THURROCK Council leader Cllr Mark Coxshall has said he is unable to rule out selling the authority's housing stock as a way of meeting part of the huge debt mountain the council faces.

Quizzed by opposition councillors John Kent and Lynn Worrall at this evening's (Wednesday, 26 October) meeting of the full council Cllr Coxshall said nothing was 'off the table' and he was unable to make a promise that it wouldn't happen.

Housing portfolio holder Cllr Luke Spillman was also put under pressure on the same subject but said he had not taken part in any discussion involving selling council housing stock.

Cllr Worrall told the meeting the council had around 10,000 properties generating an annual revenue of around £50 million and residents were concerned that the properties would be sold to a housing association to raise cash.

The council needs to find a way to raise hundreds of millions of pounds to balance its books after a disastrous foray into the energy-producing markets that has led to government intervention and commissioners brough in to reset its finances.

She said that residents were concerned and worried and asked: "Can you give me an assurance that these homes will not be sold."

Cllr Coxshall said: "I cannot really say anything. Everything is on the table, we have to look at everything."

Cllr Worrell responded by saying: "I don't really know what to say. In all my time as a councillor I never thought I would have to ask that question. Why have we got here? Our residents could end up with a housing association."

Cllr Coxshall concluded: "I can't promise that won't happen. I do think we have to go through everything. We have no plans for that but we have to go through things and to try and find out what their value is."