Latest news with #LynnWorrall
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Thurrock Council debt expected to rise to £1.1bn
Thurrock Council's debt position is expected to rise to £1.1bn over the next year, according to a new report. Local government minister Jim McMahon wrote to the council leader saying "improvements to date remain fragile" and that there were still "substantial areas in which Thurrock Council still needs to improve".The government plans to extend its intervention, where appointed commissioners oversee the effectively bankrupt local authority, until 30 April Worrall, who became leader of Thurrock Council last month, said: "A lot has been done, but we have much, much more to do." The government said it was "not satisfied that the pace or scale of the council's response is proportionate to the issues it faces and has decided that Thurrock requires immediate urgent government action". 'Clear direction' The commissioners' latest report published on Thursday stated there were "too many areas of fragility in the council's recovery and still some major areas of work [are] yet to be done".The report said:A £41m budget gap which would require "ambitious savings" of 20% of the council's spendingDebt was around £800m but was estimated to rise to £1.1bn by the end of 2025/26A new council operating model "should be the catalyst for an ambitious transformation plan"Improving culture at the council was "an area of work that still seems underdeveloped".The commissioners said there had been areas of improvement since Thurrock was placed in special measures in said the administration "continues to own the recovery agenda and is taking steps to reengage with its communities" - and relationships between senior politicians and officers has said: "Thurrock Council is getting better. "Children's services have been rated as outstanding by Ofsted and our new Corporate Plan sets out a clear direction for the future, which we will be held accountable to."Whilst McMahon said Thurrock has "made significant progress", the minister told parliament the council has not "demonstrated that it has the capacity and capability to sustain its own journey of continuous improvement".The government has "indicated" it will provide financial support in 2026/27 for Thurrock to manage its debt. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Thurrock Council elects Labour leader Lynn Worrall
A council that was bankrupted after a series of failed solar farm investments has elected a new Worrall has taken charge of Thurrock Council in Essex and said it was a "responsibility I take extremely seriously".She replaced her Labour colleague John Kent, who announced his resignation last month and blamed the "disastrous Conservative borrowing and investment policy" for the authority's "precarious position".Speaking after a council meeting on Wednesday, where a new cabinet was also chosen, Worrall said she was "committed to being open, honest and transparent". She continued: "The strongest asset this borough has is our wonderful communities; my job is to make sure that those communities have a voice in all that we do and are given all that they need to thrive and grow right here in Thurrock."Since May 2024, Worrall had been the council's deputy leader. Massive debts Thurrock Council went through a major financial crisis following a series of failed investments in solar announced a budget gap of nearly £500m and issued a Section 114 notice - the local authority equivalent of authority's former chief finance officer, Sean Clark, resigned from his role in January 2023, leaving them with debts of about £ was later barred from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants for at least five Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said he "recklessly provided misleading information to council members, and therefore to the public". When Kent announced his resignation, he said the council still had debts of about £900m and needed to borrow £74m to meet its budget this offered his "unequivocal support" to his will remain in the cabinet, overseeing arts, culture and said it was a "real honour" to take over and said she would make sure all "voices are heard" and "reflected in all that we do". Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pictures show resurfaced Miller and Carter amid project to reopen Lakeside restaurant
A HALF-SUNKEN restaurant at Lakeside Shopping Centre has been resurfaced after more than two years out of action. The Miller and Carter restaurant boat has been closed since it began sinking in December 2023. Resurfaced - The first stage of the restoration is now underway (Image: Simon Murdoch) Ahead of works to restore and reopen the restaurant, the landmark venue has been brought back to the surface and emptied of its damaged furnishings. We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone. Residents had been left wondering about the future of the unique Miller and Carter restaurant after resurfacing and restoration work repeatedly stalled. Sunken - The boat began to slip below the water in December 2023 (Image: Newsquest)Last month, a demolition firm moved onto the site around the boat, and has kick started works to bring the beloved restaurant back into use. Damage - The water-damaged parts of the boat have now been stripped out (Image: Simon Murdoch) Photos now show the early results of that work, with the boat back on the surface and with the damaged components and furnishings removed. Speaking after winning the contract to strip the venue of its water damaged parts, firm Mead Demolition said its team was working to prepare the vessel for its pre-opening refit. Unique - The eye-catching restaurant has been out of action for more than two-years (Image: Simon Murdoch) Residents will likely be welcoming works to return the Miller and Carter restaurant boat to use - last year, Labour's deputy leader of Thurrock Council, Lynn Worrall, branded it "an eyesore". A spokesman for Miller and Carter said: "We are working with our landlords with a view to reinstating the vessel."
