DESPITE pledges of a new era of openness, transparency and honesty from Thurrock Council, doubts have already been expressed about the validity of that commitment by a leading opposition councillor.

Following his election as new leader of Thurrock Council following the resignation of former leader Rob Gledhill in the wake of financial scandal that has rocked the authority, Cllr Mark Coxhall told an extraordinary meetig of the full council: "I've accepted the leadership of the council because we are in grave danger. I still believe in Thurrock's greatness and we need to make good decisions from now onwards."

Mr Coxshall said he would be leader of all 49 councillors and there would be "greater democracy and greater accountability is the aims of my new administration".

He added: "There's no hiding from it We're in great difficulty and I'm sorry for this but we now need to put things right. I can't pretend it will be easy, quick or fun and it won't be but I can say with your help I will do my best to put things right. This will be a new era of openness, transparency and honesty. "

An investigation into hundreds of millions of pounds of dubious investments is under way and opposition leader John Kent, took the opportunity to grill the administration on the payment of £138 million to a solar energy company owned by entrepreneur Liam Kavanagh. Labour opposition leader Cllr John Kent has consistently asked the council for information about the authority's relationship with a man acknowledged as a 'dodgy dealer' by a High Court Judge.

His call for for openess goes back to 2020 but it seems the wait will go on.

After Cllr Coxshall's election he confirmed his cabinet appointments, which incude Cllr Graham Snell taking responsibility for finance. Cllr Kent immediately turned to the new cabinet member and asked:"Can the portfolio holder explain what these payments were for?"

Cllr Snell acknowledged the payments were made but said: "This is subject to an ongoing investigation. There are things that are particularly sensitive. We must be careful of saying anything that might prejudice action that may be taken. Let's wait for the investigation and see what comes out of it."

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Mr Kent said: "We know we've ended up in a pretty catastrophic financial place and those of us who have been warning about this for some years have been stone-walled, falsely reassured. We've been lied to, fobbed off and misled

"This evening the leader of the council said he wants the new administration to set and example of openness, honesty and transparency. I've got to say we've had precious little of that so far."