ONE of the most rewarding aspects of being a councillor are my Saturday morning advice surgeries, where I often hear heart-rending stories of people struggling against the odds.

Often you find the issues people want to talk about have an impact much more widely than the person or family who first raised it. When that happens, a good councillor should use that feedback to help shape the council’s policies.

So it is with Thurrock’s housing policies. People understand council housing is in short supply and that the “Right to Buy” has reduced the stock of council homes over the years, but they are worried their children may, simply, not have the chance to live in the community they have grown up in. So I am really proud we are building new council homes for the first time in a generation.

We have people living in those new homes in Corringham, building is under way in Grays and planned, for later this year, in Chadwell, Tilbury and Ockendon.

Local people have also said they are concerned council housing isn’t allocated fairly and their children will be overlooked when it comes to allocating homes. That is why Thurrock Council has changed our housing policy so people should have lived in the borough for five years before they can be considered for a council home. There are, of course, exceptions to that – for instance returning servicemen and women.

Another issue regularly raised for as long as I can remember is the fact that our current stock of council homes hasn’t been well enough maintained and we are taking action.

By investing £80million over the next few years to bring each and every council home up to the best possible standard – including new kitchens and bathrooms – we are ending years of under-investment and ensuring tenants will be living in good homes that are more energy-efficient and warmer, with cheaper energy bills.

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here