THURROCK councillors decided against creating a new parish council in the borough when they met at an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday (26 August) evening.
The meeting – at Hassenbrook Academy, Hassenbrook Road, Stanford-le-Hope – was called especially to decide whether or not to create a parish council covering the Frost Estate area of Corringham.
Following an introduction by David Bull, the council’s Interim Chief Executive, 45 minutes were put aside for public statements and questions with residents having three minutes to speak.
Mr Bull explained that organisations representing both sides of the debate had been involved in meetings with himself and others in recent weeks and – although no agreement had been made on the question of a parish council – they had agreed to work together whatever the outcome of the council vote.
He added the main reason for seeking a parish council was the state of the privately-owned roads in the area and that other ways of seeking funding had been investigated.
Thurrock Council world work with residents and a “shadow” parish council if that was the way forward, or help create a residents’ group capable of seeking funding – possibly through charity or limited company status – if no new local council was agreed.
Councillors across the political spectrum also spoke with many pointing out there had been two official, council-run consultations which both came down heavily in favour of a local parish council, but that over the year-long debate new facts and figures had come to light, leading to an increasing number of people speaking out against the plan or changing their mind.
There were lessons for the council to learn if it went through this process again.
A suggestion that the council vote be delayed again for a third consultation ballot was turned down by Mr Bull who explained that legally the council had to make a decision by 10 September this year – 12 months after the council agreed to a “Community Governance Review” in response to a petition from residents of the Frost Estate.
There was not time to organise a new properly-constituted consultation and ballot.
Following a show of hands, it was announced 17 members voted in favour of creating a parish council, 20 voted to maintain the status quo and there was one abstention.
