UPDATE: Thurrock Council asks government for a staggering £635m rescue package in wake of investment scandal - and admits it could need even more
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"The numbers are so big its hard for people to grasp," says , as the Labour group calls for a public inquiry.
"It’s going to have a huge impact on people’s quality of life and the way they are able to contribute to their community"
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Documents published this week show Thurrock has asked for "exceptional financial support" totalling £635m — £452m to cover the current business year 2022/23 and £183m for 2023/24 (some other reporting has mistakenly missed the larger sum relating to 22/23)
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That support, if granted, would come in the form of at least one "capitalisation direction" - a form of loan which is typically paid off over 20 years (though in Thurrock's case that will not be enough) meaning local people will be counting the cost of the scandal for decades
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While it may be the council's only option, the government would be providing half a billion pounds more in support at a time when there are serious questions as to the whereabouts of hundreds of millions invested by Thurrock in multiple business deals
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Earlier this month Thurrock said it would ask the government for permission to raise council tax above 5% without a local referendum.
It's draft budget does not include such an increase but states that council tax levels "remain under consideration"
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The documents contain little detail of the "extremely difficult decisions" said to be facing the council. The draft budget includes cuts totalling £8.1m but gives no information about how specific services will be affected
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. said: "The question that people keep asking is — how did this happen? How did it get so bad?
"What’s really upsetting is people are looking ahead to the future and realising we’re going to be paying for this for years and years to come."
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In the coming weeks I am going to be spending time in Thurrock to speak to people and community organisations affected by the fallout from this scandal. If you would like to speak to me, or you have a suggestion of who I should talk to, it would be great to hear from you
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Behind following this on the TBIJ site but have the people responsible been suspended pending investigation yet?
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Council leader resigned but is still a councillor, chief executive resigned in December and chief finance officer resigned earlier this month, but will remain employed until April
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