One resident, who did not wish to be named said: "E-mail or not. If I was a local councillor and I didn't see 150 residents walking to a meeting or even hear on the bush telegraph then I would worry that I look a bit out of touch."
A surgery takes place at the Thameside Theatre, in Grays, on Tuesday, November 9, from 12pm to 8pm. Public meetings are on Thursday, November 11, at Hassenbrook School in Stanford-le-Hope, from 5pm to 7pm, and on Wednesday, November 17, from 7pm to 9pm, at the Culver Centre in South Ockendon.
Thurrock commuters are facing another day of severe disruption on the London Underground network as a third 24-hour strike over job cuts takes place.
Thousands...
Essex Firefighters, Officers and Control members are astonished that ECFRS’ management do not wish to accept the credit for having the foresight to change the wording in their own policy regarding over the border attendances, whilst London Fire Brigade are involved in lawful industrial action.
The warm round of applause that Val received in the end, vindicated not only her admission that Val and the council got it wrong but also the substantial assurances of how they were going to fix the problem.
Two years later, Lynn becomes a portfolio holder for communities. That would have been fine but now with £15 million worth of cuts to find in a year, Lynn has the challenge of keeping the libraries and sports centres open while encouraging participation in the community.
Forest, the group which lobbies for smokers, said that smokers were being unfairly singled out for additional restrictions. Director Simon Clark said: "Are they going to introduce clocking in and off for people who go on the internet, on Facebook, or people who want to have a cup of coffee? Many smokers believe having the occasional cigarette allows them to refocus."
The bad news from the spending review will blight whole communities up and down the country and of course it will affect some of our own deprived communities very badly also. With the comprehensive spending review from the Government, its negative effect on the general economic situation, the competition for inwards investment in our borough just got a lot harder.
If there has been a retrenchment then it comes at a strange time. Thurrock was castigated by the Audit Commission last year for having one of the worst records for community cohesion in the country. Have the powers-that-be decided that there is little they can do to stem the tide of cultural ghetto-isation that the Commission for Racial Equality boss Trevor Phillip has alluded to.
STANFORD Councillor Terry Hipsey is holding a surgery this evening at St Margarets church between 5pm and 8pm. Residents are welcome to discuss a variety of issues and subjects with the Labour councillor.
What is also of great concern is that only 13% of all sex offences were detected in the borough last year. The number of reported crimes dropped from 368 to 197 but the detection rate went from 14% to 13%. The bigger question is why there have been a 171 drop in reported crime. Perhaps there were 368 sex offences but it would be very distressing if there were 171 Thurrock women (or men) who after an attack have signalled their complete lack of faith in the criminal justice system and not reported a rape or other sex crime.
OUTSIDE, the Thurrock Conservative club in Clarence Road, a banner proudly announcing a hundred years of the club 1910 to 2010. But it looks unlikely that the club will be celebrating it's 101st anniversary as plans have been submitted to the council's planning committee to convert the Clarence Road HQ into 26 bedsits.
Essex FSB Chairman, Iain Wicks, said: “Today’s announcement that the Greater Essex, Kent and East Sussex LEP has been approved is excellent news for the local economy and in particular for small businesses as it puts the business community in the driving seat for economic development and regeneration across the area.
A series of walkabouts carried out since spring has resulted in positive action being taken to drive out anti social behaviour on the Flowers Estate. Ward Councillors worked with police, the anti social behaviour team and the local housing office, and enough evidence was gathered from distressed residents for a number of Good Neighbour Contracts to be served on the perpetrators.
Thurrock's 2,500 lone parents will be affected by benefit changes meaning they will start to get help to look for work rather than stay on benefits once their children are aged seven are over – previously it was when they were 10. Lone parents whose child is aged seven or over will claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) if they are able work, rather than Income Support. On JSA they will benefit from a comprehensive range of support including training opportunities, job application advice and other financial grants to help them return to work.
