ON a night of bickering and clear friction between opposition parties, Thurrock's new council chamber hosted its first meeting on Thursday, 13 October.

But before the new chamber, housed in the controversial new civic offices extension, saw its first debate, there was a surreal passage when Conservative councillors entered the dark, mouldy and somewhat smelly former chamber in a part of the building and commemorated its passing with a torchlight prayer and a blessing.

The chamber was deemed impossible to use after a serious flood in the building in September last year. For months councillors had to find new venues to host meetings, which often led to confusion and chaos as equipment failed and online links with members and officers proved unsustainable.

Several venues were used for meetings, including the Thameside Theatre, South Essex College and the Beehive Community resource centre.

It was hoped to start using the new chamber in the spring, but an embarrassing fiasco ensured as it was discovered the chamber had only been equipped to cope with 35 councillors, rather than 49.

It took eight months to transform was was unveiled in March as the new chamber (right) to the chamber that opened for business on Thursday evening. New raised flooring and new bespoke desks are among the changes described by the council as 'snagging'. furniture

The council continually put the problems down to 'snagging' and cloaked the issue in secrecy. Even in the first meeting in the chamber, the council has played down the problems and at Thursday's full meeting an attempt by Labour opposition leader to get answers was fobbed off and he was unable to get definitive reasons from the administration.

Labour and opposition councillors boycotted the service in the old chamber, led by Mayor Cllr James Halden and his chaplain, Rev Canon Darren Barlow. After the prayers, councillors and officers were led by the mayor's newly appointed cadet macebearer Marius McMahon s they made their way to the new chamber.

Cllr Kent has described events in the old chamber as a 'clown circus'.

One of the first items on the agenda when the meeting, which was a rerun of a postponed agenda following a legal blunder which meant the original meeting couldn't be convened, was the election of Cllr Mark Coxshall as the new leader, as reported on the night by Nub News. 

One of his first tasks was to answer a question from Cllr Kent about the new chamber. Cllr Kent asked: "We are told, the new council chamber "has been meticulously designed to stand for generations." Why then, was this "meticulously designed" chamber unable to be used for annual council, on the 25th of May or for the June and July council meetings?"

Cllr Coxshall blustered though that question and supplementary questions but failed to conced any real answers and blustered around what was clearly a hugely embarrassing situation for the Conservative administration that had fought hard to get the controversial extension though concept and planning stages. The full cost of the building, a moot point in numerous debates over the past two years, still remains unconfirmed. The administration says the complete cost of the project comes in art around £10 millions – critics believe it will ultimately prove to be a lot more, if ever the true figures are released for public consumption.

Mayor Cllr James Halden was accompanied by his new cadet to the new chamber, where Rev Canon Darren Barlow read a short prayer.

In his opening address to the meeting, Cllr Halden said: "We have a new administration and new chamber. However, we felt it was right to formally close the old Chamber to reflect the transition to a modern, more efficient and open place to do the public's business. We have had school children in already and I hope to see more and more people and businesses being welcomed into this modern facility to see and take part in the major decisions that impact our lives."

Cllr Coxshall added: "It really is an exciting time for Thurrock and this new chamber helps to represent the change and culture shift new leadership is bringing to this council.

"Thank you to all staff for their hard work and commitment to our borough over the years. I look forward to working with officers, and councillors from all parties in this new chamber to make Thurrock the best it can be."

And one of the last of the first meeting - which at times saw verbal clashes between Conservatives and their independent and Labour rivals, was to debate a motion, proposed by Chadwell St Mary Conservative member Cllr Adam Carter to name the new building as Thurrock's Town Hall.

Gone, but not forgotten on Thuirsday. The old civic chamber.

An amendment proposed by independent Cllr Gary Byrne that the name changed be postponed until the building was shown to be fit for purpose, failed to gain support even though members from all parties acknowledged a host of problems that remained with the new chamber and though the building as a whole, with leaking toilets, broken lifts, poor access and a lack of provision and signage for disabled people all commented on.

In the end the vote was carried by the Conservative majority and so Grays is now host to the official borough town hall.

In a statement issued today (Friday, 14 October), by the council, the merits of the new building were played up.

It read: "The new Chamber, which has been designed to stand for generations, is the last area of the new, innovative civic offices building to open its doors. The building has opened in phases with its multi-functional committee rooms hosting council and community meetings since April.

"It is also home to a bespoke Register Office, which hosts three ceremony rooms, and a ceremonial garden. The first wedding was held in the Lacey Suite on Saturday 2 April, in the Mulberry Suite on Saturday, 9 April, and in the smaller Register Office on Tuesday, 20 September. In total, 128 weddings/civil partnerships have taken place up to Thursday, 6 October. Two private citizenship and eight group citizenship ceremonies have also been held.

"The Register Office has taken 42 notices of marriage since Tuesday 20 September, and also carries out birth and death registrations. Find out more about the services offered online.

"In September, the new purpose-built coffee shop opened to council staff and members of the public. Offering indoor and outdoor seating, it has a range of hot and cold drinks, savouries and sweet treats. Opening times are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

"Residents can still make payments, report problems and apply for services easily online."