EXCLUSIVE: THE nature of a secret, behind closed doors, meeting of Thurrock Council's planning committee has been revealed - with council officers urging members to overturn their veto on a controversial housing estate in Orsett after developers threatened councillors and committee members with punitive and high court action.

A Nub News investigation shows potential links between council leader Cllr Lynn Worrall and the authority's portfolio holder for good growth, Cllr Lee Watson, who were retrospectively invited to talks to change a democratically arrived-at decision.

A whistle-blowing delivery of secret papers has unveiled the pressure piled on committee members to turn turtle on a publicly-debated decision to put residents' wishes and environmental priorities ahead of commercial development.

At a meeting of Thurrock Council's planning committee in December councillors were applauded by residents for standing up against developers' pressure to build 150 new homes in Orsett. 

The applicants, Barratt David Wilson Homes (BDW), believe the land is now classified as grey belt, rather than green belt – an assumption planning officers agree with. And the officers recommended the application for approval.

After a long debate on Tuesday, 9 December councillors voted and were split 4-3 in favour of rejection of the scheme, which everyone agreed would have been unlikely to have been passed a couple of years ago. Discussion on the application on 9 December, including presentations by all interested parties and the outcome can be viewed here.

It always seemed likely the developers would move on to a planning appeal after that verdict - but instead they appear to have gone on the front foot with a direct demand for a change of decision.

The matter came up again at a planning meeting last month (10 February) - but it was moved into secret session, with the press and public exempt. Details of what was to be discussed were not made public.

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And the matter lay dormant pending publication of the agenda for next week's planning meeting when the site comes up again - with a recommendation for approval on grounds the councillors' previous objections did not meet policies within the National Planning Policy Framework.

This is a link to the report going before councillors.

Thurrock Nub News had pressed councillors and officers to reveal the secrets, but they remained tight-lipped. However, publication earlier this week of next week's planning committee agenda appears to have provoked someone's conscience and a copy of correspondence from the developers has been secretly sent to us.

It reveals an astonishing level of pressure and accusation of bias against members of the planning committee, including its chairman and another non-voting member who represents the interests of rural England.

Thurrock Nub News editor Neil Speight is also an independent local councillor and he asked to sit in on the planning committee consideration of the letter from developers. He was kicked out of the meeting after a vote by councillors and a request from its chairman. Ironically, under the council's code of conduct, had he been admitted it would have been morally reprehensible to write this report. 

But being refused entry and the subsequent action of an unknown whistle-blower affronted by the circumstances brings the whole matter right into the public domain. 

Mr Speight said: "It's a strange twist of fate but one I am glad has happened as I can now publish this damning correspondence from developers who are clearly attempting to bully Thurrock Council."

Ray Houghton

In the secret submission to council written by Ray Houghton, BDW Eastern Region's head of planning, BDW accuse planning committee chairman Cllr Mike Fletcher of not doing his job properly and they threaten taking him personally to the High Court to recover costs.

Cllr Fletcher has previously warned developers against bullying. Nub News reported on his concerns in July 2024:  https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/leading-planning-councillors-warns-developers-that-members-will-not-be-threatened-234707.

After the decision to reject their scheme, Mr Houghton - who spoke on behalf of BDW at the original planning meeting - entered into correspondence with the council's planning chief, Ashley Baldwin, saying: "We respectfully request that our application be reconsidered by the planning committee, supported by a legal opinion.

"BDW will also obtain our own legal opinion and our KC's initial advice is that BDW would have a very high prospect of planning success at an inquiry, and can appreciate that officers would be unwilling to defend a refusal at appeal and it would likely be the chair of the Planning Committee who would be cross-examined.

"If that were to be the case we would also consider applying for an award of costs against that individual if their testimony were to collapse under scrutiny."

Ray Houghton's letter to Thurrock Council that has been leaked to Thurrock Nub News.

In the next part of their communication the developers make the mistaken comment that Mr Taylor is a councillor!

They wrote: "BDW will also consider whether the authority has erred procedurally contrary to the council's constitution. We contend that Cllr Steve Taylor (sic), a non-voting co-opted member, shared incorrect facts that unduly influenced the debate and his actions at best coached and at worst misled the voting members, including the chair.

"Further, Mr Taylor who spoke for a total of 40 minutes over the course of the proceedings, suggested reasons for refusal which is outside the remit of a non-voting member and we recall that he put his hand up to vote further influencing members."

Timing film of the meeting, Nub News can inform readers that BDW's assertion about how long Mr Taylor spoke is false. Mr Taylor has also spoken to Nub News and denied that he spoke inappropriately and absolutely refuted any suggestion he had raised his arm to vote.

The council's cabinet member for good growth, Cllr Lee Watson, has been dragged into the furore by a suggestion from BDW that she engaged with them prior to the planning meeting, saying they had 'positive pre-application engagement' with her.

BDW also asked for a meeting with council leader Cllr Lynn Worrall to discuss the planning application, something that may be unprecedented in Thurrock local governance as politics is supposed to be kept out of planning matters. It is not known if either councillor had further correspondence with BDW, but the council's communications team has declined to respond or answer questions put to it this week.

COMMENT by Neil Speight, Thurrock Nub News editor

There are many parts of the proposed development at Orsett that have great merit. Even one of its key opponents, the now maligned co-optee Steve Taytlor, praised it - but said - 'not in this location'; based on his years living in the borough and more than a decade on the planning committee.

Under the guidance of committee chairman Cllr Mike Fletcher, who has now served for a considerable time as head of the committee with distinction, democratically elected councillors arrived at a decision to reject it.

They were representing local opinion and took a long time and asked many questions before arriving at their decision.

Over the past 22 years I have probably witnessed more planning committee meetings in Thurrock than anyone who currently show a interest in planning. I was present for the debate on 9 december. Everyone's opinion counted and everyone had a fair say.

A decision was arrived at.

The developers didn't like it. They have an accepted course of action to appeal, going to the Planning Inspectorate.

Instead, like kids throwing their toys out of the pram. they have outrageously tried to bully Thurrock Council to their way of thinking.

To the shame of senior officers and legal advisors, the spurious and unsubstantiated vilification of two respected members of the planning committee by the developers has been given weight and a proposal has been concocted for next week's meeting so they get their way. It is absolute cowardice from the council officers and they should be ashamed.

The ball now sits with members of the committee next week. They have the chance to make a statement about truth and honesty and it is my opinion they should throw out this regenerated application. And they should inform the Planning Inspectorate of the disgraceful, defamatory and disgusting allegation from BDW that is only now brought to public attention of an unknown whistleblower who has done democracy a great service.

BDW started its presentation to the committee stated that they wanted to do 'something special'. If special now means appalling, they certainly have.