THURROCK Council is lagging behind its neighbours in organising public meetings it is claimed, with the authority still not having announced any firm plans to get the democratic process restarted by holding virtual meetings.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government gave councils across the country the power to hold remote council meetings which allow the public to tune into discussion using the internet.

But Thurrock has been slow to responded and while other authorities have been holding virtual public meetings for several week, none have taken place in Thurrock - where the authority's mission statement is ironically that it is 'Digital First'.

Having been pressed by the media to give a guide as to what is happening, the council finally responded and a statement issued at 6.12pm today (Friday, 22 May) said: "The committee dates for the municipal year 2020/21 are in the process of being updated on the council's website and all dates are expected to have been added early next week. Details about how each meeting will operate will be available in due course.

Two planning meetings are among those scheduled for June, but planning councillors have yet to be told how they will be managed, either with safeguarding in place for a physical meeting - or remotely.

The lack of clarity and information has upset Labour's group leader, Cllr John Kent, who said: "Everybody understands that we are in an unprecedented situation and government advice is still that only essential, physical, meetings should take place.

"However, councils up and down the country have found ways of holding virtual meetings.

"I know that work is going on behind the scenes to allow Thurrock to catch up but they really need to get a move on – the longer they delay the more it looks like they want to avoid scrutiny and transparency."

In other parts of the county, Southend Council has held two remote meetings and is due to hold its third next week.

Basildon Council will have held five by the end of the month and Essex County Council will have held eight. Brentwood Council has also held virtual meetings.