A message from Thurrock Council Leader, Cllr Mark Coxshall
As you will no doubt be aware, at the beginning of September the Government appointed Essex County Council as Commissioner to support Thurrock Council with the financial challenges we face.
A Best Value Inspection of the council is also being undertaken as part of this intervention. This is already underway and is helping us better understand our position, as we work with our experienced colleagues to shape an improvement plan that will guide us back on a path to recovery.
Without doubt our current situation is difficult, and I will not pretend otherwise. I believe in open, transparent and honest conversation, and I will not sugar coat our position.
Instead, I will endeavour to keep you informed of our progress and the steps we are taking to work toward a solid and sustainable solution for the council.
Even at this early stage it is clear that we are all focussed on the same goal - to help Thurrock Council achieve financial stability in a way that is sustainable and protects the services you use and value.
As a council we have not stopped operating, and the services you used and received three weeks or three months ago are still being delivered today. I, my fellow councillors and Thurrock Council staff remain committed and determined to do everything in our power to ensure this never falters.
We will never lose sight of the fact we are here to work for you, as well as our partners and our local businesses.
Together, we make Thurrock what it is, a richly diverse borough people should be proud to call home.
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 On Sunday, 23 October, a memorial service was held at West Thurrock Memorial Ground, to remember the 39 Vietnamese people whose bodies were found on Eastern Avenue in Thurrock in October 2019, having tragically lost their lives at the hands of organised criminal gangs. A memorial was unveiled at the event, along with 39 trees that have been planted to stand tall in in the memorial ground, each one representing one of the victims.
The third anniversary is particularly significant in Vietnamese culture which is why the service was specifically organised for Sunday 23 October.
The highly emotive service was led by Reverend Cannon Darren Barlow and attended by dignitaries including Cllr Qaisar Abbas, Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities at Thurrock Council; B J Harrington, Chief Constable Essex Police; Roger Hirst, Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, local ward councillors and To Minh Thu, Counselor, Deputy Chief of Mission from the Embassy of Vietnam. Father Joseph Cuong, a Vietnamese priest from Augustinian of the Assumption, Bethnal Green, also spoke at the event on behalf of Father Simon Thang Duc Nguyen, a Vietnamese priest from London who had recently travelled to Vietnam to meet the families of victims.
The wording on the memorial reads: In remembrance and testimony to those who tragically lost their lives at the hands of people traffickers. Thurrock stands united in its commitment to prevent Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking in all its forms by providing support and protection for victims and prosecution of those who see our fellow human beings as mere commodities for trade and exploitation.
Primary school admissions open 1 November
The next round of applications for primary school places in Thurrock opens on Tuesday 1 November.
Parents and carers of children who were born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019 will be able to apply for a primary school place for September 2023 intake from this date, with applications open through to Sunday 15 January 2023.
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 Talking Shops are drop-in sessions where you can talk to Community Led Support Teams about adult social care and support that may be available where you live.
Talking Shops regularly take place across all areas of Thurrock.
To find out when and where your local sessions take place visit: thurrock.gov.uk/communityledsupport
Children’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics
You can go to Stifford Clays Health Centre, Crammavill Street, Grays on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays where you can take children aged five-plus for their first and second dose, plus booster if eligible. Please note this clinic is not open from Monday 24 to Sunday 30 October.
Walk-in clinics for boosters (18 years and over)
Booster doses are available at several clinics for people in eligible groups – it must be at least three months (90 days) since your second dose. You may need to queue for your booster if the clinic is busy.
Walk-in clinics for all COVID-19 vaccinations (five years and over)
Last month, we proudly celebrated 37 volunteers across the community who gave their time to support children and young people with this year’s Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge.
Throughout the summer holiday, the volunteers helped more than 2,500 young people take part in the challenge, encouraging them to read a series of books around this year’s theme of science in our everyday lives.
Cllr James Halden, Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Qaisar Abbas, Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities, and Cllr Deb Arnold, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, welcomed the volunteers for a special event on Tuesday 27 September, where each was presented with a certificate to recognise their time and effort.
We share a massive thank you with our enthusiastic volunteers who contributed more than 780 hours of their own time to helping others in the challenge, an achievement which ranks as the fourth highest number of volunteer hours contributed to a project in the past 10 years.
 Stay informed about the latest news and information from Thurrock Council by going to thurrock.gov.uk/email and signing up to the newsletters that interest you. As well as news for residents, you can sign-up to get up-to-the-minute email alerts about adverse weather or traffic conditions affecting Thurrock.
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