Issue 2, 5th - 11th October, 2026

Welcome to issue 2 of The South West Essex Briefing. Each week we summarise the public business of Thurrock Council and Basildon Borough Council. Every item links to the council's own published record.

This issue covers Monday 5 October to Sunday 11 October 2026. Where a council published a record in that window for an earlier meeting, it is reported here.

AT A GLANCE

• ⚠️ Thurrock Local Plan (Regulation 19 consultation): comments close at midnight on Wednesday 14 October 2026.
• ⚠️ Basildon, new premises licence applications: Wickford Bazaar, 24 High Street, Wickford (representations by 14 October) and Hodo Kitchen, above 24/26 Southernhay, Basildon (representations by 30 October).
• ⚠️ Thurrock Planning Committee meets Tuesday 13 October at 6pm with six applications on the agenda; Cabinet meets Wednesday 14 October at 7pm, with a waste haulage and treatment contract award and a further tranche of asset disposals on the agenda (both with exempt appendices).
• ⚠️ Basildon Overview and Scrutiny Commission meets Tuesday 13 October at 7pm (draft Corporate Plan 2026-2028) and Cabinet meets Thursday 15 October at 7pm (Animal Activity Licensing Policy adoption; planning appeal budget request).
• Basildon granted outline planning permission for up to 850 homes on land west of Bowers Gifford and North Benfleet (25/01432/OUT) on 9 October, and for a Football Foundation Playzone at Pitsea Central Open Space (25/01084/FULL) on 9 October.
• Basildon recorded "EIA not required" screening decisions on 9 October for proposals at Friern Manor Farm, Dunton: up to 70,000 sq m of storage and distribution floorspace (26/01006/SCREEN) and a 0.57km access road (26/01005/SCREEN).
• Basildon Planning Committee (7 October), Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee (7 October) and Housing Scrutiny Committee (6 October) have met; no minutes had been published when this issue was compiled.
• Basildon Standards and Privileges Committee minutes (16 September, published 5 October): 72 Code of Conduct complaints were received in the municipal year; two sets of complaints have been referred for independent external investigation.
• Thurrock Standards Committee minutes (23 September, published 6 October): the 2025/26 annual report was approved and will go to Full Council in December; the ethical framework update recommendations were approved.
• Thurrock has renewed the contract for the council-supported 375 bus service, guaranteeing it until at least 2029.
• Planning: 24 applications validated and 24 decided in Thurrock; 15 validated and 15 decided in Basildon (listed below, with householder items grouped).
• Local Government Reorganisation in Essex remains withdrawn pending the Secretary of State's review; no update was found this week. See The Countdown.

IN THE CHAMBER

Thurrock Council

Standards Committee, Wednesday 23 September (minutes published 6 October; record).

• Standards Committee Annual Report 2025/26: the Committee noted and approved the annual report. It will go to Full Council in December instead of October because the Full Council meeting has been rescheduled. Part of the November meeting is to be set aside for training on Standards Hearing Panels.
• Ethical Framework Update: the Committee approved recommendations to note the register of gifts and hospitality and the register of declarations of interest (both covering 9 February to 27 August 2026), to note the Code of Conduct complaints received and concluded in the period (exempt appendix), and to agree the Monitoring Officer's recommended course of action (exempt appendix).
• The Annual Review on complaints matters for 2025/26 was taken in exempt session (public session resumed after about 35 minutes). The Work Programme was presented; the Monitoring Officer noted that hearing panels can be convened if required.

Full Council, Wednesday 30 September (minutes and order paper published 5 October; record). Issue 1 reported this meeting's business from the draft minutes. Vote counts have not been re-checked against the final text for this issue.

Audit Committee, Monday 5 October, 7pm (held; agenda). Minutes had not been published when this issue was compiled. The agenda covered External Audit Progress (BDO paper dated 5 October), the Annual Corporate Complaints Report 2025/26 (with the Housing Ombudsman complaints handling code self-assessment), the Annual Information Governance Report, the Annual Audit Committee Report, the Internal Audit Progress Report and the Internal Audit Charter.

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Thursday 8 October, 7pm (held; agenda). Minutes had not been published when this issue was compiled. The agenda was the Q1 2026/27 Financial Outturn report, work programme, action log and recommendations tracker. The Q1 figures are summarised under Your Money.

Coming up in Thurrock

• Planning Committee, Tuesday 13 October, 6pm (agenda): Planning Appeals; 26/00245/FUL, Blackshots Lane, Grays; 25/01373/FUL, Storage Land at White Stables, Well Lane, North Stifford; 26/00863/OUT, Rose Briar, Lower Dunton Road, Horndon on the Hill; 26/00286/FUL, Police Station, Darenth Lane, South Ockendon; 26/00457/FUL, Convent of Mercy, Malta Road, Tilbury; 26/00680/FUL, 37 Rectory Road, Grays. Officer recommendations are in the PDF report packs, which could not be read for this issue.
• Cabinet, Wednesday 14 October, 7pm (agenda): Adoption of a Flag Flying Policy; Contract for Autism Specific Support at Medina Road; Constitution Review - Delegation of Executive Powers. After exclusion of the public and press: Preferred Reseller of Software Licences Re-procurement; Next Tranche of Assets for Disposal; Land on the North West Side of Northview Avenue, Tilbury; Procurement of Waste Haulage and Treatment Contract - Contract Award. These four items carry restricted appendices.
• Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education, Wednesday 14 October, 5pm (agenda): Religious Education provision in Thurrock compared with the national School Workforce Census pattern; the SACRE Artefacts Project; and four information items.

Basildon Borough Council

Planning Committee, Wednesday 7 October, 7pm (held; agenda). The Council records the meeting as held. No minutes had been published when this issue was compiled, so no outcome is reported. Items on the agenda: 25/01214/OUT (up to 175 dwellings, Little Burstead), 26/00506/OUT (up to 95 dwellings, Ramsden Bellhouse), 25/01657/FULL (19 houses, Knights), 26/00051/FULL (8 houses, High Barrets, Vange), 25/01084/FULL (Football Foundation Playzone, Pitsea) and 24/00294/OUT (up to 30 dwellings, Pound Lane, Bowers Gifford). See Planning Watch for 25/01084/FULL, which the planning portal shows as granted on 9 October.

Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee, Wednesday 7 October, 11am (held; agenda). No minutes had been published when this issue was compiled. The agenda was a hearing on a street trading consent application for 7 The Pantiles, Billericay, and a driver licensing item in exempt session.

Housing Scrutiny Committee, Tuesday 6 October, 7pm (held; agenda). No minutes had been published when this issue was compiled. Agenda: Tenant Engagement Update, Housing Improvement Recovery Plan Update, Housing Performance Report Quarter 1 2026/27, draft Rent and Service Charge Policy 2026 and the 2026/27 work programme.

Standards and Privileges Committee, Wednesday 16 September (minutes published 5 October; record).

• Annual Report to Council 2025/26: the Monitoring Officer reported that 72 Code of Conduct complaints had been received in the municipal year, described in the minutes as an extraordinarily high number compared with neighbouring and similar authorities. Changes to the local complaints procedure had been agreed by Council to help triage and speed up resolution. One Independent Person has resigned and one continues. No complaint has been upheld because no hearing sub-committees have met. The report was noted and referred to Full Council.
• Engagement with the Local Government Association: an away day for group leaders proposed by the LGA had not proceeded because full cross-party participation had not been secured, and LGA training on the new Members' Social Media Policy was postponed pending publication of the Best Value review.
• Member training: the Monitoring Officer reported on the induction and training programme after the 2026 elections. Scrutiny and budget-setting were identified as priority areas for further training, and the Committee resolved to instruct the Monitoring Officer to explore a free scrutiny training offer.
• Recruitment of Independent Persons: the Committee asked the Independent Remuneration Panel to consider the allowance for Independent Persons, noting a suggested £1,000 bonus, and agreed an interview panel of three members.
• Annual work plan 2026/27: an extraordinary meeting may be needed after the MHCLG Best Value report is received; otherwise the next scheduled meeting is in December. Standards complaints update: two sets of complaints have been referred for independent external investigation. Hearing committees: the Committee considered creating two hearing sub-committees of three members each, drawn on a cross-party basis where possible.

Officer decisions published 6-9 October (all non-key; values are not stated on the public records).

• 220-26: minor variation of a premises licence, Cromwell Manor, Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea (record). The decision is dated 25 September.
• 221-26: Certificate of Compliance, 214 The Knares, Basildon (record). The decision is dated 7 October.
• 222-26: minor variation of a premises licence, The Gun, London Road, Bowers Gifford (record). The decision is dated 25 September.

Appointments and Dismissals Committee, Wednesday 30 September. The Council's records list the meeting; on 13 October the page still stated that no documents were available.

Coming up in Basildon

• Overview and Scrutiny Commission, Tuesday 13 October, 7pm (agenda): Draft Corporate Plan 2026-2028 and 2026/27 Q1 Performance Report; Annual Performance Report on the Council's Leisure Contracts; Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) Policy; a presentation from the ICB and a Hospital Trust; work programme. A supplementary agenda was published on 6 October.
• Cabinet, Thursday 15 October, 7pm (agenda): Cabinet Member decision records; Adoption of the Animal Activity Licensing Policy and Animal Charter; Planning Appeal Budget Request and Decision Framework (paper to follow); and, in exempt session, Judicial Review: Local Plan (paper to follow).

PLANNING WATCH

Source: each council's planning portal weekly lists, week beginning 5 October 2026 (Validated and Decided). Thurrock: 24 applications validated and 24 decided on the list. Basildon: 15 validated and 15 decided. Householder applications and prior-approval notices are grouped; tree-works and certificate-of-lawfulness applications are counted but not itemised, in line with the editorial exclusion rules. The portals did not show comment-by dates for these applications, so none are given.

Thurrock — validated (5 to 11 October)

• 26/01174/FUL — Corringham Dairy Company, 53 Lampits Hill, Corringham: Change of use from retail to office (Class E(g)(i)) and workshop (Class E(g)(iii)), demolition of rear outbuildings and erection of rear extensions with ancillary storage, roof terrace and associated external alterations. Validated 6 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01177/TELENQ — Sub Station 2, Telephone Exchange, London Road, Aveley: Notice of a proposal to establish an electricity substation. Validated 6 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01157/FUL — Nisalocal, 5 Canterbury Parade, South Road, South Ockendon: Single-storey rear extensions to Nos. 5 and 6 Canterbury Parade and shopfront alterations to No. 6, in connection with amalgamating the two commercial units. Validated 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01173/FUL — Beauchamp Place, Malvern Road, Grays: Retrospective erection of a dayroom. Validated 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01164/FUL — 40 Wood Avenue, Purfleet-on-Thames: Two-storey, four-bedroom end-of-terrace dwellinghouse with accommodation in the roofspace, with refuse, recycling and cycle storage. Validated 8 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01162/FUL — Sacred Heart Cottage, Oxford Road, Horndon on the Hill: Replacement dwelling including associated development. Validated 6 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01133/FUL — Thames House, St Andrews Road, Tilbury: First-floor extension to the existing asbestos waste transfer and temporary storage facility to provide a print room, meeting room and two offices. Validated 6 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01114/FUL — 23 Conrad Road, Stanford Le Hope: Demolition of the existing garden cabin and shed and erection of an annexe ancillary to the main dwelling. Validated 7 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00717/FUL — Bells Corner Service Station, Bells Corner Parade, Southend Road, Fobbing: Change of use from petrol station (sui generis) to used car sales (sui generis), removal of diesel island and decommissioning of underground fuel tanks. Validated 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01165/TELENQ — High Road, Fobbing: Notification under the Electronic Communications Code of the intention to install fixed line broadband apparatus (3 no. 10m wooden poles). Validated 6 Oct 2026. Council record

Discharge of conditions and approvals of details:

• 26/01167/CONDC — Development Site For Energy Plant, Port of Tilbury, Tilbury Freeport, Tilbury: Approval of details reserved by condition 52 (Odour Management Plan) of planning permission 12.04.09.04/266C as varied (Tilbury Green Power biomass and energy-from-waste fuelled electricity generating station, s36 Electricity Act). Validated 6 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01154/CV — Meadow Farm, East Tilbury Road, Linford: Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of planning permission 24/01136/FUL. Validated 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01161/CONDC — Land Part Of Car Park, West Thurrock Retail Park, Weston Avenue, West Thurrock: Approval of details reserved by condition 14 (parts b and c, surface water drainage) of 24/01294/CV (variation of conditions of 22/01579/FUL). Validated 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 9 householder applications and prior-approval notices (extensions, loft conversions, outbuildings and similar), listed on the Thurrock planning portal's weekly list.
• 2 tree-works applications (Purfleet-on-Thames and Grays), counted but not itemised.

Thurrock — decided

• 26/01128/ENQNEI — Ryjo, Thames View, Langdon Hills (Basildon borough; Thurrock consulted by Basildon): Consultation from Basildon on demolition of existing buildings and erection of five detached dwellings. Issue 1 listed this as validated with comments by 16 October. Closed, 7 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01046/TELENQ — Land Adjacent The Croft, Church Road, Bulphan: Regulation 5 notice of intention to install fixed line broadband apparatus. Advice Given, 6 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01008/TELENQ — Land East Side Of North Hill, Horndon on the Hill: Three 9-metre telecommunication poles near Appledore, North Hill. Closed, 7 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00991/CLOPUD — 13 Dorset Gardens, Linford: Certificate of lawfulness (proposed): porch extension. Permission Refused, 8 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00959/CONDC — Land Adjacent Railway Line And Tamarisk Road, South Ockendon: Approval of details reserved by condition 4 (Construction Environmental Management Plan) of 21/02190/FUL (five buildings providing 38 residential apartments). Approved, 6 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00946/FUL — Highway Land Adjacent 15 High Street, Stanford Le Hope: Installation of a new global street hub, including display of advertisements on both sides of the unit. Approved, 8 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00947/ADV — Highway Land Adjacent 15 High Street, Stanford Le Hope: Advertisement consent: BT Street Hub unit with illuminated advertisement panels on either side. Approved, 8 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00846/CV — Sleepy Hollow Farm, Chadwell Road, Grays: Variation of condition 10 of 25/01182/FUL (one new dwelling with annexe; revised proposal following consent 24/00319/FUL). Approved, 8 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00841/CONDC — Garage Site, Lyndhurst Road, Corringham: Approval of details reserved by condition 10 (parking provision and retention) and 8 (landscaping) of 23/00913/TBC (redevelopment of garage blocks to provide six two-storey houses). Approved, 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00585/FUL — 28 Ashway, Corringham: Two-bedroom dwellinghouse with two off-street parking spaces, private amenity space and extension to the existing vehicle access on Thames Crescent. Approved, 7 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00533/CONDC — Building 13, Thames Industrial Park, Princess Margaret Road, East Tilbury: Approval of details reserved by conditions 3 (samples of materials), 4 (large scale details) and 5 (external fixtures and fittings) of 24/01105/LBC (partial change of use to Class E, new entrances and alterations). Approved, 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 25/00861/NMA — 3 Ridgwell Avenue, Orsett: Non-material amendment to 25/00270/FUL: replacement roof covering, replacement of lean-to extensions where already built, change of plinth render finish, and replacement window configurations. Approved, 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 6 householder applications decided (all approved), listed on the Thurrock planning portal's weekly list.
• 2 tree-works applications and 4 certificates of lawfulness (proposed or existing use), all approved, counted but not itemised.

Basildon — validated (5 to 11 October)

• 26/01092/FULL — Land At Corner Road, Ramsden Crays, Wickford: Residential development of seven dwellings on land to the east of Corner Road, including access, landscaping and parking. Validated 9 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01069/FULL — Pipps Hill Farm, Pipps Hill Road North, Billericay: Demolition of existing buildings (existing dwellinghouse retained) and construction of nine dwelling houses with landscaping, access, car and cycle parking and refuse and recycling provision. Validated 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01079/FULL — David Lloyd Leisure, Festival Way, Basildon: Spa garden on the existing club terrace area. Validated 7 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01067/FULL — Harland House, High Road, Laindon, Basildon: Installation of new cladding over brickwork; re-spraying of entrance and fire exit doors, shopfront frames, drive-thru windows, render and fascias; new ash tower; red LED lighting strips below soffits; illuminated and non-illuminated signage. Validated 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01068/ABAS — Harland House, High Road, Laindon, Basildon: Advertisement consent for illuminated and non-illuminated signs, including a fascia sign, a neon sign, an entrance lightbox, window and wall-mounted graphics, directional and disclaimer signs and digital ordering and menu boards. Validated 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01066/FULL — Unit 8, The Gloucesters, Crompton Close, Basildon: First-floor side extension to a warehouse. Validated 5 Oct 2026. Council record

Discharge of conditions and approvals of details:

• 26/01071/COND — Land West Of Laindon Road, Billericay: Approval of details reserved by condition 16 (Archaeological Investigation) of planning permission 24/00762/OUT. Validated 6 Oct 2026. Council record
• 4 householder applications (extensions and similar), listed on the Basildon planning portal's weekly list.
• 2 certificates of lawfulness (proposed) and 2 tree-works applications, counted but not itemised.

Basildon — decided

• 25/01432/OUT — Land West Of Bowers Gifford & North Benfleet, Homestead Road, Bowers Gifford: Outline planning permission for up to 850 residential homes (Class C3) with landscaping, community and commercial floorspace (Classes E / F.2), public open space, parking, drainage, utilities and infrastructure. All matters reserved except access from Pound Lane. Granted, 9 Oct 2026. Council record
• 25/01084/FULL — Pitsea Central Open Space, Elm Green, Pitsea: Replacement of the existing multi-use games area and construction of a Football Foundation Playzone with sports fencing, LED lighting and hard standing for spectators. Granted, 9 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01006/SCREEN — Land At Friern Manor Farm, Lower Dunton Road, Dunton: EIA scoping opinion on whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required for up to 70,000 sq m of B8 storage and distribution floorspace with ancillary office accommodation. EIA not required, 9 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/01005/SCREEN — Land At Friern Manor Farm, Lower Dunton Road, Dunton: EIA scoping opinion request for a 0.57km access road giving vehicular, cycle and pedestrian access to an employment site allocated as E5 in the emerging Regulation 19 Basildon Local Plan, to be considered with a simultaneous outline application. EIA not required, 9 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00822/FULL — 51 High Street, Wickford: Conversion of the existing first floor into two flats, with a new external ground-floor staircase, refuse storage, cycle storage and fenestration changes. Granted, 7 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00826/FULL — Cranes Farm Road, Basildon: Creation of a separate pedestrian path and ramp from Cranes Farm Road, including wheelchair access. Granted, 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 26/00722/FULL — 29 Mountfields, Pitsea, Basildon: Raising the ridge by 1.0m to create a loft conversion with rear dormer and front rooflight. Refused, 5 Oct 2026. Council record
• 24/00478/FULL — Tyrrell Court, Crest Avenue, Pitsea: Erection of a second floor to the existing building, with new stair cores and associated works, to create 10 new residential units. Application Withdrawn, 8 Oct 2026. Council record

Discharge of conditions and approvals of details:

• 26/00879/COND — The Redwood, Dry Street, Langdon Hills, Basildon: Approval of details reserved by conditions 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26 and 27 (materials, site levels, hard standings, fences, soft landscaping, tree protection, turning circle, biodiversity, lighting, swift box, CEMP, renewables, secure by design) of consent 26/00092/FULL. Granted, 9 Oct 2026. Council record
• 6 householder applications and prior-approval notices (extensions, loft conversions and similar), all granted or prior approval not required, listed on the Basildon planning portal's weekly list.

YOUR MONEY

Thurrock. The Q1 2026/27 financial outturn went to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 8 October (agenda); minutes are not yet published. The agenda report, as summarised in Issue 1, shows a net revenue budget of £267.290m supported by £68.908m of Exceptional Financial Support, a forecast net General Fund overspend of £3.480m (Adult Social Care), and savings of £14.877m budgeted, of which £8.481m are delivered or on track and £6.397m unachievable or at risk.

Cabinet on 14 October has five contract and asset items: the Contract for Autism Specific Support at Medina Road, Preferred Reseller of Software Licences Re-procurement, the Next Tranche of Assets for Disposal, Land on the North West Side of Northview Avenue in Tilbury, and the Waste Haulage and Treatment Contract Award. Contract values are not shown on the agenda listing, and four of the five have restricted appendices (agenda). Since 1 October the key-decision threshold is £250,000.

The Council reports (7 October) that it has renewed the contract for the 375 bus, guaranteeing the service until at least 2029; the contract value is not stated (Thurrock news).

Thurrock publishes monthly contract lists on its current contracts page; the latest list posted when checked was for July 2026. The Procurement Pipeline Report dated 4 August 2026 remains the latest (contract opportunities).

Basildon. The 15 October Cabinet agenda lists a Planning Appeal Budget Request and Decision Framework, with the paper to follow, so no amount is published yet (agenda). The three officer decisions published in the window (220-26 to 222-26) carry no values, and the draft Rent and Service Charge Policy 2026 was on the Housing Scrutiny Committee agenda of 6 October. Basildon's contracts register lists contracts over £5,000.

JOBS & TENDERS

Basildon vacancies (from the Council's recruitment portal; five listed on 13 October):

• Head of Property, Maintenance & Compliance: Band SE1 (£71,972 to £79,252), posted 30 September, closes 14 October (reference RQ02080). Carried from Issue 1.
• Pride in Place Coordinator: Band 7 (£41,197 to £45,006), closes 21 October. Carried from Issue 1.
• Independent Panel Members: New listing: annual allowance of £1,444.19 for time, travel and subsistence, closes 25 October.
• Non-Executive Director: £5,000 a year, closes 5 November. Carried from Issue 1.
• Refuse Loader (Pool Driver): Band 3 (£26,312 to £27,132), paid at Band 5 (£30,753 to £34,428) when driving; Barleylands Depot; no closing date shown. Carried from Issue 1.

Thurrock vacancies posted 5 to 11 October (from the recruitment portal; salaries and closing dates were not retrieved for this issue):

• Business Systems Support Officer, ICT Business Systems team, posted 5 October.
• Senior Trading Standards Officer (Fixed-Term), posted 6 October.
• Library and Digital Assistant, Tilbury Library, posted 6 October.
• Community Life Skills Practitioner, Disabled Children's Short Breaks and Outreach Service, posted 7 October.
• Inclusive Play Practitioner, Disabled Children's Short Breaks and Outreach Service, posted 7 October.
• Care Worker, Collins House Residential Home, Corringham, posted 7 October.
• Health Trainer, Thurrock Healthy Lifestyle Service, posted 7 October.
• Domestic Abuse Officer, Safe Accommodation, posted 8 October.
• Support Planner, CLS Team 4, posted 8 October.

Seventeen Thurrock vacancies were open on the portal on 13 October; earlier postings still open (School Crossing Patrol, Waste Collection Assistant, Engineer - Externally Funded Projects, a casual English tutor and others) fall outside this window. Two further roles were posted on 12 October (Assistant Senior Ranger - Country Parks; Waste Collection Round Leader) and fall in the next issue's window.

Tenders. Thurrock's tendering portal still lists one current tender, Electoral and Election Print Services (Corporate Services): specialist printing of statutory election materials (canvass forms, ballot papers, poll cards, postal vote packs) with postal-pack fulfilment and outgoing postage. Documents can be requested until 17:00 on 26 October 2026. Other Thurrock tenders are published on Find a Tender. Basildon tenders over £50,000 are published on its Delta eSourcing portal, which was not opened for this issue.

THE COUNTDOWN

Local Government Reorganisation. The Government's letter of 7 September 2026 withdrew its current decisions on Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock (and on Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton, Norfolk and Suffolk) and announced a rapid review of the programme (gov.uk). That page was last updated on 8 September, and no later update was found when it was checked on 13 October. No end date for the review is stated. No successor authority, Vesting Day or shadow-election date applies to this footprint while the review is open. Basildon's Cabinet agenda of 15 October lists an exempt item on judicial review of the Local Plan, and Basildon's Standards and Privileges Committee minutes refer to a Best Value report from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government that is awaited.

Greater Essex devolution. A separate process for a Mayoral Combined County Authority covering Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock (gov.uk consultation outcome). The page was last updated on 17 July 2025, and no newer update was found when it was checked on 13 October.

Elections. Unchanged from Issue 1 and not re-checked this week: Thurrock elects by thirds (last one-third election 7 May 2026; by-elections 23 July 2026). Basildon Borough Council resolved on 20 March 2025 to change to whole-council elections; its Section 35 Notice states the first whole-council election will be in May 2028, and every fourth year afterwards.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Thurrock (consultation hub; no new consultation was listed since Issue 1):

• Local Plan Regulation 19, to midnight 14 October 2026 (page).
• Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy review, closes 9 November (opened 28 September) (page).
• Animal Activity Licensing Policy survey, closes 9 November (opened 28 September) (page).
• Communities in Action: Help Shape the Future of Grays, closes 8 November (opened 25 September) (page).
• Highways Standards and Maintenance Survey 2026, closes 16 November (page).
• National Grid's Norwich to Tilbury Community Fund consultation is listed on the hub; National Grid states the fund would be over £30 million if the project is consented (National Grid).
• Also open, closing dates not stated on the hub: Call for Sites; Pride in Place Impact Fund Small Grant Programme 2026/27; NEET Strategy; C-Card Survey 2026; Infrastructure Requirement List.

Basildon (consultations):

• Local Plan Regulation 19 closed on 22 September; the Council states the plan is to be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination by 31 December 2026.
• Animal Activity Licensing Policy and Animal Charter 2026-2031 is still listed on the consultations page; its adoption is on the Cabinet agenda of 15 October.
• Anti-Social Behaviour Policy 2026-2029 (draft) is still listed on the consultations page; Issue 1 reported that its survey page states the engagement phase has finished.
• £40 million of investment in Chalvedon and Laindon Central (£20 million each over ten years) is still listed as current; the survey closed on 31 July, as reported in Issue 1.

Essex County Council (consultations):

• Essex Care Search Provider Survey Sep 2026 (closes 31 October).
• Consultation on the Schools Block Funding Arrangements for 2027/28 (closes 3 November).
• Early Years Ordinarily Available Guidance Survey (closing date not shown).

ON THE HIGH STREET

• Hodo Kitchen, above 24/26 Southernhay, Basildon: new premises licence application dated 2 October for alcohol sales for consumption on the premises 12.00-02.00 daily, live and recorded music, and late-night refreshment 23.00-02.00. Representations by 30 October (Basildon licensing list).
• Wickford Bazaar, 24 High Street, Wickford: new premises licence application dated 16 September for off-sales of alcohol 07.00-00.00 daily. Representations by 14 October (same list).
• Basildon officer decisions 220-26 (Cromwell Manor, Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea) and 222-26 (The Gun, London Road, Bowers Gifford) accepted minor variations to premises licences to change premises layouts, subject to no objections from responsible authorities (see In the Chamber).
• Thurrock's licensing policy review (closes 9 November) is under Have Your Say; as reported in Issue 1, the draft proposes updates on drink spiking, violence against women and girls, terrorism preparedness, outdoor seating areas and child exploitation.
• The Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee of 7 October had a street trading consent application for 7 The Pantiles, Billericay on its agenda; no outcome is published yet.

Thurrock's licensing pages are a guidance hub, not a register of applications. Basildon publishes a list of recent premises, club and pavement licence applications, which is the source of the two applications above.

COMMUNITY SAFETY & SERVICES

• Thurrock, 7 October: The council has renewed the contract for the council-supported 375 bus, guaranteeing the service until at least 2029; it links Horndon on the Hill, Stanford-le-Hope, East Tilbury, Chadwell St Mary and Grays. (Thurrock news)
• Thurrock, 9 October: Free advice, support and community services are offered at venues across the borough this winter. (Thurrock news)
• Thurrock, 9 October: A resident has been ordered to pay almost £3,000 after repeatedly failing to comply with a legal notice requiring them to stop excessive noise from amplified music. (Thurrock news)
• Thurrock, 9 October: The Leader of Thurrock Council published a message on bringing back the Tilbury to Gravesend ferry, closed in 2024. Issue 1 reported the Leader's intention to request a scrutiny task force on re-establishing the ferry. (Thurrock news)
• Thurrock, 9 October: Thurrock Council hosted its latest Developer Forum in September with developers, landowners and industry representatives to discuss growth and investment. (Thurrock news)
• Thurrock, 8 October: The joint Give a Gift campaign with Impulse Leisure has returned for its eleventh year. (Thurrock news)
• Basildon, Fly-Tipping Fortnight: The Council supports Fly-Tipping Fortnight, running from Monday 12 October to Sunday 25 October 2026. (Basildon news)
• Basildon, Keep Your Costs Down winter campaign: The campaign runs from Friday 9 October to Sunday 1 November and signposts support with benefits, winter costs, rent payment difficulties, skills and employment, and mental health. A Winter Welfare Event is planned for Tuesday 10 November at the Basildon Centre. (Basildon news)
• Basildon, Hate Crime Awareness Week: Community pop-up events across the borough from 10 to 17 October 2026 on how to report hate crime and where to find support. (Basildon news)
• Basildon, Basildon at Christmas: Event in the town centre from 10am to 6pm on Saturday 14 November, with a fireworks finale. (Basildon news)

The Basildon items above are listed in the Council's October 2026 news page; publication dates are not shown on the listing, so campaign and event dates are given instead.

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The South West Essex Briefing is an independent, AI-assisted local government newsletter covering Thurrock Council and Basildon Borough Council. It reports what both councils have published in committee papers, decisions and planning registers, linked to primary sources. It carries no advertising and takes no editorial position on the matters it reports.

The South West Essex Briefing is published by Verified Brief. All information is drawn from publicly available sources including council minutes, planning records, procurement registers, and official government publications. Links go directly to primary source documents. Nothing in this newsletter constitutes opinion, legal advice, or political commentary.