LATEST figures show Thurrock Council is facing a £2.7 million shortfall in it accounts by the end of the financial year but senior councillors have been told staff are pulling out all the stops to find more savings and deliver a balanced budget by the end of March 2025.

Despite continuing pressures, particularly in Thurrock's children's services the council has improved on its performance in the first three month but a report to cabinet suggests the year long savings target of £19.866 is "unachievable".

In addition £1.2 million of the projected shortfall has been created by the council having to pay back a Government covid compensation grant.

During lockdown councils were able to apply for compensation for reduced income such as parking revenue but Thurrock Council overestimated its loss "by 100 per cent".

However, cllr Sara Muldowney, the portfolio holder responsible for resources, was upbeat at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday (11 December) saying much progress had been made since the council's financial collapse.

She said: "Despite these challenges there is much to be optimistic about thanks to the dedication and hard work of our staff we now have far more accurate monitoring and tracking progress in place enabling us to make projections with confidence.

"Our savings programme has seen some real progress. There is still high confidence that we will end the year in budget. This confidence is due to the continued efforts of our staff to manage pressures, bring forward further savings more quickly and mitigate overspend."

Cllr Muldowney added: " By staying disciplined, proactive and transparent and continuing to rectify the mistakes of the past I'm confident we can meet these challenges and deliver on bringing the budget in on budget."

Council leader John Kent said delivering a balanced budget was a priority.

He added: "I'd echo the gratitude to staff who've really got a grip of this and are grinding out the savings proposals with some of them pretty difficult to deliver but are delivering them.

"Not delivering a balanced budget is just not an option. We cannot afford to do that."

The council is proposing reduction in capital spending for 2025/26 but will still earmark more than £15.429 for projects, including £10 million for the long awaited new Stanford-le-Hope Station.

Council tenants will see a rise in rents next year.

Local authorities are able to increase social and affordable rents by the previous September's Consumer Price Index plus 1 per cent in line with the Government's policy on rents for social housing.

Thurrock Council is proposing to raise rents by this maximum which equates to a 2.7 per cent rise.

Cllr Muldowney said: "We don't want to put rents up but we have to do that if we're going to deliver on programmes to keep our stock in good order."