THURROCK Council has been urged to back an independent public inquiry into "catastrophic financial failings" which resulted in a £1 billion debt.

The previous Tory administration at Thurrock Council, along with the then Conservative Government, refused to back a call for a probe into disastrous investments made under the watch of former chief executive Lyn Carpenter and finance director Sean Clark.

The fallout will be felt by Thurrock residents for decades to come but Government appointed commissioners brought in to clear up the financial mess have also declined to call for a public inquiry into the debacle which a councillor has said borders on criminality.

Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West, has put forward a motion to council urging the administration to act. It will be debated at tomorrow's full council meeting (Thursday, 26 September).

Cllr Speight said all councillors were being regularly asked by residents when someone will be held accountable.

He told the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "Our answer is, we don't know.

"There are indications of blame in the Best Value Report produced by the commissioners, but it fails to be specific.

"It indicates blame, bordering on criminality, but does not explore the issue. Police say they are aware and watching, but they need to be asked to launch a probe.

"We remain in limbo and it's a continuing and weeping sore on the integrity of this council. People don't just want answers, they deserve answers.

"Some of the biggest and most vocal critics when that happened were Labour members. They are now in the majority and I see no reason why their view will have changed, and now the matter will go before a Labour minister. Maybe that will prompt a change?"

The council has been forced to go cap in hand to Government to bail it out but is still looking at a £3million projected deficit for 2024/25. That fugure could rise andthere are further multi-million pound cuts planned for the next two years.

Cllr Speight said: "The residents of Thurrock are being crucified by the debt and the catastrophic financial failure of the council. It impacts daily on their lives – and with Draconian and punitive further cuts to come, things will get worse."

Council leader Cllr John Kent backed the call. He told the LDRS: "The financial collapse of Thurrock Council, delivered by Thurrock Tories, was the biggest of any British council. As a result, the council has a debt of a billion pounds, Council tax has risen by 18 per cent and services have been cut.

"Residents will be paying the price of Tory mismanagement for years to come. We deserve to see a comprehensive investigation into the financial collapse of the council to identify just how it was allowed to happen."