A LEADING Thurrock Council has acknowledged that the authority has fallen below expectations in dealing with planning enforcement issues – but hopes things will improve in the near future.

In a social media debate about the number of delays and lack of enforcement on planning matters across the borough, the council's portfolio holder for good growth, Cllr Lee Watson, said the problem was due to a lack of staffing.

It transpires that Thurrock has been running at two thirds below its expected capacity to deal with issues – but the council says steps are being taken to fill employment gaps.

The debate in public was sparked by a Thurrock Nub News story about the council not taking enforcement action in relation to a block of 'temporary classrooms' in the green belt at Thurrock rugby club.

A number of residents raised concerns and, in response to a commenting suggesting that the council was shirking issues and staff were not worth their wages, Cllr Watson said: "They do enforce quite a bit, but they are short-staffed too."

Thurrock Nub News asked the council about staffing and were initially told: "Thurrock Council is currently recruiting to two vacant posts in our Planning Enforcement Team as part of the Planning Service restructure. Once these posts are filled the team will be fully staffed.

"All planning enforcement complaints received by the council are dealt with in accordance with the Local Enforcement Plan 2024, which was approved by Cabinet in December 2024.

"More information can be found on our website at https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning-enforcement/investigating-complaints. More information about how planning breach reports should be made can be found at: https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning-enforcement/planning-breaches and more information about how they are prioritised is online at: https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning-enforcement/prioritising-complaints."

When we pressed the matter and asked how many should be in the full team, we were told it is three members of staff.