AN irate senior Thurrock Conservative councillor has expressed his fury after officers failed to meet a deadline for scrutiny on vital issues.

Cllr Luke Spillman, is the chair of the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee which convened an extraordinary meeting due to take place next week to look at issues raised in a 'Best Value Report' (BVI) on the council and its performance.

It also wanted to scrutinise the work of the Grays Town Fund following the aborted bid to bring an underpass to Grays High Street that was abandoned - having already cost council taxpayers £6 million.

However, Cllr Spillman has now been told the council does not have the capacity to produce the documentation to discuss the conclusions of the Best Value Report so the special meeting will not be able to debate it, while paperwork on the Grays Town Fund, which councillors should have at least a week before next Wednesday's extraordinary meeting is still not ready. There is no guarantee it will be either and Cllr Spillman says he was urged to call the meeting off, which he has refused to do.

Cllr Spillman said "Time and time again this department has failed council leaders, cabinet, committees, councillors and most importantly the residents of Thurrock. Yet here we are again with another unacceptable administrative cock-up.

"Officers have requested that I cancel the meeting which I have of course refused. They can come to committee and explain to members why they can't even meet the most basic of scrutiny requirements.

"It cannot be lost on anyone how embarrassing failing to produce a report about the lessons learnt from the BVI is. 

"The BVI was damning of historical incompetence concerning major projects. To date there is no sign of the Grays Town Fund report either. 

"The department has been very candid and accepted full responsibility for its historical failings.

"Committee has rightly praised them for doing so.

"However, this new found transparency is worth precious little if it isn't accompanied by improvement in operational and administrative performance. What a complete shambles all around. I'm absolutely furious."