A PROPOSAL to employ a £65,000 a year energy manager at Thurrock Council has been dismissed as "barking mad".

Councillors reviewed a tranche of proposed savings totalling £18.2million for the 2025/26 budget at a scrutiny meeting on Wednesday (20 November).

The proposals include almost £8 million savings from adults and children's social services to be achieved through early intervention and in-house proposals. Councillors were given assurances there would be no cut to services.

One of the money-making plans is to charge older and vulnerable people for personal care alarms they currently get for free.

However, plans to recruit a costly energy manager in a bid to save money was called out by corporate overview and scrutiny chairman, Ben Maney.

Cllr Maney said: "I'm struggling to understand why we would want to create a post with a salary of over £65,000 solely for that function.

"I can't believe with the officer expertise that we have and the number of very highly paid officers at this council, we can't between the existing pool of staff come up with a strategy that makes energy efficiencies.

"Why would we need to recruit somebody specifically to do that? My concern is there is only so much fat you can cut off the bone. I can't accept that's a valid proposal."

Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West, added: "It's a barking mad scheme. If they do have that post I do hope that within the job description one of the things is to turn the lights out in this building at night.

"Also switch off all the water heaters that keep running 24 hours or the extractor fans that run for 24 hours in this building because we're just burning money on our doorstep. That's a saving they could make straight away."

Sara Muldowney, councillor responsible for resources, defended the proposal. She said: "We know from the experience of other councils that having a dedicated energy manager with those specific skill sets does generate cost savings. We're hoping to make £50,000 next year then we would expect that person to make more cost savings.

"Other councils do this. We used to have a dedicated energy saving manager. They can help reduce overhead costs, meet sustainability targets and enhance operational efficiency so we expect the role to pay for itself."

Councillors called for a review of the proposal to ensure it is justified for the council which currently has a £3million projected deficit for 2024/25.

Other proposals include cutting £100,000 from the highways maintenance budget which could slow pothole repairs and a landlord licensing scheme that could see private landlords pay for a licence that could be rescinded if properties are not kept up to standard.