ON THURSDAY, we reported that the new leader of Thurrock Council hit back at claims the Labour and Conservatives groups “colluded to give themselves the best posts”.
Last week Reform Group leader Alex Anderson said Thurrock Labour and Tories “colluded to divide up the various council positions that come with big increases in their allowances”.
Now, the Independent councillors have weighed in on the row.
Spokesperson for the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors (NPAIC), Neil Speight, has added to the debate, saying: “I’m loath to get involved in a spat between Reform, Tories and Labour but two facts should be noted.
“Last year, under the leadership of Cllr John Kent, cabinet members not only did not vote on who was in charge of scrutiny committees, the cabinet members left the chamber.
“Cllr Kent said it was inappropriate for portfolio holders to vote for the people who would ‘mark their homework’.
“This year, under Cllr Worrall, cabinet members were not only a part of the debate, they were mandated how to vote for all committees, as were all Labour members. Voting was arranged ahead of the meeting, as was the way the Tories would vote. That’s Fact 1.
“Fact 2: Cllr Worrall and Cllr George Coxshall, the Tory group leader, met ahead of the full council meeting when Cllr Coxshall laid down what he described to me as ‘red line deals’ that his group wanted.
“Elected councillors can vote how they want and I recognise that politics, albeit being a dirty business, is a part of the way Thurrock Council is run – but it is shameful Cllr Worrall denies deals were done.
“As it happens the only significant change was my deposition as chair of a scrutiny committee, perhaps not a surprise as I was a frequent critic of some key policies. That’s politics, you live or die by what you believe in, I believe that’s called integrity.
“Collusion was the choice word of Reform, and the description certainly fits.”
