THURROCK Council has been accused of "shutting the door on a bad smell" for not launching an in-depth investigation into the work of the borough's planning department.

A review of the quality of planning services offered by Thurrock Council concluded there was a lack of direction and good management.

The review, which was carried out by the Local Government Association's Planning Advisory Service at the council's request, took place in November, 2023.

A report updating the council on the progress of a Planning Service Transformation and Improvement Programme was discussed by cabinet last month.

The report said progress centred around better training programmes and leadership improvements.

However, at a full council meeting last week, Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West, said the council had not gone far enough in establishing the reasons for the department's failures despite a council motion calling for a thorough investigation.

Cllr Speight, who had called for an inquiry, said: "To say I was disappointed with the content of that report to cabinet would be an understatement.

"I was expecting – and indeed the motion mandated – a deep dive, subjective assessment of some of the more controversial decisions taken, particular during those two peak years when there were sharp rises in officer rejections being overturned."

advertisement

Cllr Speight's subsequent request for the report to be "called in" for further debate was refused.

Cllr Speight added: "There is a methodology through which this can and will remain in the public eye but I view it as a very sad day for our hopes of honesty, transparency and accountability when the senior officer of the council turns his back on an opportunity to investigate what I am certain is past the threshold of being bad governance and strays into the territory of criminality.

"I am sick to death of seeing senior representatives of this council kick can after can of legitimate concern about bad or criminal practice into the long grass.

"We can – and always should – learn lessons from the past.

"In this instance we have shut the door on a bad smell.

"But I can assure the CEO or commissioner, or whatever title he cares to roll out that when something looks like a duck, sounds like a duck and walks like a duck it is usually a duck.

"And in this instance he has shamefully ducked the issue."