What are Reform's plans for Thurrock?

Reform UK has taken control of Thurrock Council, with Richard Bingley appointed leader of the debt-hit authority.

The party won 45 of 49 seats in the 7 May elections and took cabinet positions, the mayoralty and most of the committee posts at its first full council meeting.

Bingley said his administration would carry out "a civic recovery mission" with a "focus on the basics," such as grass cutting and litter removal. He told the council chamber he would "demand more from industry" for things like landscaping and tree planting in the borough.

It came as Labour raised concerns about the lack of scrutiny on the council.

Bingley told the BBC his administration would be "very financially responsible" and wanted to tap into Thurrock's heritage, such as Tilbury Fort and Coalhouse Fort, which could be "economic drivers for regeneration and job creation".

"We think we can get more out of industry that's already here in terms of partnering [with] them and getting money to support local projects," he said.

Bingley told the council chamber that tree planting, landscaping and supporting Thurrock's heritage were some of the things Reform would ask businesses to help with.

The Lower Thames Crossing road project is establishing new woodland and country parks in the borough, which Bingley called "a brilliant aspiration".

Thurrock Council had previously opposed the new crossing to the east of the Dartford Crossing; however, the government approved the £10bn project last year.

"I think the Lower Thames Crossing is inevitable, so it's not where I can sort of philosophise about it really, it's happening, and ultimately we need to draw the benefits," he said.

Local government reorganisation

Bingley said the council would make its "voice heard" on local government reorganisation (LGR), which the party is against.

LGR is a structural overhaul that will replace Essex's current two-tier system of 15 county, district, and borough councils with five brand-new unitary authorities, which will run all day-to-day service delivery, such as waste collection and planning.

Central government said LGR would remove duplication and speed up decisions, and Thurrock Council had reached a broad consensus on it ahead of the local elections.

Bingley did not commit to legal action against it - like Essex County Council - but said under Reform, Thurrock would "be forcible in making our point to the Secretary of State" while preparing "constructively" for LGR, which is set to take place in less than two years.

Civic pride was mentioned several times by Bingley, who had been both a Labour and a Conservative councillor since starting in local politics in the late 90s.

He said that the Ukrainian flag flying outside the council offices would be replaced with the Thurrock crest.

He added: "I want us to celebrate our local history and heritage, I want us to have the British flag there and the cross of St. George, and that's, I think, what people voted for actually when they voted for Reform."

Thurrock Council still has debt in the hundreds of millions despite recouping some losses and the government providing support.

Bingley believed Reform would find the money for increasing grass cutting.

The leader continued: "I don't think, frankly, that grass cutting is that expensive. I don't think smartening up areas where you arrive in Thurrock along the roadsides and gateway areas are that expensive."

Labour and the Conservatives are the only other parties on Thurrock Council with two councillors each.

Labour criticised the new Reform administration for chairing all the scrutiny committees and for not having an opposition councillor on the standards committee, which deals with complaints about councillors.

Jen Craft, MP for Thurrock, accused Reform's leadership of "trying to mark its own homework".

Bingley said the best individuals have been chosen to sit on those committees.

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