LEADING Thurrock councillors have condemned the borough council and its officers' capacity to manage its business after it was officially confirmed that next week's double header full council meeting has been called off.

In a brief statement today (Tuesday, 19 October) and five days after Thurrock Nub News exclusively broke news of the council's plans not to go ahead with the meetings the council said: "The full council meeting that was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 27 October 2021 has been cancelled.

"The decision has been taken due to the ongoing issues within part of the civic offices building which prevents the council chamber being open and safe for use. Specialist technical assessment of the area is still being undertaken to see if it can be repaired."

The council has declined to numerous requests from Nub News about the state of the ongoing situation following flooding in mid September,

Today's sparsely-worded announcement has prompted condemnation of the council by senior councillors who have publicly questioned its officers' capacity to deal with a situation that should be covered under the business continuity plan it is supposed to have in place they say.

Labour group leader Cllr John Kent told Thurrock Nub News today: "Everyone understands that when a council suffers a major incident, such as a flood, there will be some disruption to the normal running of events.

"However, this flood happened more than five weeks ago and it beggars belief that the council hasn't been able to find an alternative meeting venue in that time.

"South Essex College, the Thameside, High House, the Cruise Terminal, local hotels, neighbouring council or schools are all viable alternative venues - in fact, I understand the Ortu Foundation would have been happy to host the next week's meeting at Gable Hall without any charge!

"There should have been a robust business continuity plan in place to mitigate against this type of disruption. I have asked to see such a plan but, so far, it hasn't been shared with me."

And Cllr Kent has mocked members of the ruling Conservative group by putting the inability to host a rearranged council meeting in context alongside many comments made by them justifying the council's plans to close the Thameside Theatre complex.

He says: "Conservative councillors who want to close the Thameside Theatre keep telling us you can put quality performances on in venues such as schools and village halls.

"How are our fantastic local groups supposed to do that on a shoestring when - with the all the resources available to them - the council can't even manage to stage a meeting for 49 people?"

And the disappointment at a lack of ability to cope with the situation has been echoed by independent councillor Fraser Massey, a member of the council's general service committee.

He told Nub News: "It is a sad state of affairs when an organisation the size of Thurrock Council cannot find a way to hold a meeting for around 60 persons. Suggestions such as hotels with meeting facilities seems the easiest way to hold such a meeting and get into some of these outstanding agendas.

"Holding a full council meeting is not logistically impossible and the residents deserve better."

The comments of Cllrs Kent and Massey mirror those of independent group leader Cllr Gary Byrne who told Nub News last week that he was staggered by the council's IT and communications departments appearing not to have the project management skills to organise such a event.

He said: "This is an appalling situation. Democracy needs to be seen to be happening and councillors should have the right to ask questions and be seen to be doing their job to represent the people who elect them.

"I rarely get answers to written questions or responses to emails. Telephone calls are unanswered or messages ignored.

"At the moment in Thurrock it's impossible to the job of being a councillor. There are too many obstacles being put in our way by people who do not want to held to account."

Thurrock Nub News understands Cllr Byrne has been issued with a notice by the council's monitoring officer that he will face disciplinary charges for his statements questioning officers' ability!