I warned the cabinet member two weeks ago that to go ahead without consulting local people was short sighted and wrong. I even produced a simple, inexpensive consultation plan which would have given residents a chance to have their say in designing the service. This was completely ignored, with one local Labour councillor saying that it was "already decided" and that asking residents would just be "costly and time consuming".
Representatives from a number of organisations gathered at the Beehive for the annual general meeting of CAB. This was a vital meeting as CAB finds itself under increasing demand, a growth industry and at something of a crossroads.
MP Jackie Doyle Price was especially pleased that Prime Minister, David Cameron name-checked Thurrock in his speech at the Tory party conference in Birmingham last week.
Cllr Tolson went on to say, “I think Thurrock Councils planning committee and the government inspector have made the right decision and recognised the H11 Policy, designed to protect residential areas from over intensive development.
Cllr Kent told the meeting: “The council could raise some — not a lot — but some of that money by increasing council tax. However, the people of Thurrock are facing enough hardship at the moment and I don’t think it right that we do that to them. I can announce here and now, that this administration wants a zero increase in council tax.”
Council Leader John Kent announced to the cabinet last night that over 167 suggestions for efficiency savings were made over the two month period. The process has been so successful that other councils such as Brentwood are looking into using the software for the same purposes.
Staff have been issued with redundancy warning letters. Although the warning relates to March, it isn't written in stone and many staff are already making preparations to go well before then.
During the visit, he was given a new report, published today, that sets out how 36,000 new jobs will be created when the project is completed, providing some £3.2 billion to the UK economy every year.
FEARS of violence have prompted the South Ockendon Residents Association (Sora) to cancel their next meeting scheduled for Thursday evening. Last week, YourThurrock reported that 78-year-old community campaigner Peter Perrin was allegedly manhandled during a heated exchange between residents.
"In 2004, efforts were made to undermine Anne Cheale's authority and to advance the personal aims and ambitions of others, regardless of how far they served the interests of the people of our borough. Factionalism has grown and the group has become increasingly divided and ineffective. If we had done our work with proper respect for one another, we should not have lost credibility or control last spring."
The team behind the developing deep-sea container terminal and one of Europe's largest logistics parks on the Thames estuary in Essex were awarded the Environmental Protection prize in the Lloyd’s List Global Awards ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London on September 29.
During a wide-ranging discussion, Stephen asked Chief Superintendent Caton about the main challenges facing the police and how future reductions in Government spending would affect the level of service residents could expect to receive.
“I am so incensed, I am willing to put up £250 myself and the council will match that if the police receive information leading to the conviction of the culprit or culprits.
At the moment, parents are paid £20.30 a week for the eldest child and £13.40 for subsequent children, with payments continuing until the age of 19 for those in full-time education.
The decision may now mean that Mayor Anne Cheale will stand for re-election in the ward of Corringham and Fobbing as a Concerned Conservative at the local elections on May 5th next year. With a Tory candidate and a UKIP candidate expected to stand as well, the risk may be that the split in the vote could see a Labour candidate win "through the back door".
