AN NHS organisation which provides healthcare for tens of thousands of people in the borough has shocked councillors by refusing to attend Thurrock Council meetings "outside business hours".

Councillors on Thurrock's corporate parenting committee were expecting a representative from the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) to present a report on the healthcare of looked after children in the borough.

The board declined to attend and informed the committee it would no longer do so unless meetings were held between 9am to 5pm.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Paul Arnold, chairman of the committee, said: "We do have a report in front of us but unfortunately there is no one here to present the report. Regretfully we don't have a representative of the ICB to present this report. The ICB will not be able to support evening meetings as they are outside of core business hours."

Mr Arnold revealed Stephen Mayo, director of nursing had emailed him saying he "would welcome an opportunity to discuss a way forward".

He added: "It's regrettable that nobody is here this evening to present the report and the reasoning for that I also find very regrettable. We are an evening meeting. A lot of people put their time out to deliver content to this committee right the way through the year.

"I don't know what to add to that really. I'm bitterly disappointed and when I received this email I was quite shocked actually and I understand it's been escalated."

Cllr Adam Carter, councillor responsible for education called for a review of the report to be delayed.

He said: "I think members would like the chance to scrutinise and get answers on this report, if we could put this off so the report comes back. It's only fair for us to be able to scrutinize it properly in my opinion."

Cllr Vikki Hartstean said: "I am also disappointed that there is no one here to discuss this this evening. There are lots of officers here that have given up their time. It is disappointing."

The 20 page Thurrock Corporate Parenting Committee Health Report compiled by the Mid and South Essex ICB summarises work on the looked after children health strategy between 2022 and 2024, covering Southend, Essex and Thurrock.

It is not clear whether this applies to all councils across the ICB area.

The ICB was asked to comment but has not yet responded.