THE CHAIR of Thurrock Council’s regeneration committee’s attempt to see a vote of no confidence in the portfolio holder for regeneration was defeated.
Cllr Martin Kerin, who is the Chair of the Committee and the Shadow Portfolio Holder for Regeneration had questioned whether the current Portfolio Holder for Regeneration,, cllr Mark Coxshall should resign.
“Cllr Kerin said: “This was due to the concerning nature of Item Agenda 9 – A13 Widening Update. This is nothing personal to the person who currently holds the post. It is simply a question of accountability. The basic question is: where does the buck stop?
“This item of news about the A13 Widening Scheme has been raised previous in the Thurrock press:
Your Thurrock: https://www.yourthurrock.com/2020/01/14/thurrock-council-forced-search-money-overspending-a13/
At the Committee, Cllr Kerin recommended that the PFH for Regeneration should resign.
The Committee voted:
For: Cllr Martin Kerin (Lab); Cllr Oliver Gerrish (Lab).
Against: Cllr John Allen (Thurrock Ind); Cllr David Van Day (Cons); Cllr Andrew Jefferies (Cons).
Abstentions: None
It looks like a Thurrock Independent councillor has come to the rescue of the Conservatives.
Cllr Kerin added: “It is beyond alarming to discover the scale of the problems which are besetting the A13 Widening Scheme.
When problems of this scale are discovered, serious questions need to be asked at the top. The question I want an answer to is this: where does the buck stops?
I believe that the current Portfolio Holder needs to seriously question his position. This is not personal to the current occupant of the post. It is a basic question of accountability.
“The people of Thurrock deserve a response, and that response must come from the top.”
