THURROCK councillors met this evening (Wednesday, 1 March) to debate a number of key issues, but most notably the proposed 9.9 per cent council tax increase and the future of the Thameside Complex and its theatre.

In the end the majority of Conservative councillors forced through the council tax rise - but there were mixed messages on the Thameside - some hope but the meeting ended with the ruling group voting down a motion to retain the Thameside Complex as a hub for arts, culture, and heritage for the community of Thurrock.

Before the meeting a couple of hundred residents who are calling on the council to 'Save the Thameside' and mounted a placard-waving protest with speeches from local campaigners and councillors.

Councillors arrived at their desks to find a letter, dated 1 March, from government minister Lee Rowley from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The letter that greeted Thurrock councillors this evening.

It echoes a statement made to Nub News by a Conservative councillor today who said he felt councillors who had grave concerns about the increase were being forced to agree to it with 'a smoking gun held to our heads'.

The first significant action at the meeting brought new hope to Thameside Theatre campaigners.

With music, cheering and chanting echoing from outside the building as campaigners stood their ground, the meeting began with a question from the public.

Leading Thameside Theatre campaigner Sam Byrne asked the leader of the council, Cllr Mark Coxshall, the following question.

"Councillor Coxshall, in your new era of openness and transparency and your calls at many meetings for all 49 councillors to be included in the important decisions ahead, may I please request that you allow the very important decision on the future of the Thameside Complex to be voted on, not only by the nine members of your party who sit on the Cabinet but indeed by all 49 councillors at a full council meeting."

Cllr Coxshall said: "This is an executive decision and as such sits in the cabinet." However he then went into expansive mode and said there were new options on the table.

He said: "Cabinet will be asking for new bids. There is an opportunity to present new proposals.

"I am passionate about it (the Thameside) and I don't want it lost to the borough of Thurrock."

Members stood and raised their hands to indicate support for the Thameside Theatre. Later in the meeting, some of those Tories who raised their arms spoke up for closing the Thameside. Among them were Cllr Shane Ralph (left) and Joy Redsell (sitting, right).

Ms Byrne then asked members to stand or raise their hands in a show of support for the Thameside. Opposition members stood and several Conservatives raised their hands!

In what may not be the first disagreement of the evening, when councillors came to discuss the Independent Remuneration Panel, an item on the agenda, opposition leader Cllr John Kent said he felt that given the council's current financial situation it was 'offensive' to discuss councillor allowances. That brought loud cheers from the packed public gallery.

And there were jeers for Cllr Coxshall when he said he believed in 'a fair day's pay for a fair day's work'.

The debate on next year's budget then began with Cllr Coxshall saying: "I am on the side of making tough decisions and hard choices to protect services in this borough that I value."

Cllr Mark Coxshall addressed the chamber.

Finance portfolio holder Cllr Graham Snell said: "There remain considerable challenges ahead. It will be necessary to seek exceptional financial support from the government. That will happen if this budget is approved."

Cllr Kent responded by saying: "We are asked to vote in support of a range of savings proposals. We only learned we were being asked to vote on it last night. There is no detail, no risk assessment we cannot support recommendation number 8

"Last year the leader made a great play of telling us this budget was a fresh start and he and his cronies had nothing to do with the council's financial position, the largest financial collapse in UK local authority history.

"Far from being a fresh council, the council leader and his deputy have sat on the cabinet since 2016.

"Far from a fresh start this is like the arsonist who set fire to your house coming back and saying 'it's OK, I have made a fresh start and I have brought you a bucket of water'.

"The Conservatives have bankrupted Thurrock Council. The people of Thurrock will have to pay for that for years to come."

Speaking next Labour's Cllr Martin Kerin derided Tory claims that they were open and transparent, saying: "Last night we got given, at quarter to seven, new proposals. This is not the way to do things. It is not open and transparent."

And he criticised the leader's comments about the scale of the increase, adding: "To use the language of 'modest' in relation to a ten percent increase! This is not modest for the majority of people in Thurrock.

"If you think its modest you need to think how the decisions made in here affect the people out there."

Conservative Cllr Luke Spillman derided the Labour group, saying unlike them he was taking responsibility. He said: "It would be very easy as someone who was not in cabinet to say 'It's not my fault guv'."

Members of the gallery became involved in heated exchanges with Cllr Luke Spillman.

Turning to Labour members he said: "They have become a populist mess over there, all you care about is saving your own necks. It is vacuous politics. We are making a plan."

Tory Cllr Shane Ralph said: "I don't think some people grasp the full extent of what has happened. We have been told there will be consequences if we don't support 9.9%."

Independent councillor Fraser Massey gave a measured view of his perception, saying: "Firstly I don't believe we would have this budget in front of us if it wasn't for the solar investments,

"I do recognise we would still have challenges, but even without the solar investments the other investments into companies such as wood chipping, generators, business loans and finance, the amount invested would still be close to an entire year's worth of annual budget.

"I still have unanswered questions from nearly two years ago regarding some of those investments, but I think we can safely say that ship has sailed.

"What has gone on regarding the council finances is both alarming at the scale of the issues and worrying at the timescales involved to get to a point of normality.

"And the difference between the percentages is money out of the public pockets which are already facing pressures with the cost of living.

"The number one worry when speaking to residents is they are going to be paying more and getting less.

"They also are concerned the amount is more than would usually be allowed without a public referendum, I share this concern.

"I will support the adult social care increase, as I have done in previous budgets. The pressures are clear for all to see and we have to protect those important residents and services in our communities.

"I will also support an increase of the normal referendum limit in respect to the main percentage increase. What I cannot support is a specially arranged limit with Government."

Labour's Lynn Worrall slammed the Tories for their attitude to the public, describing her political rivals as 'shameful'.

The Conservatives' Cllr Allen Mayes said: "Everybody played a part in that ultimately we all have to take responsibility for this."

He said he had given a great deal of thought to the matter, adding: "There are people on the breadline."

Referring to the budget recommendations he added: "We were told there would be consequences, a threatening term to councillors. "

He said those consequences could see Thurrock merged into London and residents facing a 22 per cent council tax increase.

Bowing to the 'threat' he said: "I will be supporting ten per cent because five per cent will be the death of this council."

Former Labour leader Cllr Jane Pothecary angrily damned the Conservatives for the policy of secrecy, of 'shielding officers' and for making the decisions that had brought the council down.

She said: "It is absolutely unacceptable for you to say we supported this. You wanted power, you had it, you have to accept responsibility."

Independent group Cllr Gary Byrne said: "Tonight is total panto. They are asking us to bail out their gross negligence."

He compared Thurrock with Basildon, acknowledging residents there paid a little more in council tax for Thurrock. He then listed some of the things they got for their money, including an Olympic swimming pool, a sports village, two theatres and officers who could deliver project development plans that were completed.

He concluded: "Tonight will see Conservatives vote in favour. They are saying we should pay for staying in a three star hotel but pay the price for the five star next door."

Tory deputy leader Cllr Deb Arnold – who at a previous meeting described Thurrock residents as 'living beyond their means' - said she had been a part of the flawed decision-making process and added: "I am sorry for that. But I will work to put it right."

And she criticised the Labour group, saying: "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" and concluded that putting the council tax up to 9.9 per cent was not just the 'right thing to do', it was the 'only thing to do'.

Independent councillor John Allen, said he was a council house tenant and he had already received his council rent rise and now he faced a significant tax rise. He said the rises were not tenable for many residents.

He then accused the Tories of a failure in due diligence, of scrutinising their officers and being the architects of the council's demise. You are blaming all councillors for supporting the investment strategy but year after year we had your former portfolio holder for finance telling us we were doing well. Someone was telling lies.

"Was he reading from a script that was prepared for him. Someone needs to be held accountable. Who is that going to be?"

In turn, Tory Cllr Andrew Jefferies said the responsibility was with all councillors. Despite having a budget package in front of him that includes service cuts and job losses and sitting through several meetings when cuts and job loses were agreed, he said: "We have to be sensible and responsible. Not putting up council tax to ten per cent tonight will mean services and jobs being cut."

The budget proposal put to members includes cuts to street cleaning, ending non-statutory youth work and withdrawing subsidy for three bus routes.

Those cuts include:

• £2m - on vacancy factors, where savings are made from job vacancies not being filled over the next year
• £455,000 - withdrawing bus subsidy payments for three routes
• £264,000 - reviewing street lighting and dimming lights accordingly between 00:00 and 05:00
• £250,000 - charges for domiciliary care for some users
• £150,000 - increasing trade waste service charging and new charges for commercial food waste
• £126,000 - partly by ending youth work that is not essential/mandated by government
• £116,000 - reducing street cleaning, grass verge cutting and the "clean and green" operation
• £30,000 - banning vans from household waste recycling centres to stop commercial waste from being tipped

It was perhaps little wonder then that the next speaker facing the Conservatives, was Labour's Cllr Victoria Holloway who in response to Cllr Jefferies' statement, said: "No-one believes a word any of you say."

The temperature in the chamber was slowly rising and, as the gallery increasingly interjected, there was an angry outburst from one onlooker who rose from his seat to roundly abuse councillors.

Independent Cllr Jennifer Smith said that she could not support the ten per cent increase because she owed a responsibility to her residents, who should not be held to account to pay for Conservatives' mistakes.

Cllr Coxshall then summed up and paid tribute to all who had spoken, saying it was a representation of democracy in action.

However, he concluded with his own condemnation of the Labour group and accused them of not having solutions and 'playing to the gallery'.

When it came to the crucial votes, all councillors agreed the two per cent increase in council tax that will be ring-fenced for adult social care - and on the big vote, for a further 7.9 increase taking the total local precept to 9.9% Tories carried the day by a majority of nine, 24-15. All the Conservatives present supported the rise, while Labour and independent members voted against.

Within seconds of the vote being recorded, the Conservative group that had just roundly damned the Labour group for 'playing politics' and 'playing to the gallery', issued the following press release:

"Thurrock's Council tax is set to rise next year but will remain cheaper than any of geographical neighbours in Essex or London.

"The alternative Labour put forward at Full Council on the 1st March would put the Council into special measures with an unbalanced budget.

"This would mean that Thurrock Council would cease to exist, all staff would be made redundant and Thurrock would be set to join Essex or London.

"Joining Essex would lead to a 20%+ council tax rise and becoming a London would be a 40% rise plus potential stealth taxes like ULEZ.

"A Thurrock Conservatives spokesman said: 'Thurrock Labour are publicly proposing a lower council tax rise without a balanced budget. What they haven't told the public is the knock on implications of their political point scoring, either because they are incompetent and don't know what they are doing or they are being disingenuous to residents.

"If the Council doesn't have a balanced budget then it will end up in special measures and then that means Council Tax increase up to 40% & becoming a London Borough without a vote of residents.

"This would mean additional knock on impact and stealth taxes such as the ULEZ if Labour get their dream of being a London borough.

"Tough decisions need to be made, and while Thurrock will maintain the lowest Council Tax of our neighbours in Essex and London we want to be honest with residents rather than mislead them like Labour. Thurrock's choice in May is the Conservatives or the incompetent/disingenuous Labour party'."

Business then moved on to other items on the agenda, with Tilbury councillor Cllr John Allen challenging environment portfolio holder Cllr Andrew Jefferies over the continued problem with dust in Tilbury.

Cllr Andrew Jefferies responding to questions.

A statement to a resident from a council spokesperson had blamed recent issues as being down to 'dust from the Sahara' - while Cllr Allen was insistent that the problem had a local origin. He asked Cllr Jefferies to ensure he put the needs of Tilbury residents 'ahead of big business'.

A vitriolic exchange then followed between Cllr Jefferies and Cllr Byrne in response to Cllr Byrne's question: "The day after January's full council, you put out propaganda claiming the opposition voted in favour of ULEZ, was there an actual vote on ULEZ charges or did we vote for our preferred option on the two motions presented?" The exchange degenerated into a personal spat, with Cllr Jefferies branding Cllr Byrne a Labour member in all but name and saying that he hoped residents in Cllr Byrne's ward would deliver a verdict on him at may's election.

Cllr Lynn Worrall then quizzed Cllr Jefferies over the waste collection bins service, particularly the brown bin (garden waste) collection service. Cllr Jefferies detailed improvements made to the service, including changing local management but the priority had been given to blue and green bins.

He conceded the brown bin service failed to meet expectations and that it was on the council's agenda to improve it as soon as possible, adding: "Regarding the brown bins, it's rubbish, appalling. But we prioritised the general waste and recycling and that is now performing well."

He assured Cllr Worrall that the council were looking to resolve the staff shortages that caused the problems and, in response to another questions said that other bin collection services will remain a weekly service.

Aveley Cllr Maureen Pearce then pressed housing portfolio Cllr Luke Spillman over problematic homes in her ward.

She said: "Tenants of the Airey houses in Central Avenue, and Love Lane, Aveley, were decanted from their properties whilst essential works were completed by the council. They were told that they would be out of their homes for a matter of weeks, but after more than 12 months they are yet to return as works are still ongoing. Does the portfolio polder agree this is both unacceptable and unfair and what is being done to ensure the works are now completed?"

Cllr Spillman agreed the situation was unacceptable and apologised to the residents and pledged to take action to help resolve the issue.

No Love for new school. Cllr Maureen Pearce wants action taken against builders who are not adhering to planning restrictions over a new school in her ward.

Cllr Pearce then turned to council leader Cllr Coxshall and asked what was being done to stop abuses of planning conditions by builders currently constructing the new and controversial primary school in Love Lane - a building she described as 'not needed'.

She added: "Mud and debris are being strewn on residential roads, HGVs appear to be accessing the site outside of permitted hours and driving along inappropriate routes, asking residents to move their vehicles in the early hours on one such occasion so that they could pass. What action can the council take to address these issues with the developer?

"They are just taking the Mickey out of us."

Cllr Coxshall said: "It's terrible, you have been passionate about this. I will come down with you to see for myself. Be of no doubt, we will take action - and then committed himself to visiting the site next week.

The meeting then entered its final item, almost returned ton the start more than three hours earlier when the Thameside protest outside was at its zenith.

Cllr John Kent proposed a motion saying: "Council calls on cabinet to retain the Thameside Complex as a hub for arts, culture, and heritage for the community of Thurrock to own."

He outlined reasons why the Thameside should remain in place to host the library, museum and theatre and added: "Council calls on cabinet to retain the Thameside Complex as a hub for arts, culture, and heritage for the community of Thurrock to own.

"I was heartened by what I heard earlier that there are opportunities for new proposals and he is passionate about the Thameside. I welcome that."

Labour's Cllr Jane Pothecary then asked Conservative members: "Did you listen to the people outside? I wish you would have talked to them. Then you would have heard why the building means so much to them. Closing the building will be a betrayal of our young people, of their hopes and their aspirations.

Cllr Jane Pothecary delivered an impassioned plea for the Thameside Theatre and the Thameside Complex.

"You asked the community to step up and they have delivered. This building belongs to the community, you have to give it to the community. You have a choice - a choice to put your residents first."

That plea was echoed by Cllr Martin Kerin who warned members that if the building was closed down or sold the borough would be poorer for its loss and it was unlikely to be replaced. "When it's gone, it's gone" he said. "Please think what you are saying to future generations if you dismantle it."

Cllr Mark Coxshall responded by saying: "We have got to get through some of the rhetoric. I hope some day people will see the crying wolf and the rhetoric for what it is. What we want is better services. We don't talk about people, we don't talk about buildings. If we get stuck talking about buildings. we will go down a hole.

"We want a cultural hub, a good museum and a bloody good library

"I would like to vote for this motion tonight, but we have to go through a proper process to look at offers and what is out there. We need to look at what we can do for a culture hub and I think that works out really well with the live, work and play agenda in the local plan. Let's just think if that building is the best place?

"What can we do to see a great cultural hub. I can't vote for this but I promise you we are going to move forward as a cabinet. We have waited too long, two years. I want to see culture survive and thrive in Thurrock."

Cllr Joy Redsell backed her leader and described the Thameside complex as a building that is not fit for purpose. "I want to see a better building", she said. Cllr Qaisar Abbas, the portfolio holder for culture and communities described the building as old and also not fit for use.

Residents who protested outside the Town Hall will have been disheartened by the rejection of a motion to commit to saving the Thameside.

Cllr Cathy Kent reminded councillors of the protest outside, saying: "They have told us what they want. They are passionate about this building, they want to keep their theatre. I would ask you to look carefully at this and save this building."

Cllr Gary Byrne simply wanted to know what Cllr Abbas thought the building was old, which didn't stop 'your mates' wanting it, which was a reference to the submission of a bid to run it from his former associates at Waltham International College.

Conservative Cllr Ben Maney referred to the input of commissioners who had evaluated the council's assets, and who determined it would require between 16 and 18 million to bring the building up to an acceptable standard. He said the council had not got that money and there had been a sustained failure to invest in the building.

He challenged the Labour group to come forward 'with a plan that is economically viable'. "So far you haven't told us how you would make it sustainable," he concluded.

Summing up, Cllr Kent expressed his view that it was 'amazing' how the Conservatives issued a positive message in front of a packed gallery - but the messages became muted when it was empty. He described what he had heard as 'disappointing'.

Conservatives unanimously voted the motion down by what had become the evening's statutory numbers 24-15!