THE COMING year may be the most challenging that Thurrock Council has ever faced. Budgetary cuts and efficiency savings mean the the council coffers have declined from over £170 million just a few years ago to close to £85 million.

This was the first question we put to Mr Farrant in an interview that is just under twenty minutes long.

We covered a number of subjects including: The Barking and Dagenham merger; the criticism of Thurrock Council by Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price; the challenges of working with a minority administration; the biggest issues such as adult social care and much much more.

We did finish off with looking at the positive aspects to life in the borough.