THURROCK Council's Labour opposition leader Cllr John Kent has condemned the Conservative administration in the wake of today's damning Best Value Report released by the government.

The report outlines a litany of mistakes, deceit and bad management over the past seven years, during which time the council, led by rogue officers and with little or no challenge from top councillors, ran up a debt approaching £1.5 billion.

Current Conservative leader Cllr Andrew Jefferies and recently appointed CEO Dr Dave Smith have called the report a tranitional moment and have pledged to 'put things right' - but that cuts little ice with Labour's Cllr John Kent.

He, and many of his group colleagues, were criticised and mocked when they raised concerns about the growing problem of a failed investment property. The report acknowledges that the Tories deliberately, and as a matter of policy, played down the problem and tried to cover it up.

Speaking to Thurrock Nub News today (Thursday, 15 June), Cllr Kent said: "This damning report confirms what Thurrock residents have lived through since Thurrock Conservatives took over a well-run local council that focussed on local peoples' priorities.

"They have allowed the council to become entirely dysfunctional, insular and complacent.

"Conservative cabinet members are shown to have been painfully uncritical, easily manipulated and lacking in basic leadership skills, culminating in bankruptcy, saddling local residents with decades of debt and poor services.

"The report speaks of 'Dereliction in political and managerial leadership' and speaks of 'An abdication of responsibility by politicians and senior managers'.

"These Conservative councillors regularly mocked and ignored Labour's concerns about the stewardship of the council and its growing debt. Instead, they praised their own actions, misled councillors, and dishonestly reassured local people.

"In my view, they are unfit to hold public office, yet shamelessly they cling to power - even the local Tory MP was forced to admit local people don't want Conservatives running Thurrock Council.

"Those cabinet members - past and present - who have been responsible for this catastrophe need to find some moral fibre, do the right thing and resign immediately to seek a fresh mandate from their voters.

"I welcome the report's recommendations - particularly the advice that we move to all out elections. I note the minister is suggesting that happens from 2025, I see no good reason to wait until then, the residents of Thurrock should be able to elect a whole new council next May.

"We say let the people decide."