SENIOR Thurrock Conservative councillors will be asked this evening (Wednesday, 11 October) to agree to bring in external consultants to help the authority slash £18.2m from its budget by February next year!

It is proposed to bring in advisers from accountants Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) to identify where the savings will be made - at a cost to the council of £ 819,000, even though a report to the council's cabinet this evening identifies there is a possibility PWC might get all of its fee – but the savings may not materialise!

The council report says: "There is a risk that this work will be done and fully paid for before implementing the savings programme and the savings cannot be fully realised."

Thurrock Nub News understand that majority Labour opposition group were asked to support the PWC proposal but have declined to do so.

The full report, which can be viewed via this link, will be debated at the start of the cabinet meeting. 

Summary introduction says: "The Council has to achieve £18.2m of revenue savings for 2024/25 by February 2024.

"This is a major challenge and one the Council will need immediate support to achieve. This report proposes the appointment of advisors that will facilitate the delivery of the budget and provide change portfolio support and assistance."

The meeting will also hear details of why the governmment has pulled tens of millions of pounds of funding for the controversial Purfleet regeneration scheme and it is expected to debate the financial implications that have seen millions of pounds wasted on an unrealistic and condemned scheme for the Grays rail underpass. The latest situation on the massively overspent and botched Stanford rail station project is expected to be heard behind closed doors.