THURROCK Council has declined to give assurances to neighbours of an authority-owned home where local residents have expressed extreme concern about its future use – and the possible return of a troublesome council tenant currently held in prison.

Earlier this week Thurrock Nub News reported on a plea and trial management hearing in which borough resident Zach McCarthy admitted 14 charges relating to criminality and anti-social behaviour. He faces trial in October on three charges to which he pleaded not guilty – but his criminality is now an established fact in the public domain.

As is the history of his occupancy at the council flat in Phillips House, Orsett, which has previously been the scene of violent activity, drug dealing and other anti-social behaviour.

McCarthy was evicted from the property with the assistance of police last December, when the property was boarded up. At a time of acute housing shortage in the borough, it has remained closed and unfit for occupation with no work done on it.

However, the decision to strip McCarthy of his tenancy was overturned by a senior director of the council – much to the consternation of local residents and Orsett ward councillors.

In the wake of his guilty plea and calls to the council for decisive action now, Thurrock Nub News posed three questions to the council. Those questions and the responses are below.

Will Thurrock Council now rescind its decision to allow Zach McCarthy to remain a tenant?

This property is currently subject to a Closure Order, which is a legal measure that restricts access to the address without permission from the Council.

We do not comment on individual tenancy matters; however, the Council expects all tenants to adhere to the terms of their tenancy agreements and will take appropriate action where this is not the case.

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Will work begin to restore the boarded-up property at Phillips House so it can be put back into use?

While the Closure Order on the property is in force, access and any reinstatement works are restricted. Once the Closure Order process has concluded, the Council will review its next steps, including any necessary works, in line with statutory requirements and operational priorities.

Will the Council meet residents' and neighbours' requests for the property to be allocated to older residents to reflect the block's demographic?

Where properties are vacant, the Council follows an allocations policy which ensures that all available homes are allocated fairly, transparently and based on assessed housing needs and priorities. The Council cannot comment on individual cases or prospective allocations.