THE leader of Thurrock Council says a £1.5billion "toxic Tory debt legacy" will burden the council until 2030.

At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday (19 July), the authority said it needed £206.7 million from the Government to balance its 2023/24 budget.

The council originally estimated it would £180.2million as part of the 2023/24 agreed budget, however, it now stands at £26.5million higher.

Speaking at the meeting, Thurrock Council's leader Cllr John Kent, who had previously spoken on the issue and prospects for 'devolution', said: "Almost two years into intervention now, following what was the largest financial crash of any local authority in the history of this country, we sometimes get blasé to some of these figures but that figure we've had exceptional government support of over £200 million to bridge our budget deficit last year is truly shocking.

"We have to be very clear what that means. That isn't money that the Government has given us. That's money that we have effectively borrowed and we have to pay back. We are sitting on a toxic Tory debt legacy that will be dragging this authority down for years to come."

Cllr Kent added: "On the first financial day of this year we were already £17million down. It is truly shocking. It isn't normal. It is far from normal."

The Government-appointed commissioners to oversee the virtually bankrupt council following huge, ill-judged investments in green energy companies.

Commissioners have said the Secretary of State "was minded to approve" financial support as long as it did not exceed £234.5 million for 2023/24.

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Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the cabinet meeting, Cllr Kent said: "The size of the financial disaster that Thurrock Council means that we will be unable to set a budget without significant Government support until at least somewhere like 2029/30.

"People do underestimate the size of the challenge we have. There was £1.5 billion borrowed. It was borrowed to lend to other people with no assurances we would get the original amount lent back and we haven't got that money back. That's why we're in the position we are, selling land and property to pay down debt."