Thurrock Council has approved a budget that will include improvements to waste and recycling, help provide better local healthcare and see improvements to council homes, local transport and outdoor facilities.
Yesterday’s Full Council approved a budget for 2025/26 that will see a Council Tax increase within government limits.
Cllr Sara Muldowney, Cabinet member for Resources, said: “Budgets should not just be numbers on a spreadsheet, they should lead improvement in the areas that matter most to our residents.
“That is why this budget provides funding for vital project such as Stanford-le-Hope railway station, improvements in recycling and protecting services that families and rely on and all without asking the government for permission to increase council tax by more than 5%, something Thurrock Council had to do for the last two years budgets, and something more local authorities than ever done this year
“It is a budget that helps fix past financial mistakes, creates tighter controls for spending and helps us ensure Thurrock Council continues on the path of financial recovery.
“Residents deserve a council that act as a responsible steward of public money and this budget ensures that every pound is spent wisely and in the best interest of local people.”
“This budget goes beyond simple numbers, it sets out a new way of working for Thurrock Council, becoming more efficient and carefully investing in the services and issues that truly matter most to our communities.”
Cllr John Kent, Leader of Thurrock Council said: “This is a budget delivers not only for this financial year, but shows that we are taking firm control of spending to make sure that we sustainably maintain the services our residents need.”
Improvements being made through the budget include:
- more connected and local health services coming to neighbourhoods across the borough as part of the healthcare Integrated Locality Model
- better and easier home care services that will help those that need a helping hand maintain their independence
- making £11m available to complete improvements at Stanford-le-Hope railway station
- extending garden waste collections to all year round and freezing subscriptions costs for next year
- introducing innovative new recycling services that make it easier than ever to recycle clothes, books and small electrical items
- further investment to improve council homes
- funding for essential repairs at the Thameside Complex
- making Grangewaters more accessible for community use