THURROCK Council has ignored its own rules and government guidelines to spend more than £13,000 on a staff perk at the Town Hall. 

At a time when the cash-strapped council is cutting spending on front line services - including making old folk pay for potentially life-saving alarm pendants, it has splashed out on a shower facility for officers who walk or cycle to the civic offices in the heart of Grays.

The decision to install showers at the town hall was made without proper authority by a senior director who did not seek approval - a clear breach of spending regulations imposed when the then billion pound debt-laden council went into government intervention.

The rule-breaking decision was reported in an exclusive Thurrock Nub News story last week - and further investigations show it's not for a vital or statutory service but an officer perk.

Our original story also detailed how officers were breaching rules to buy treats including 'inappropriate vouchers', Christmas decorations and flowers for staff. 

The council should operate a policy where no spending can take place over £500 without independent approval.

One major disclosure by an audit probe highlighted a £13,750 unapproved on one purchase order for a shower cubicle that had been approved verbally by a director, 'with no audit trail'.  

Initial thoughts were it might have been an urgent purchase for a resident in need as it came through the Place directorate, that has responsibility for social housing repairs and the like. 

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Instead Nub News questioning has revealed it's for a shower in the town hall. 

We understand at least one of its users will be a very senior officer in the same directorate, who earns significantly more than £105,000 a year but wants the council to pay for his pre-work wash and brush up!

Since intervention, the council has been ordered not to do anything that isn't a statutory requirement. 

Provision for workers' showers in this instance is far from a statutory requirement. 

Here is the breakdown of the legal requirements based on the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992:

When Showers are Required (Legal Requirement): Employers must provide showers (or baths) if the work is considered: 

Dirty or Strenuous: Work that causes heavy sweating or makes the worker dirty.

Hazardous/Contaminating: Work where employees are exposed to dangerous substances that require thorough cleaning for health reasons (e.g., in construction or manufacturing). 

When Showers are NOT Required

Commuting/Exercise: Employers are not legally required to provide showers for staff who cycle to work or exercise during lunch breaks.

Office Work: Generally, standard office environments do not require showers, provided employees are not doing "dirty work".

Thurrock Council has defended its decision. 

A statement says: "In line with most large employers, Thurrock Council has historically provided showers for staff at its civic offices. 

"This allows staff the option to travel to work by cycling or running should they wish to, which has many benefits both for staff wellbeing and the environment. 

"Showers had not been available to staff since the old offices building was taken out of use, and members of staff had asked for new showers to be provided.

 "The Facilities Management team took this work forward, following our agreed procurement processes, but regrettably failed to complete one form which seeks senior level approval. 

"We take any breach of process extremely seriously, which is why the error was reported to Audit Committee.

"We now have a plan in place to remind staff about our agreed processes, and ensure such breaches are avoided in future."

The council has not indicated if any disciplinary action has been taken against officers who flouted the rules.