Thurrock Council's Top Clown Faces Resignation Call

Call for leader’s resignation after authority is rated as one of the worst in the UK

THURROCK Council has been rated as one of the worst authorities in the country.

It is one of just six, judged as ‘not improving adequately’ by the Audit Commission.

A record number of local councils received four stars in the latest Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA).

Thurrock Council, which has been led by the Conservatives since 2004, failed to improve on its previous rating, received just two stars out of four.

Thurrock Labour Party leader, councillor John Kent, described the report as the most damning he had ever seen although a BNP spokesman said, Mr Kent obviously has a short memory otherwise he would of added to his statement "since the last one when my party was in charge".

He said: “This report confirms what most people know about Thurrock Council. It’s poorly run and not delivering for local people.”

Council leader Terry Hipsey was unavailable to comment as he is away on honeymoon.

In a statement, the council insisted it was committed to providing good services for residents and playing a key role in improving their quality of life.

Deputy council leader, councillor Garry Hague, said significant challenges were ahead and that the Audit Commission had helped identify them.

He said: “We are determined to make rapid progress.”

The CPA findings, which were published last Thursday, look at how efficiently councils are run, quality of local services, and whether they are value for money for taxpayers.

Picture of the week

Many thanks to mr P from South Ockendon who kindly sent us this picture.

Maney talks Liberal bullshit as unemployed Africans help add the ghetto effect to Thurrock's history

Graffiti artists look to the past for inspiration

A GRAFFITI Project has enabled young artists to transform part of Grays High Street into a historical community mural.

Budding artists from Thurrock took part in the Grays Beyond Graffiti Project which is designed to educate participants on both the negative aspects of graffiti and the positive aspects of art and design.

The project’s fifteen dedicated young people worked together on the community mural project, which involved them using their artistic skills by researching, designing and creating a wall painting at the pedestrian walkway.

Cabinet member for Public Protection, Coun Ben Maney said: “This project is a good way to encourage young people to use their artistic and design skills in a positive community project as well as to learn more about their local history.

“Graffiti is not a victimless crime. It is a form of criminal damage. There is a financial cost to remove the graffiti to the householder, business or local taxpayer.”

“Through the Grays Beyond Graffiti Project, participants spend time cleaning illegal graffiti and are educated about the negative impact on their community that graffiti vandalism causes, the legal consequences and the financial costs.”

The Safer Thurrock Partnership funded project is a joint programme which sees Thurrock Council’s Be Smart Environmental Education Programme, Thurrock Youth Offending Service, Connexions, Brave Arts and Essex Police working together with these young artists.

Images that can be seen in the Crown Road walkway include depictions from the dinosaur and stone ages through to the modern era and the future. Local landmarks including The State Cinema are also included.

Thurrock Gazette

Thurrock Is The Capital For UK Sex Offenders

British National Party Councillor, Emma Colgate, has raised an issue that will concern many Thurrock residents and in particular, women and parents of young children.

Councillor Colgate, speaking in the council chamber said:

“A report issued by the Essex Mappa (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) found that Thurrock (with Basildon) has more convicted sex offenders than anywhere else in the county, and nearly half of all registered sex offenders live in South Essex, many of whom re-offend.

What measures will the Council take to protect vulnerable members of our community from this threat and will the Council embark on a program to raise public awareness
of this dangerous situation?”

Leader of the Tory run Council Terry Hipsey said:

The figures by the MAPPA report are the aggregated figures for the police area of Basildon and Thurrock. When disaggregated, the figures for Thurrock alone is 67 Registered Sex Offenders living in the Thurrock area. This is actually lower than the figures for all other police areas in Essex with the exception of Colchester.

The rate for sexual offending is similar to all crimes, of around 7%.

MAPPA Meetings are held on a monthly basis and Children’s Social
Care are represented at all meetings, including any emergency or higher-level meetings. Information is shared at these meetings in order to build up a cohesive understanding of the pattern of offenders and that information is then utilised in protecting vulnerable people through further assessments being undertaken. Care plans and agreements are being made with families and disclosure of information being
agreed where risk is identified. Plans are agreed by MAPPA meetings that will include agreement about where RSOs should live, what agencies will support and monitor them, where they can receive treatment and how best to protect others.
Where RSOs have been convicted of an offence against a child, and is thought to be in contact with any child, then referral is made to the Social Care Team as an Bassessment undertaken.

Supplementary question from Councillor Colgate

I’d just like to ask - what concerns me is that we may have some of these offenders living in Council properties that we’re short on, which could benefit other people and I wondered what sort of powers you have to refuse properties to people convicted of sexual assaults, especially on children and if you do have any power to refuse them to actually be in the Borough, let alone in a Council property?

Councillor Hipsey

What I would like to do is I’d like to respond to you in writing, to (inaudible) because obviously there’ll be severe legal implications in this and I wouldn’t like to give you an answer at this moment in time.

Multi-Cultural My Arse: This Club Will Be A Magnet For London's Black Criminals,Thugs And Murderers

Multi-cultural nightspot to open in Grays

NIGHTLIFE in Grays town centre is set to get a multi-cultural boost after a disused basement nightclub was sold.

A new lease for nightclub, which is situated in the Queensgate Centre, has been sold by the Ipswich office of national business agents Christie and Co.

The business was secured by experienced London operator, Owen Mcleod, who hopes to capitalise on the location, links to London and lack of competition in the area.

The club has been known as Rumours, Aqua, Club Rise and most recently the Q Bar and Lounge.

Mr Mcleod, 39, plans to make it an over 22’s themed nightclub.

He said: “I want to make it a club accessible to all the different cultures living in the surrounding area.

“I plan to introduce African, Asian, Eastern European and Caribbean themed nights and much more for all the community.”

The club is set to be reopened on Saturday February 28. No other detials have been confirmed.

Thurrock Patriots

Racist Leisure Group In Bid For Taxpayers Handout

Impulse Leisure ask top councillors for £250,000 one-off grant

TOP Thurrock Councillors have demanded Impulse Leisure supply them with a business case before handing over £250,000 in a one-off grant.

A report to the council’s Cabinet meeting asked members to “agree a request from Impulse Leisure for a one off payment of £250,000 in 2009/10 from the council reserves”.

Impulse Leisure is the charitable trust, which manages the council’s three leisure centres at Corringham, Blackshots and Belhus Park.

The money would be used “to assist with the significant increase in utility costs and the budget pressures on Impulse Leisure’s low level of reserves”.

Cabinet did agree a new funding and management agreement between the council and Impulse at £600,000 a year, for the next five years starting in the next financial year (2009/2010).

However, members were worried about the lack of reserves held by the trust, its future security as a viable organisation and what measures were being taken to cut costs.

Councillor Ben Maney said he was “concerned how close Impulse is to bankruptcy”, adding: “If we give this money, will it survive?”

And Coun Steve Veryard added: “It’s worrying that they seem to be investing beyond their means, will £250,000 be enough?”

Council Leader, Coun Terry Hipsey, said members wanted to see a full business case from Impulse Leisure so they could be assured that the trust was viable and that the £250,000 one-off grant would secure its long-term future.

The issue will be considered again at the meeting of the Cabinet in February.

Thurrock Gazette

ASDA Invite Outgoing Ward Councillor To Open Store Facility

A NEW in-store pharmacy was opened at Asda Tilbury this week.

Ward councillor Bukky Okunade opened the pharmacy on Saturday before undergoing a blood pressure and diabetes check by resident pharmacist Chidi Egeolu.

The opening follows a three-year campaign by ASDA to make pharmacies more accessible to the community, and reflects its commitment to saving the residents of Tilbury time and money.

The pharmacy will be open for 100 hours a week, and will stay open until 11pm Monday to Friday, outside of traditional opening hours.

ASDA Tilbury General Manager for Home and Leisure, Gwen Hosking, said: “ASDA has worked closely with the local Primary Care Trust to create this new department and by offering extended opening hours, we are providing an invaluable service that makes healthcare advice readily available to all, without the need for an appointment.”

Councillor Bukky Okunade added: “This Asda pharmacy is a credible addition to the existing facilities in the area. It's going to make for easier access to health care here in Tilbury.”

The new ASDA Tilbury pharmacy in Thurrock Park Way will be open from 8am – 11pm Monday; 7am until 11pm, Tuesday – Friday; 7am until 10pm Saturday; and from 10am until 4pm on Sunday.

Thurrock Gazette