WHILE concern has been rising about long run debt that can be accrued as Thurrock Council seeks to repay its debt mountain to different native authorities, one council has been in a position to report reimbursement of a part of its mortgage.
Earlier this week, prompted by media enquiries, Cambridge Metropolis Council reported that its was anticipating reimbursement of a hard and fast brief time period mortgage, believed to be within the area of £5 million.
A spokesperson for the council, mentioned: “Cambridge Metropolis Council at present has mortgage agreements with Thurrock Council. These loans had been made on a hard and fast short-term foundation and a majority of the cash owed to the council can be returned throughout the subsequent two weeks when the settlement involves time period.
“All lending of cash is made in step with our accepted credit score listing, which Thurrock Council was on on the time of borrowing.”
At present (Thursday, 15 September) town authority’s government councillor main on for finance, assets and transformation, Labour’s Mike Davey, instructed Thurrock Nub Information: “Thurrock Council, repaid the primary of their loans from us, in full on 13 September.”
Cambridge lent £15m to Thurrock in three brief time period loans, the primary £5m of which was repaid on Tuesday with one other £5m set to mature subsequent Tuesday and £5m in December.
Nevertheless, in what could an indicator of issues that will face Thurrock sooner or later because it seeks to search out the finance it wants to satisfy its present obligations, the spokesperson from Cambridge confirmed: “We is not going to be seeking to place additional funds with Thurrock Council till we’re pleased with their stage of economic danger and money owed.”
The newest authorities figures for the primary quarter of the monetary 12 months present Thurrock has £941m excellent in brief time period loans from different councils.
Rob Whiteman, the chief government of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, has warned of the issues Thurrock could face because it seeks to borrow additional cash. He believes the £941m that authorities figures present Thurrock owes in brief time period loans from different councils, can be repaid, however added: “Thurrock faces paying greater charges and the prospect that authorities will cap its complete borrowing and power it to make asset gross sales. Their funds are in a extremely parlous state.”
He emphasised that councils which have loaned cash to Thurrock is not going to lose their funding as the federal government will take steps to make sure liabilities are met as a part of its intervention.
“Usually, lending cash for cashflow administration functions is an efficient software for councils to scale back utilizing banks and so pay much less curiosity,” he mentioned. “That mentioned, many councils have already stopped lending to Thurrock due to the considerations about its excessive stage of all kinds borrowing, and the added concern that the ingredient of their borrowing from different councils has been used to useful resource investments and never only for short-term cashflow administration.”
The Native Authorities Chricle has slisted the quantities that Thurrock oes to different authorities.
Other than Cambridge Metropolis, the listing consists of:
Cornwall Council
Cornwall has a £20m mortgage to Thurrock which began November 2021 and is at present on account of mature in November 2023.
The council described it as “a rollover of earlier loans to Thurrock, who’ve all the time repaid to the council in step with the agreements made”.
Cambridge Metropolis Council
Cambridge lent £15m to Thurrock in three brief time period loans, the primary £5m of which was repaid on Tuesday with one other £5m set to mature subsequent Tuesday and £5m in December.
Derbyshire
The county council has lent £30m to Thurrock in three £10m tranches transferred in April and due to offer returns in April 2023.
In the meantime, the Derbyshire Pension Fund, has additionally transferred £30m to Thurrock this 12 months in six £5m loans, one as just lately as August 31, with some on account of mature later this 12 months and into early 2023.
Derbyshire Pension Fund’s July 2022 funding portfolio valuation exhibits it was price £6bn, which means £30m would characterize 0.5% of its worth. Derbyshire has additionally lent £30m to cash-strapped Croydon LBC and £20m to Eastleigh BC.
The pension investments in Thurrock have sparked anger from the GMB union calling it “irresponsible at finest” and calling on the council to “publicly assure employees’ pension funds proper now”.
A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council mentioned: “Because the administering authority for Derbyshire Pension Fund we proceed to watch the scenario at Thurrock Council as a part of our ongoing treasury administration actions. We might prefer to reassure all pension scheme members that their pensions are at no danger relating to these loans.”
Moreover, LGC can reveal Thurrock additionally has a mortgage out from Derbyshire police of £6m.
The constabulary mentioned: “Now we have famous the Authorities’s appointment of Essex County Council to the function of Commissioner and Finest Worth Inspector at Thurrock Council, and we’ll proceed to watch the scenario at Thurrock Council as a part of our ongoing treasury administration actions.”
Guildford BC
Guildford invested £10m with Thurrock in March 2022 at a fee of 1.35%, with the mortgage maturing subsequent March.
Exeter Metropolis Council
Exeter lent Thurrock £5m in a six month mortgage repayable in November 2022 at a fee of 1.2%.
Peterborough Metropolis Council
Peterborough has a £5m funding mortgage with Thurrock maturing on Monday 19 September.
Islington LBC
Islington’s £15m funding with Thurrock can also be on account of be returned in November. It mentioned in a press release that “inter-authority loans are frequent apply in native authorities.”
Waverley BC
Waverley loaned Thurrock £10m in two tranches this 12 months, each due in 2024.
Halton MBC
Halton has loaned Thurrock £30m, which in keeping with investigative reporter Gareth Davies represents greater than half of its native authority investments.
West Sussex CC
West Sussex loaned Thurrock £20m, half of which is due again on the finish of this month, with the opposite mortgage maturing in August 2023.
The council instructed LGC: “We don’t have particulars from Thurrock relating to what the loans are overlaying however it’s anticipated that the borrowing can be to cowl spend of their capital programme.”
Leeds Metropolis Council
Leeds invested £15m with Thurrock in March, with the debt maturing tomorrow (Friday 16 September).
Newcastle Metropolis Council
Newcastle lent Thurrock £15m in two loans, each due again later this 12 months.
Buckinghamshire Council
Buckinghamshire supplied a one 12 months, £10m mortgage to Thurrock in January.
Spelthorne BC
Spelthorne has lent Thurrock £10m in two £5m tranches, each on account of be repaid in January 2023.
Tendring DC
Tendring has £6m invested in two loans to Thurrock, every of £3m and repayable within the subsequent 5 months
Fort Level BC
Fort Level has lent Thurrock £3m, repayable Might 2023
Maldon DC
Maldon has lent £2m to Thurrock, repayable in October 2022
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough CA
The mixed authority has an excellent mortgage to Thurrock of £5m, on account of be repaid in March 2023
Somerset CC
Somerset loaned Thurrock £15m in three loans, all taken out this 12 months and most just lately in July
Wigan MBC
Wigan supplied a £5m mortgage to Thurrock Council this July which is because of mature in January
Brighton & Hove
Brighton & Hove has two excellent £5m loans to Thurrock, one to be repaid in October and the opposite in Might 2023
Derby Metropolis Council
Derby Metropolis Council lent £7m to Thurrock in February with the cash on account of be repaid in January 2023. But it surely mentioned in a press release that “The council’s chief finance officer withdrew Thurrock from the listing of accepted native authorities to make new investments on the 18 July 2022”.
South Derbyshire DC
The council has £5m invested in a mortgage to Thurrock set to mature in April 2023.
Sutton LBC
Sutton at present has a £5m mortgage funding in Thurrock on account of be paid again in November.
Herefordshire Council
Herefordshire has a £5m mortgage out to Thurrock with a maturity date of October 2022.
West Suffolk Council
West Suffolk has lent £5m to Thurrock in a mortgage on account of be paid again in December 2022.
Horsham DC
Horsham has two loans excellent to Thurrock, one for £2m and one for £3m, with each to be paid again subsequent 12 months.
