IN a bid to save cash Thurrock Council is planning to cut seven full time jobs from its showcase 'cleaner, greener' environmental teams.

Since taking control of the council more than five years ago, Thurrock Conservatives have championed their commitment to the upkeep of the borough's streets and parks but now, as the cash-strapped authority faces up to the task of balancing its books to bridge a funding shortfall of more than £34 million, it appears sacrifices will have to be made.

And as well as cutting staff, the council is proposing to abandon maintenance of some areas and instead allow them to become wildflower zones. Though that policy comes with some risks as the chairman of the scrutiny committee that will review the new proposals next week has reminded residents of a previous blunder.

Cllr Joy Redsell, chairman of the Cleaner, Greener and Safer overview and scrutiny committee, says: "It's alright having wildlife areas but we planted some lovely poppies in Stanford Road and then the cleaner greener team came along with weed killer and killed them all!"

Next Thursday's (7 October) meeting of the committee will be given a report outlining some of the proposed savings.

Street scene services are hoping to save £100,000 by cutting street cleaning, including a review of cleaning of major routes and town centre cleaning.

Currently main roads in towns within the borough are cleaned by street sweeping trucks with the support of a major route cleansing team. This team is comprised of three people and a van. The council is considering removing this team and instead increasing the number of times major roads are swept mechanically.

The report to be considered says: "There is a risk that reducing the capacity of the street cleansing service will result in less frequent litter picking in some areas.

"The mitigating actions that could be taken to address this is to continue to remind residents not to litter through education and information, and ultimately to increase the levels of Environmental Enforcement."

Ground maintenance is also set to be cut with wildflower zones introduced in parks and on some verges.

The report adds: "The impact could be mitigated by converting some of the existing full time positions into seasonal posts. This will ensure that the teams are able to focus on maintenance of grass areas during summer months.

"The longer term impact will be to reduce the level of maintenance that can be carried out to hedgerows and cycle path shrubs in winter."

If approved, seven full-time jobs will be lost on the two saving schemes.

Cllr Redsell is expecting her committee to have a rigorous debate about the plans and says: "I have invited the portfolio holder to the meeting and we will be asking questions. There are too many questions that need to be asked.

"We all have to do our bit. The last few months have shown us that. We know we have to save money but it's got to be saved in the right place."

Earlier this year, in his annual report to the council, former cabinet member for the environment Aaron Watkins pledged the council was committed to continue building a 'greener, cleaner and more active community' and spoke of the 'astounding efforts' of the workers whose jobs now appear to be at risk.