Council meeting is switched again as authority continues to be tightlipped about botched civic chamber
By Neil Speight
23rd Jun 2022 | Local News
A FURTHER delay has been announced in the opening of Thurrock Council's new civic chamber.
It is housed inside the new civic office extension which opened to the public last month for limited events and it has staged some council meetings in other rooms – but the state of the chamber, the supposedly prestigious heart of the building remains wrapped in secrecy.
Its windows remain blacked out and not only the public, but also councillors have been banned from entering it.
Earlier this year Thurrock Nub News broke the story of the blunders in the chamber, which was deemed not fit four purpose by those who did get a sneak preview before the council locked its doors. From that event whistleblowers leaked a picture of the chamber.
The main fault appears to have been that the chamber was created to host 35 councillors – while there are actually 49!
In April council CEO Lyn Carpenter told staff work was progressing on schedule and on budget, adding: "I am sure that when it is all finished in the next few weeks, it will be a great addition to the civic buildings in Grays."
Many weeks later, the chamber remains closed and will be next week when the June meeting of the full council is switched to two committee rooms.
That has prompted an angry reaction from Cllr John Kent, leader of the Labour opposition, who says: "Two weeks ago, Thurrock Council was boasting of how it was opening its 'impressive new building' and how the building includes 'a new Council chamber which has been meticulously designed to stand for generations'.
"Just two weeks later we learn that the 'meticulously designed' new council chamber still isn't able to be used for its primary function - to host a council meeting - as next week's council meeting will, again, be held in two committee rooms.
"Along with most residents, Thurrock Labour was against building the new council offices. In our view they are an unnecessary, and unwanted, extravagance.
"But, having built it you would, at least, expect to be able to use it!
"I still haven't seen the new council chamber for myself - my requests to view it have been repeatedly refused - but, every councillor I have spoken to that has actually been into the new chamber, says the same thing. It's too small, it doesn't work, you can't fit 49 councillors - let alone officers and the public - into the space available.
"From what I have been told, they should consider converting the newly opened committee rooms one and two into the council chamber and use the chamber as a committee room.
"It's time that Thurrock Tories came clean. If their expensive 'meticulously designed' new chamber is fit for purpose, then open the doors and let us see it.
"If it doesn't work hold your hands up, admit it and tells how you are going to put it right."
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