THURROCK Council has insisted it will "robustly defend" its new selective licensing scheme which has been halted pending a possible judicial review over claims of inadequate consultation.

The scheme, introduced earlier this month, requires landlords in designated areas to apply for a licence — costing £1,034 for five years — with the aim of driving up housing standards and tackling rogue landlords. Enforcement powers allow the council to revoke licences where properties fail to meet minimum standards.

The project has been regarded as highly controversial and several individual landlords with a significant personal holding of properties - and others who have joined together as a collective, have take action to challenge the scheme's legitimacy and the method of its implementation. Thurrock Nub News exclusiveley reported on the controversy in detail earlier this month.

They took their case to the High Court, where a judical review is scheduled next month and in the interim the scheme is subject to an injunction.

At a full council meeting on Wednesday, Stephen Boyling, director of Montana Property Development Co. Ltd, one of Tilbury's largest private rental providers, criticised the rollout of the scheme and sought assurances it would not be implemented pending the legal review.

He made a series of allegations against the council and warned it had mishandled a formal complaint he has made.

Mr Boyling said: "As a major provider of privately rented properties in the borough, I was appalled at the complete lack of communication, transparency and adherence to government guidelines leading up to the introduction of the scheme. Attempts by managers to justify their decisions have only resulted in further serious questions."

Mr Boyling, who filed his official complaint last year, which the council rejected in November, asked whether the licensing scheme would now be halted "forthwith" pending the review.

In response, Cllr Lynda Heath, cabinet member for public protection, said the scheme was lawful, properly consulted on, and essential for improving conditions for thousands of tenants.

"The council is rightly proud of its selective licensing scheme," she said. "A challenge has been brought, but we will be robustly defending it and have applied to set aside the interim injunction."

She stressed that the High Court had issued no ruling on whether the scheme is lawful. "The court has not made any criticism of the council," she added.

Under the court order, the application process is currently suspended, and any fees already paid are being held securely pending the judge's decision on whether the case can proceed to a judicial review. The council says a further update will be issued once the court rules.

Thurrock's scheme—similar to one operating in Southend—covers 16 wards across the borough and is expected to licence more than 15,000 private rented homes. Four wards were excluded for not meeting legal thresholds.

Ms Heath said the council's priorities remain "improving housing standards, supporting responsible landlords and safeguarding tenants across the borough."

Allegations have been made aby a campaigning group of landlords, represented by a legal advisor, that the council has continued to implement its licensing policy, contacting and pressing landlords to act, which would appear to be a breach of the injunction and in contempt of the High Court. The council has robustly denied that accusation.

However, the landlords have released emails showing correspondence between the council and 'new landlords' in recent days and they they have now contacted the High Court, stating they have evidence of a breach of the injunction and calling on the High Court to take action against the council.