To receive any declaration of interests from Members.

No interests were declared.

Councillor B Maney presented the report that stated there was a statutory requirement placed on all Local Planning Authorities to have an up-to-date Local Plan in place and for Local Planning Authorities to review their plans every five years. This Council’s current ‘Local Plan’ was adopted eight years ago. Those plans set out the future land use and planning policies for the borough over a set time frame. Consultation on the Thurrock Local Plan: Initial Proposals document (Initial Proposals document) formed the next stage in the preparation of the new Local Plan. Councillor B Maney called for a new recommendation to be added to formulate a working group of members and officers.

The following points were raised:

Councillor Watson noted she was not in favour of the proposals in their current state but recognised there needed to be a starting point. That members, residents, businesses, and stakeholders should all have the opportunity to be involved in the consultation to enable them to raise their concerns and to add comments. Confirmed she would be supporting the engagement side but not the proposals in their current state.

Councillor Shinnick stated she would not be endorsing the proposals as set out in the report but confirmed she agreed that the proposals be shared with residents and relevant stakeholders to allow them the opportunity to comment.

Councillor Kerin stated he would vote for the recommendations this evening but not as an endorsement of the proposals in their current state and agreed with members on the need for the consultation.

Councillor Redsell would be voting in favour of the recommendations and the consultation and stated if the plan did not go through, a local plan would be forced upon the council by the Government.

Councillor P Arnold agreed there needed to be a clear direction for the residents of Thurrock and for them to be involved in the consultation. Thurrock needed a local plan in place to stop developers carving up the borough.

Councillor Carter stated tonight was the opportunity to take the first step in writing the future of Thurrock and agreed the urgency and the need for the consultation for all to have their say.

Councillor Allen stated he doubted the council would be able to deliver a local plan that would work for the majority of Thurrock residents and not profit developers and would not be voting in favour of the recommendations this evening. He also raised concerns on the delivery of social and affordable accommodation.

Councillor J Maney stated that by doing nothing would be a developers charter and would be supporting the recommendations this evening as it was vital to hear the views of residents as part of the consultation. She also stated that if the consultation processes were not voted on, the council would have to adopt a plan that would be forced upon Thurrock.

Councillor Pearce stated she would be supporting the recommendations but not without reservation and agreed that public options for future developments within the borough  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103.