Christine Sexton

2 days ago | orlandoweekly.com | Christine Sexton |Jay Waagmeester

click to enlarge Screengrab via James Uthmeier/X Florida’s bid to be on the front lines of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans has taken a swampy turn. The state, with approval from the Department of Homeland Security, started this week to build a temporary detention center in the Florida Everglades for undocumented immigrants arrested by state police and federal immigration authorities.

3 days ago | echo-news.co.uk | Christine Sexton

The council handled 3,268 expenses claims in 2024/25 for 701 employees with a bill of £250,240. An audit discovered 40 per cent of claims did not have valid VAT receipts as required and found one expense claim where the claimant approved their own claim request. Audit officers also found expense claims were being approved by officers who “do not have delegated authority to certify them”.

3 days ago | echo-news.co.uk | Christine Sexton

New report - Thurrock Council offices (Image: Google) THURROCK Council is at risk of legal action for not remedying high risk fire safety problems, a report has revealed. An audit of the council’s fire risk assessments, which are carried out regularly and highlight any remedial action needed, found an “action log” of more than 20 high risk priority actions that had not been completed, with some dating back to September 2021.

3 days ago | echo-news.co.uk | Christine Sexton

Last year, Thurrock Council was given a £1.8million grant under the Local Authority Housing Fund by the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government. The grant, which has to be match funded by the council, will provide ten homes for those currently in temporary accommodation and four homes for Afghan refugees under the Government’s resettlement scheme. The homes will be built off site before being assembled in Thurrock and could be welcoming their first occupants this year.

3 days ago | echo-news.co.uk | Christine Sexton

Developers hoped to turn nine-bed Maviswood Care Home, in Manor Road, Westcliff into a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) but planning officers rejected the scheme over the loss of a former supported living home for people with mental health conditions. The officers said it had not been fully established that there was “no market” for the property to be continued as a care home. The 11 rooms would all have had en-suite showers with a shared living and dining area.