CONTROVERSY has arisen over way up to £25 million of government money might be spent in Tilbury.

In September last year it was announced that Tilbury – as well as Grays – had been selected to be one of the 100 places to benefit from the new Towns Fund. The Tilbury Town Fund Board will have access to up to £25 million for projects to benefit the town with a focus on improved transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture.

At the moment Tilbury has a blank canvas and is awaiting input from its local board members.

When news of the grants funding was announced in September last year Cllr Mark Coxshall, Thurrock Council's cabinet member for regeneration, said: "These are investments which will bring communities together and will give Grays and Tilbury new energy and life. It's good news that the government has once again recognised the opportunities which exist in Thurrock. We would love to hear from our communities, if you have any ideas of how we could invest this money, let us know."

Yet on Wednesday, at the council's full meeting, Cllr Coxshall found himself on the end of an angry barrage from Tilbury ward councillor Bukky Okunade who asked: "Can the portfolio holder for regeneration confirm that the £25 million government funding for Tilbury Town has now been received by Thurrock Council?"

Cllr Coxshall responded by saying: "The Tilbury board has to be constituted. They will decided on what to apply for. It's not my job to say it, this is a Conservative government giving us £25 million. They don't just throw it, they want to know what it is for. If the board comes up with good suggestions it will get the money to spend on Tilbury."

That wasn't enough for Cllr Okunade who responded by asking: "Can you assure residents you will deliver on your promise to deliver this money" prompting the response: "No. It's not my decision, it's up to the board to put forward the suggestions about what the board want to do."

Cllr Okunade then asked who was on the board and was told: "I am glad you are interested. They are our MP Jackie Doyle-Price, JDP, a local representative from the CLD Simon Harper (Learning & Development Manager at Port of Tilbury), Lucy Harris (Creative Skills and Places and Tilbury On The Thames Trust), a representative from Amazon (not yet named), Peter Ward (from the Port of Tilbury), a representative of the local community Yewande Kannike, a local ward councillor Allen Mayes and, of course, myself.

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"There is an advisory board and I will make sure you are invited to the advisory board."

That infuriated Cllr Okunade who spoke angrily about the way the board was constituted and that it was not representative of the needs of Tilbury. In the end she had to be silenced by the Mayor, Cllr Terry piccolo who told her to 'sit down'. Which she did, but not after blasting Cllr Coxshall for being 'so rude.'

After the meeting the Labour group on the council issued the following statement: "At this week's council meeting, Labour Councillor Bukky Okunade questioned the Tory Cllr Mark Coxshall on the make-up of the new Tilbury Town Fund Board, set up to manage the £25m grant for regeneration of the area.

"Although a reasonable person would expect such board to be neutral and locally-focused, the only local councillor on the board is recently-elected local councillor (and even more recent Tory defector) Allen Mayes.

"Speaking after the council meeting, long-time Tilbury councillor Bukky Okunade questioned the rationale of this decision. 'It's very surprising that the only party represented on this board is the Conservative party – particularly given that Tilbury does not tend to elect Tories to represent them – as Cllr Mayes knows full well. Cllr Mark Coxshall said in his response that the board has been put in place by the Secretary of State, but I'm sure local politicians and officials would have been consulted and it is a very concerning omission.'

"Cllr Okunade challenged Cllr Coxshall to commit to ensuring that Tilbury residents would see the full benefit of the grant money. 'He repeatedly tells us he has no control over the destination of the money,' said Cllr Okunade. 'But with Cllr Mayes and Jackie Doyle-Price occupying two of the key places he has a good deal more control than he is pretending'."