THE leader of Thurrock Council has blasted political rivals, saying they appear to believe in 'a magic money tree'.

Council Leader Cllr Rob Gledhill was speaking after the authority's annual budget meeting, when a number of financial strategies were debated and voted on. The ruling Conservative group were able to get all their plans through, despite considerable criticism from the Labour benches.

That criticism, says Cllr Gledhill, is unwarranted.

He says: "We saw Thurrock Labour at their worst at the meeting. Thurrock Conservatives put forward an investment strategy that brings in over £30 million additional cash to spend on services - Labour refused to back it.

"We then proposed a budget using that additional income invested into tackling air quality issues, anti social behaviour and improving our social care provision - they refused to back it.

"They refused to back road and pavement improvements then demanded it delivered in the areas they represent, called for more council houses but opposed the sites proposed and tried to spend money that the council hasn't even received!

"It is clear that Thurrock Labour still believe that there is some magic money tree that will pay for everything, that council houses must be built everywhere than where they represent, have no understanding of financial management and think that just saying 'no' to everything counts as civic leadership.

"Despite the left's shocking display Thurrock Conservatives' budget was passed and we will deliver over 1,000 more trees, more council officers to tackle anti-social behaviour, better care for our most vulnerable continue our pledge to Clean It, Cit if, Fill it and will do it by raising over £30 million every year from investments to minimise the ask on our hard-pushed tax payers."

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See the Thurrock Nub News report on the meeting via the red additional information button below.