The cabinet is proposing that council (meeting on March 1) support a £1 million increase in social care for adults — due to the ageing population — plus a £405,000 increase for children’s social care and a £120,000 increase in the budget for young people’s social workers.
In addition, cabinet backed a call for “schools improvement” of £200,000.
Another increase is a £¼ million rise in the budget for disabled facility grants for adults.
Overall, cabinet approved recommending that the council agrees savings of nearly £10.4 million next year and growth of £3.9 million.
