THURROCK Council's proposed budget and a raft of new charges and cuts to services will be discussed by leading councillors this evening (Wednesday, 10 January).

The council's cabinet will consider 53 proposals put forward that could contribute towards saving the authority £18.2m in the coming financial year.

Proposals before councillors this evening show that among the biggest contributors will be changes to waste collection services (including switching general waste to fortnightly collections and charging for garden waste removal) and increases to council tax.

The proposed waste collection project will mean alternative weekly collection for general and recycling waste. A new 'green waste' chargeable service will be implemented for the collection of garden waste. If households opt-in they will be charged an annual subscription fee, suggested to be £80.

This proposal is anticipated to make a saving of £2.915m over two years.

Councillors will consider seeking the maximum allowable council tax increase of 7.99 per cent (with a further 2% for adult social care). Council tax base identifies the expected number of net billable properties for the financial year. With reductions and increases the Council estimates they will earn an extra £1.030m.

Business rates retention pooling would see Thurrock Council enter pooling arrangements with two other local authorities. The council says this will have a significant benefit to all three authorities involved and is projected to generate £1.75m.

A further 10 proposals with total potential savings of £6.923m require further development and will be discussed at a later date.