THE CHIEF Executive of Thurrock’s Council for Voluntary Services (CVS), Naya Naqvi has been suspended.
Chair of Thurrock CVS, Neville Baldwin was remaining tight-lipped only confirming that Ms Naqvi had been suspended but he would not reveal why.
YourThurrock spoke to Ms Naqvi who appeared equally in the dark but would not be releasing a statement.
Sources close to the CVS do not expect Ms Naqvi to return to her post.
The suspension came in the same month that Thurrock Council’s Head of Communities Simon Black was reported to have stormed out of Thurrock Council after a heated debate regarding the voluntary sector.
YourThurrock understands that he has been placed on “special leave” until his retirement in a few weeks.
The splits come at a particularly tense time for the voluntary sector as many of the groups put together their bids for future funding.
The funding process has come under sharp criticism by a number of groups who fear that the system is designed in such a way that they are unlikely to get “anywhere near” the funding they received in previous years.
World-renowned organisations such as South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC) have received up to £80,000 in previous years but there are grave doubts they will receive anywhere near that amount.
It has also been noticed that a vast number of community groups from the borough have registered at Companies House as Community Interest Companies (CIC’s). It is anticipated that an avalanche of groups will be bidding for the £400,000. Bids close at the end of the month.
