THURROCK Council has launched a series of consultations and surveys on proposals for the 2024/25 budget.

The consultation follows a meeting of the council's corporate overview and scrutiny committee meeting last night (Tuesday, 28 November) when many members attended to quiz senior officers and portfolio holders about the £18.2 million cuts due to to be leveraged from the authority's budget for 2024-25.

The meeting, which became heated at times, lasted more than five hours, with final questions posed after midnight as councillors sought answers and also made suggestions about service changes.

Labour councillors described the meeting as 'flawed' and said there was 'no plan' behind most of the savings.

The budget was put forward by Conservative cabinet member Cllr Deborah Arnold who said the proposals were "experienced ideas that are felt to be achievable".

Cllr Deborah Arnold (centre) outlines the proposals.

She added that in the past some savings measures "were a finger in the wind", but she has more "confidence in this budget than previous budgets".

Among proposals due to be developed and included in next year's budget are:

• £832,000 saving from reviewing adult social care packages
• £2.5m saving from moving to fortnightly bin collections, weekly food waste collections in September 2024, and charging for garden waste
• £5.3m from "cross-cutting" by finding new efficient ways of working
• £348,000 estimated to be raised from bringing in traffic offence fines at the roundabout at junction 31 on the M25

Today council leader Cllr Andrew Jefferies said: "There is no question that this is the most difficult budget Thurrock Council has ever set.

"The task of making £18.2 million in savings while ensuring funding is available for vital services is one we take extremely seriously.

"We want as many people as possible to have their say on these proposals before they go forward for a decision next March. That is why we have launched these extensive consultations. By learning from residents about what matters to them we can make sure that our communities views are fully represented before we take any decisions.

"The Overview and Scrutiny meeting which took place yesterday was the first of its kind and sets a template for how seriously we are about hearing views from across the board before this budget is set.

"I urge everyone to take a look at the consultation portal and make sure they have their say on our proposals so we can capture your insights and feedback.

"No decisions have yet been made so this is your opportunity to help shape what goes forward to all councillors at the Budget Council meeting in March 2024."

Residents can take part in the budget survey via this link.

Dedicated surveys are also available for home to school transport with printed copies available in Local ibraries and on charging for assistive technology monitoring services (technology that supports people in their everyday lives that can include fall alarms, door sensors, epilepsy sensors etc). Printed copies are being sent direct to all existing service users

More information about other budget proposals can be found by visiting www.thurrock.gov.uk/say. The homepage has links to all live surveys.

Residents will be able to speak with officer teams at informal events around the borough, where they can ask questions and find out more about taking part in the consultation surveys.

Corringham Library, 7 December 10am - 12:30pm. Corringham Library, St Johns Way, Corringham, Stanford-le-Hope, SS17 7LJ

Grays Central Library / Thameside Complex, 14 December 3pm - 7pm. Grays Library, Thameside Complex, Orsett Road, Grays, RM17 5DX

Belhus Library (South Ockendon Centre) 15 December, 10am - 12.30pm South Ockendon Centre, Derry Avenue, South Ockendon, RM15 5DX

Chadwell St Mary Centre 12 December 10am - 12.30pm. Chadwell Library, Brentwood Road, Chadwell St Mary, Grays, RM16 4JP