IN his latest move championing 'civic pride' Thurrock Council leader Cllr Richard Bingley is taking a new approach to handing council cash to local communities.

The Reform-led council will introduce a new borough-wide 'grants, awards and community investment policy'.

Cllr Bingley says this will return the ownership of Thurrock Council's grant making process back into the hands of elected councillors.

He commented: "Thurrock Council's existing process for allocating grants feels disconnected from democratic control and is mired in complexity and inefficiency.

"Our cash-starved Council needs to see grant money spent in a way that takes pressure off council services or adds real comprehensive community value.

"The governing principle of our grant funding process will be democratic accountability, transparency, measurable outcomes, and value for money.

"The people of Thurrock elected us to ensure that decisions affecting Thurrock are made by their elected representatives and in their best interests. This commitment sits at the heart of this decision and will remain central to everything we do."