AHEAD of a heavy agenda at tonight's (Wednesday, 15 July), meeting of Thurrock Council's cabinet, council leader Cllr Richard Bingley has reiterated his determination to restore and recover civic pride across the Borough.

He said: "Several projects will be resourced by our reset Pride in Place Impact fund approach, which focuses on smartening up our neighbourhoods."

Referring to tonight's agenda he said: "We have introduced a new approach to financial decisions and reporting, requiring that all council reports are evidence-based and come forward to decision makers in the form of a business case.

"We need to make sure every penny is being spent effectively, and that the council continues to reduce its debt."

He has also spoken on the learning curve he has been on since taking office, saying: "As a new Leader in Thurrock I'm enjoying getting to know the different services the council provides to residents, especially those that fall within my remit, such as community safety. I have received a really helpful and impressive briefing from the trading standards team this week.

"They told me they have a strong track record in tackling illegal vapes and associated criminality.

"During 2025/26, officers seized 13,818 illegal vapes, carried out 241 compliance visits, completed 12 test purchase operations and secured four closure notices against businesses involved in the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes.

"Our team at the port has detained a further 793,185 vapes preventing them reaching the market. In 2024/25, Thurrock seized 44,595 illegal vapes, the highest number seized by any authority in the Eastern Region.

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"For a relatively small Trading Standards service, Thurrock really does punch well above its weight in this area."

Cllr Bingley has also made a reflective comment on last week's Srebrenica genocide memorial service in Grays.

It remembered more than 8,000 men and boys were murdered in Bosnia, leaving families devastated.

Cllr Bingley said: "This is an important anniversary for Thurrock, as some of the victims and the survivors have made Thurrock their home, contributed to the borough and become a part of our community. It was profoundly important to hear from the victims and their families as we laid flowers and shared time together by the Grays Park memorial."

Tonight's meeting will consider the award of a contract to build new council homes on the site of disused garages in South Ockendon, demolition and delays to the Blackshots tower blocks project, and a short term extension to the housing repairs contract with Mears. The extension is said to be worth around £3 million. Last month Thurrrock Nub News reported on a new potential £240m council contract with Mears to look after its housing stock of around 10,000 homes.