THURROCK’S success in attracting inward investment won praise from Council Leader Cllr John Kent, at Wednesday (27 February) evening’s meeting.
While introducing the budget proposals, Cllr Kent also highlighted areas where external funding had bolstered the council and the borough:
TIGER funding, with partner councils in Kent will bring in £4.3 million of loans for Thurrock businesses;
The £320,000 to progress the Logistics National Skills Academy work and £1 million from Arts Council for Artists Studios at the High House Production Park;
The £1 million from Big Lottery Big Local for Grays Riverside;
An £80,000 grant from the EU Interreg Programme for Walls and Gardens;
The on-going delivery of the £2.3 million low carbon ERDF programme.
And the £5 million for local sustainable transport.
Cllr Kent said: “Over the past couple of years we have won significant bids. In these difficult times it is all the more important we find new forms of funding so we can still boast we have the lowest council tax in Essex.”
