THERE were mixed views from Thurrock councillors as a re-drafted communication strategy was put before the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The original proposals had courted controversy with a number of proposals to limit access to the press desks at council meetings, require a right of reply and consider “disengaging” with newspapers that “misrepresent them”.
But having absorbed criticisms and recommendations both locally and nationally, the council have re-shaped the policy.
But when it came before a committee, it was UKIP councillor Jack Duffin who expressed a concern that Thurrock Council were still issuing press releases that were “misrepresentative”.
Conservative councillor Ben Maney labelled the whole episode an embarrassment. At a previous meeting, the matter was passed to full council but that was now rejected as “unconstitutional”. Cllr Maney wondered why this had not been pointed out in the first place.
The item can be heard below.
