AS concern and worry about the future for cash-strapped Thurrock Council continues to mount it became clear this week that there is a very real possibility that around 10,000 tenants in the borough could find themselves transferred to a housing association.

A fire sale of the properties could be one of the ways Thurrock has to go in a bid to bite into its huge debt mountain of more than one billion pounds.

The council has to come up with a plan to pay back its borrowing and with an annual income of £50 million a year, the council homes and flats owned by the council could be one of the few marketable assets it has.

Council leader Cllr Cllr Mark Coxshall says nothing has been discussed yet – but he could not rule out the possibility of selling the homes.

Nor could he rule out the fact that the council might go bust.

Cllr John Kent, leader of the Labour group asked the recently elected leader if he could rule out the council declaring itself bankrupt. Cllr Coxshall said it wasn't "his decision to make."

The council, which has a propensity for shooting itself in the foot, also found itself slightly red-faced after poor organisation saw motorists in Stanford-le-Hope hit with parking tickets for put their vehicles in the way of utility works – which never happened.

The fined drivers are still waiting to hear if they will get their tickets rescinded.

And the council has also found itself at the centre of another major talking point in Stanford-le-Hope where the Crooked Billet pub's licence has been suspended by the local authority on the ground of prevention of criminal acts and disorder.

One councillor with some better news to impart was Cllr Andrew Jefferies, who this week offered praise to residents for helping to achieve improved recycling rates.

And completing our round up of civic affairs, councillors have expressed their exasperation at delays in removing a speed limit on the A13 as the completion of the controversial road widening project drags on – most likely into the new year.

For many residents the drawn-out A13 project seems like a lifetime of trauma, but for local resident Les Mayes the five years of construction is the mere blink of an eye. Second World War veteran Les from Stanford, who served on submarines, celebrated his 100th birthday with a message from the King and Camilla – and also a letter from the manager of Les's beloved Arsenal FC.

Also celebrating remarkable achievements were members of Thurrock's fostering service – volunteers who have helped reshape the lives of many thousands of youngsters over the years.

Halloween is almost upon us and one enterprising Thurrock businesswoman has told how she has created a room with a boo!

A young lady who has already been given royal recognition for her charity efforts is Aveley's Courtney-Lee Collins and once again she has turned up trumps – raising money for Haven Hospice with a pageant event that also helped out two other charities.

She has been inspired by the tragic story of a brave tot who lost his fight against cancer aged just eight – but whose memory will never fade.

And to round of this week's review, why not cast a glance forward to the upcoming FIFA World Cup and check in on a local man who has come up with a song that he hopes will become a nation's anthem?