Occasional Thurrock Nub News columnist Peter Perrin has prodiuced his latest personal slant of civic affairs in his "A Word In Your Ear" column.

IN light of the "shenanigans" of the Conservative administration over the last 10 years or so, has Thurrock Borough Council given a new meaning to the phrase "A Rotten Borough"?

The Government were so concerned about the financial state of Thurrock Borough Council, i.e. particularly with regard to Thurrock Councils "borrow to Invest" strategy it intervened and placed its finances of Essex County Council.

The Conservative-run Council over the years has borrowed a colossal amount of money, estimates range from 1.5 to 2 billion pounds, which they invested in a host of comnapnies, some which are in deep financial trouble. The "Borrow to Invest" strategy has caused concern as to the solvency of the council, which was verging on the brink of being unable to meet its statutory obligations.

It is not unreasonable to ask why this ill-founded and mis-managed strategy was not subject to closer scrutiny and supervision, particularly by opposition councillors. 

To be fair, for the past two years or so John Kent, Leader of the Labour Group, has persistently expressed his concerns only to be met with obfuscation and eventually the imposition of an actual ban on raising the issue at all. Sometime ago, I myself expressed my concerns by means of a "Question from the Public" to Cllr Shane Hebb, the then financial portfolio holder.

I believe that had opposition councillors been more robust in their scrutiny and questioning earlier perhaps the current situation would have been avoided.

Essex County Council, as administrator, will no doubt introduce measures that will adversely affect services provided and the public will, yet again, have to shoulder the consequences and inconveniences caused.

Indeed the public is already being affected by cuts to waste collections.

The council has announced it intends to suspend brown bin collections until further notice, that is to say indefinitely. Brown bins are used to collect kitchen (food) and garden waste. The Council says food and other waste which could create a bad smell can be put in residents' green grey bins. 

The council also says it will collect blue bins and, until Friday October 7, up to two clear plastic bags of recycled side waste. The council claims these measures are owing to a UK-wide shortage of HGV drivers. However, questions to other councils across South Essex have confirmed they are not being impacted by a shortage of HGV drivers and bin collections are going ahead. Which begs the question, why is Thurrock Council the only South East Essex council affected? Have the recent strikes by the Thurrock Council bin-men any thing to do with the HGV driver shortage, or is it just an excuse by the council for the cuts?

I suspect there are further cuts to waste disposal yet to come. I am particularly worried about the acceptance of clear plastic bags, temporary or otherwise. I am well aware of how what are termed as temporary measures have a habit of becoming permanent.

Stinking waste, whether in a bin or plastic bag, attracts unwelcome scavengers such as foxes, rats and seagulls, though the latter seem to have disappeared, tearing open plastic bags and attacking overloaded bins spilling their contents onto the pavement or other areas where bins or plastic bags are situated. Such behaviour creates an unpleasant environment and a possible health hazard.

Thurrock's "borrow to Invest" strategy was a creation of elected councillors. Council officers, such as the Chief Executive and the Financial Executive were not involved, they may or may not have expressed their concern and advised against it. It is elected councillors who should shoulder the blame and pay the price, not employed council officers. Councillors who are "baying for the blood" of council employees should be ashamed of themselves and reflect upon their own part in the current situation. 

At the very least every Conservative councillor should resign their seat. Should they seek re-election let the people decide

Perhaps the better solution would be for a fresh start and all 49 Councillors should resign and an election be held.

Unless immediate action is taken to remedy the current situation I fear Thurrock Borough Council will not only be viewed as a "Rotten Borough Council" but as a "Rotten, Stinking Borough Council"