THURROCK'S Conservative group leader has announced his party's plans for council tax in the borough in the coming year.

The scheme will first be approved by an extraordinary meeting of the ruling cabinet and then go before full council later in the month.

Cllr Andrew Jefferies says It is hoped that Thurrock residents will see a lower than expected council tax increase this year as the Conservative administration 'makes progress towards restoring the council's finances'.

The proposed budget for 2024/25 will include a council tax rise of 5.99%. In addition there will be a 2% rise in the adult social care precept.

Commissioners, brought in to oversee the council's financial recovery, along with Government ministers, had urged the council to approve a 10% increase.

Cllr Jefferies said: "My new administration is rebuilding the council's finances and the progress we have made has been independently highlighted. Although there is much more work to be done, it is agreed Thurrock is on the road to recovery.

"We have resisted pressure to increase council tax by 10% and this has only been possible because of the progress made by my administration. This includes the recent sale of the Toucan solar farms which has wiped over half a billion pounds from the council's debt.

"At the same time we are protecting front line services such as adults and children's social care, refuse collection and environmental services.

"In fact we are rolling out new services including the free Christmas tree and food waste collection services. We are also supporting the delivery of Thames Freeport which will create thousands of local jobs and boost Thurrock's economy immeasurably.

"Those who continue to paint a picture of doom and gloom need to get behind this year's budget. Politicians from all parties had a hand in the council's financial collapse and we must now come together and build back."

Among the savings and fees proposed by the Conservatives to set their budget are an average increase of 19% (£39) in charges for using sports pitches and open spaces, a 25% increase in allotment fees (£23), increases of £4.30 and £6.50 for collecting bulky waste items and an increase of nine per cent in burial fees (£47).

A controversial change is the introduction of charging families a fee for home to school travel assistance for students with special educational needs aged 16 to 18 years. Some families say this will mean they have to withdraw their children from specialist schools like Treetops.

On and off street parking will go up by 40% (40p) and there have been increases in residents' parking permit charges.

The council also plans to raise revenue through increased fines, for example the fine for littering will rise from £150 to £500.

And it is proposed to cut the grass in parks and open spaces less often, changing from every three weeks to every five or six weeks. This will result in 13 jobs being lost.

One of the biggest changes to public services will see a switch to fortnightly general waste collection of household rubbish and the introduction of an £80 annual charge for brown bin garden waste collection.

In addition to the proposed general council tax increase, residents will pay an average extra £12.96 per year for policing and an extra £2.34 a year for fire and rescue services.