THE THURROCK Conservatives have responded to the news that Thurrock Council is set to lose another 200 jobs.
Thurrock Conservative Leader, Rob Gledhill said "The loss of any job is regrettable and I truly hope that anyone who losses their position at the council finds employment fast.
"But what Thurrock’s Labour group keep on forgetting is that every penny spent at the council is taxpayers money. Labour made local government an industry all of its own, pouring money the country didn’t have into councils services, some of which the taxpayer didn’t even need.
"Thurrock Conservatives have been calling for the Labour-run council to adopt zero base budgeting for a few years. This would mean the council prioritises spending taxpayers money on what it has to do, what it is expected to do and then on things it doesn’t have to do but would help improve the borough. However, Labour continue to ‘salami slice’ budgets, cutting services and jobs then blaming the government.
So instead of always looking for the ‘grey cloud’, pointing out the decisions they are making are leading to council job cuts, Thurrock Labour should look at the ‘silver lining’ of a country out of recession, with 1.8 million more people in work, a deficit that is one third smaller, and an economy growing by around 3% rather than shrinking by 5% per year as it was when their party was last government"
Orsett councillor, Sue Little has also added her criticism to the Labour group.
Cllr Little said: "Does Cllr. Rice know what statutory services are as there is no way they are going to be cut.
"Also: are Cllr. Kent and Cllr. Rice going to cut back on the 11 million they have spent on temps and consultants? That would be a good starting place".
