AS PART of its commitment to devolving power and spending, Thurrock Council’s cabinet has agreed that each councillor will have £2,000 to spend in their own ward.
The cabinet — meeting on Friday (18 February) — supported a £98,000 growth item for “Ward Budgets (community engagement)” which equals £2,000 for each of the 49 members.
Cllr Lynn Worrall, cabinet member for Community, Culture and Leisure, said: “A cross party overview and scrutiny task and finish group has been looking into this issue of getting the council, including councillors, more involved with their communities.”
“Although £2,000 doesn’t sound a lot, it adds up to the best part of £100,000 to be spend on small projects in Thurrock; projects that will benefit local people.
“Every ward has at two or three members, so it could be possible that between £4,000 and £6,000 could be spent, but I’m sure councillors will discuss proposals with residents before committing the money — that’s the whole point.”
She added: “Discussions with local forums, on the doorstep, in the street and in member surgeries should develop plenty of ideas. Not every one can be a winner, but there are 20 wards, so we would expect to see at least 20 winners.”
Sad that many Councillors never attended Community Forum meetings (in Council Report) and the last administration tried to destroy NGAGE. It is very difficult to see what £2000 can do except pay for basic admin fees. An alley light / lamp stand in Little Thurrock was recently priced at over £2000. It would have been better to fund a new “Funding Unit” to go after bigger pots of National / European or even Worldwide funds. Nice idea but just not enough cash and spread too thin Community Forums could have been reorganised with this lump sum.