THURROCK Council underspent funding to help people suffering domestic violence by almost £500,000 it has emerged.

An update report on domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, showed the council had failed to spend £490,000 of funding, and had carried the sum forward.

The report, presented to Thurrock's cleaner, greener, safer overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday. also highlighted endemic inappropriate and "harmful" sexual behaviour aimed at girls.

Speaking at the committee meeting, Cllr Cathy Kent,said: "I found this report very disturbing when you look a lot of young people are saying the problems are so common there's no point in reporting them. I think we need to take a step back and think we've got our children growing up in a world where they can receive inappropriate messages and there's no point in reporting it because nothing will get done. That shouldn't be happening."

Cllr Kent also criticised the unspent funding when women were in the borough were in need of help.

She said: "I was also very, very concerned about the carry forward. The fact that we're saying we could be doing some really good things but we're carrying forward a lot. There's a lot of work we could do when we know there is a lot of people sleeping rough because of domestic violence and we are carrying forward £490,000."

In response, Ewelina Sorbjan, assistant director housing and chairman of Thurrock's Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Board, said: "I accept this should have been spent better and a lot quicker. There are some technical points around that in that the funding is really ring-fenced for safe accommodation so there has got to be an element of accommodation.

"The guidance on how to use the funding and how to spend it actually came out towards the end of 2021 so the year was pretty much over before we got the guidance on how to spend it but the next financial year should have been better. There is a lot more spend allocated for this year and has actually been spent and part of that is the cost of running a refuge."