AFTER caving in to pressure from minority councillors, Thurrock Council is to debate local government reorganisation after coming under fire for not giving councillors the opportunity of a debate and vote.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) will see 15 Essex councils reduced to up to five unitary authorities.

Thurrock Council's Labour-run cabinet prefers an option of four unitary authorities, linking Thurrock with Brentwood, Epping and Harlow.

And the administration wanted to drive through its option without debate in the council chamber.

However, an extraordinary council meeting will now be held following pressure from Thurrock Independents for all councillors to have a say.

Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope and spokesperson for the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors, said: "We look forward to an opportunity to debate the options open to Thurrock, which path we go down in communicating the government and the opportunity to register, officially, how we vote on the matter – which is of significant interest to residents we represent.

"We formed the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors to avoid political dogma and doctrine and to retain and support all the principles of democracy, openness, honesty and transparency. They are qualities that now appear rare in Thurrock Council's general governance. I'm proud we stood up for them."

Speaking at a Thurrock corporate overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Wednesday, John Fox, Independent councillor for Corringham and Fobbing, said: "Seeing how big this is for Thurrock and, more importantly, how big this is for the residents of Thurrock and the time frame that there is between now and September 17 when the cabinet meeting is, I believe there should be an extraordinary full council meeting so this can be put through to every councillor."

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In response, Cllr Lynn Worrall, leader of the council who prefers a London centric option, had said just a few days before that such a meeting could not happen, said: "There has been a call for an extraordinary meeting and that meeting will happen. Officers are looking to see when that meeting can be fitted in.

"I know no more than that. I think it's absolutely key that we do have that debate in this chamber. I agree with you you've got to have an opportunity for 49 councillors to have their say."