Thurrock Liberal Democrats have responded to the Thurrock Council budget passed at the full council meeting on 29th March 2012.

Little Thurrock campaigner, Claire Jones, said: ‘I am completely amazed that the Labour administration has earmarked half a million pounds for the Thames Gateway Development Corporation to be merged with Thurrock Council. If it helps to bring the cost down, I’d happily help them move boxes down the corridor and change the sign outside the door.’

Chafford Hundred campaigner, James Donald, said: ‘It is astonishing that the Conservative group think that they can hand around a single side of A4 paper at the eleventh hour with budget amendments and expect them to be adopted. All councillors should work together to agree on such important matters, rather than engaging in political theatrics.

Grays campaigner, Kevin Mulroue, said: ‘Thanks to action taken by the coalition government, the council tax has been frozen again this year. As all budgets are tightened in order to clear up Labour’s mess, this along with the Lib Dems in government delivering tax cuts for ordinary people will help thousands of Thurrock families.’

Questions raised by Little Thurrock and Blackshots residents over the proposed relocation of South Essex College and subsequent housing development were not adequately answered by the councillor responsible for Housing and Regeneration in the borough, according to Thurrock Liberal Democrats.

At a council meeting held on Wednesday 25th January, local residents raised a number of concerns, including, the consultation process and the significant loss of educational space at the new campus. Residents were told the proposal and the core strategy had 100% backing from councillors.

Commenting on the exchanges, local Lib Dem campaigner Claire Jones, who attended the meeting, said: “The disregard and dismissiveness shown to Mr and Mrs Abbott was incredibly disappointing”

“I simply can’t believe that this ill-considered and rushed proposal gets complete backing from the council. On behalf of the Woodside Action Group and the 2,200 local people who signed the petition, I call on those councillors who do not support this, to publically declare it, and listen to the residents who are asking for their help”

Moving the South Essex College campus from the current location at Woodview to Grays Town Centre could mean important and valued course being dropped, Thurrock Liberal Democrats have warned.

It is unclear whether the new site will have enough floor space to accommodate many of the vocational and trade courses such as engineering, bricklaying and carpentry that are available at the current campus.

Commenting on the concerns, local Lib Dem campaigner Claire Jones said: ”People I have spoken to across Thurrock have expressed their concern that these courses will be dropped.

“With youth unemployment at the rate it is in the borough, this is no time to be reducing access to vital courses that will assist young people in getting a job.

“The young people of Thurrock deserve better than the uncertainty caused by this unpopular relocation.

“I call again on South Essex College to rethink their proposals.”

Claire Jones has been out in the Woodside area of Blackshots gauging residents’ reaction to the proposed development of the local college site.

Claire said: “The strength of feeling in the area is immense. Most people I spoke to believe this would be damaging for the area. Parking is already a huge issue in Carlton Road and Grangewood Avenue. Schools such as Woodside and the doctor’s surgery on King Edward Drive would struggle to accommodate the increase in population.

“Many resident feel incredibly let down by the level of consultation there has been with them, and with the council only fighting for green spaces when it suits them.

“I will continue to meet with residents to hear from them their views and make sure that their voice is heard by the council and developers.”

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Schools in Thurrock will be over £2 million better off thanks the Pupil Premium. The Liberal Democrat policy that is being enacted by the Coalition Government will see an extra £488 for each pupil on free school meals. This money can be used to provide catch-up classes, one-to-one tuition, etc.

Local campaigner, Kevin Mulroue, said: “The Pupil Premium is going to make a real difference to the pupils and parents of Thurrock. It is so important that we tackle the inequality of results – that has grown over the decades – between the richest pupils and the poorest pupils. This key Lib Dem policy will be a part of doing that.

“Of the £2 million going to Thurrock schools, £43,432 will be going the Stifford Primary School, in order so that the children at that school have the best possible opportunities in later life.”

By Luke Tyson, for Your Thurrock

“‘Tis the season! Conference season, that is and this year the Lib Dems kicked things off with their gathering in Birmingham. The mood was good and people were genuinely optimistic about what we could achieve over the duration of the conference.

And a Lib Dem conference is different to the other two main parties for one important reason: delegates decide the policy of the Party.

As a voting delegate representing Lib Dems from Thurrock, Basildon and Billericay, the motion calling for an evidenced-based approach for substance abuse was at the top of my priority list.

It is pretty clear that the ‘war on drugs’ is being lost and it is time to review our approach to how deal the myriad of consequences it has lead to. The motion did not call for any legalisation of drugs that are illegal – that point is important to make clear.

It asks the government for an independent panel to review current policy. The appalling sacking of Professor David Nutt as the Labour Government’s Chief Drugs Advisor shows how the responses to this problem are not based on science or evidence, but the reactionary tabloids.

It was an honour to vote for the motion, which our ministers will now take with them back to Westminster. From the conference hall to the Cabinet Room.

Home Office minister, Lynne Featherstone MP, announced that the government would be consulting on how to bring gay marriage on parity with straight marriage. Anything that stops the culture of love in gay relationships appearing to mean less that love in straight relationships is very welcome to me.

Another great announcement was from the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne MP, who will be introducing tougher rules on the ‘big six’ energy companies to ensure simpler tariffs and the ability to switch provider more easily.

The headline of every conference is the Leader’s speech and Nick Clegg did not disappoint. He said what we, as party activists, were all feeling; being in government is not easy, but we are punching above our weight. People of Thurrock and the country as a whole are better off for Lib Dems being in government.

Cutting taxes for lower earners; injecting billions of pounds into schools; restoring the earnings link to pensions; and investment in green jobs are all things us members should be proud of. And I, for one, am.

Nick said in his speech that we are not doing the easy things; we’re doing the right things, and that Britain will be fairer tomorrow because we’re in government today. I couldn’t agree more.

As reported on Your Thurrock, 20% of Councillors did not show at the most important Thurrock Council meeting of the year. While some elected councillors were obviously happy to notch up yet another no show, Thurrock Liberal Democrats were there in force to hear the Chief Constable of Essex Police, James Barker McCardle’s outline proposal on the future of Thurrock policing.

In light of the current budget restraints, he outlined the police blueprint which saw a move from geographical policing; a single team responsible for all aspects of policing in a certain area, to functional policing; specialised teams, experts in different sections of policing overseeing all areas. The three specialist areas will be neighbourhood policing, serious crime and public protection (which will include sexual assault).

Using the Chinese analogy where the word for crisis translates into danger and opportunity, he was keen to highlight the opportunities, better utilisation of training, a borderless force better equipped to meet supply, hubs of expertise and ultimately a more efficient productive workforce.

Grays residents will be pleased to know that it will be made one of 9 response hubs, although no assurances could be given that Corringham station would not be closed as “the whole estate is under review”

The danger element was also apparent with the loss of 388 police officers across the county and 100 PCSO however he added that overall front line policing numbers would rise from 93% to 96%

Thurrock Liberal democrats will continue to keep you updated.