Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price has rejected representations from Council leader John Kent regarding grant reductions to Thurrock Council. Jackie said, “lets be frank, the leader has been predicting disaster every year but it hasn’t materialised. He talks of the reductions in funding but he conveniently ignores the fact that our academies get their grant directly from Government and not via the council.
The fact is that Thurrock has done very well out of this Government. We have three new schools; a studio school at Ockendon; funding for improvements to the A13; £150m for junction 30. And Thurrock Council was gifted £60m of assets when the Development Corporation was abolished. I really dont think it is credible to claim that this Government has not looked after Thurrock.
This council needs to learn that the country must live within its means, and that means that across our public services there is a challenge to reduce costs. Labour might be prepared to run up debts to be paid by future generations to avoid cuts, I am not. That is unfair and irresponsible. Leadership is about stepping up to those challenges. The fact is that the country cannot spend what it doesn't have. That is just how it is”.