Cllr Smith also said that Thurrock's tenants have to pay a subsidy to the government, this year of over £11½ million to support housing nationally, nearly £2 million more than last year. However, the council is planning a range of improvements for its tenants over the coming 12 months.
"I do not mourn the passing of the future jobs fund. I look forward to the Government's reforms delivering improvements in the opportunities available to young people. I hope that Thurrock's big society examples will inspire other employers, councils, schools and voluntary organisations, as they consider how they can contribute to tackling joblessness among our young people."
Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the allowance will provide unemployed people with mentoring, as well as financial support, to enable them to start their own businesses?"
Residents in Stanford-le-Hope have fought a battle against the development planned by Barratt Homes on land west of Butts Lane but though members of Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation’s planning committee expressed regret, they said they had no choice but to give the development the green light.
A LEADING Thurrock councillor has expressed his anger at the circumstances surrounding the fire at a tyre premises in Little Thurrock. YT spoke to councillor Rob Gledhill about the story of when he first became concerned regarding the premises, the warnings he gave and the lessons learned for the future.
A BELHUS councillor at the centre of a police probe over circulating an e-mail which contained "racist propaganda" has now been suspended by the Labour Party. A spokesperson for the Labour Party said: "We can confirm that Thurrock councillor Sue Gray has been suspended. "There will be a formal investigation into the circumstances."
Around £2 million is to be spent on a new dedicated early years and foundation stage block at Stifford Primary in Parker Road, Grays. The development also includes three new classrooms to bring the school up to the required amount of teaching room for its published numbers and provide an enclosed courtyard as safe, outside learning space for Year 1 children.
YourThurrock spoke to council leader John Kent about how he is responding to the avalanche of criticisms. In this interview, council leader John Kent does not pull any punches. He has a meeting with the chief exec of Morrisons this week and has told YT that he may take "Pretty dramatic steps to ensuring that council tenants get the repair service that they deserve".
However, it hadn't escaped our notice that among the invoices Thurrock Council published on their website site is one for Pragmatic Change Solutions Ltd. The companies sole director is infact the Interim Director of Change at Thurrock Council, Richard Waterhouse. From April to December, payments totalling just under £145k have been made to PCS Ltd. Come March 31st, the total runs just shy of £200,000.
Local authorities have always published lists of top earners in their annual accounts, but the government wants more detail made public. The list of 19 includes the Chief Executive, directors and heads of service, giving their name, job title, service area and - in all but one case - the salary within a £5,000 range.
Cllr Lynn Worrall — the council’s portfolio holder for Community, Culture and Leisure — joined Cllr Phil Anderson to promote the new branch. Cllr Worrall said: “Credit unions are profit-sharing, non-political, financial co-operatives. They are owned and controlled by members, and exist to help members save and borrow in a fair ethical way.
Essex Police have now confirmed that an investigation is underway. A spokesperson said: "Acting Inspector Jordan has notified the Hate Crime Liaison Officer who is looking at the e-mail in order to assess whether an offence has been committed. Cllr Gray has told YourThurrock that she is mortified at what has happened.
After much discussion, and following cries of “corruption” and “scandal” from the public gallery, Cllr Hipsey proposed, and received, unanimous support from all the councillors present, that a report on the situation be noted, but that Mr Farrant, Mr Newman and Cllr Kent were to be asked to investigate the whole issue and report back to the committee, albeit in secret, about what had happened.
"This agreement ensures that consular staff in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office notify Victim Support National Homicide Service of the murder of a British national abroad if the bereaved family are resident in England or Wales. Consular staff will then advise the family of the service provided by Victim Support and, with the family's consent, a Victim Support caseworker will contact them to arrange a meeting.
“I do hope to see people celebrating the Royal Wedding in South Basildon and East Thurrock; it will be a day of national pride. We have a proud history and the Royal Wedding is a traditional day for the nation to unite and celebrate all things British.”
