The Motion, as printed in the Agenda was proposed by Councillor B Rice and seconded by Councillor Kerin. The Motion read as follows:

Members in this Council Chamber to call on the Cabinet to re-evaluate the need for £5 per week charge for grounds maintenance to Council tenants as this will cause many residents further hardship.

Councillor B Rice stated that the service charges were unfair and unjust to the residents of Thurrock that the consultation was not transparent and that the correspondence sent to residents was not clear. Councillor B Rice stated that Councillor Gledhill should stop blaming Officers and the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee for his mistakes. Cabinet made the decision and those residents of Thurrock should not be punished for this mistake.

Councillor Kerin stated that the service charges should be scrapped all together as they were unfair to those residents that could not afford them and that Councillor Gledhill should listen to those individuals.

Councillor Spillman stated as Chair of the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee that it was not his job to fix the problem but to ensure that this did not happen again and try and regain the faith of residents by looking and supporting any new proposals.

Councillor Okunade stated her support for this Motion.

Councillor Duffin stated that the Leader had to be taken into account and withdraw the service charges and that the administration had to come to their senses otherwise a pre-signed “vote of no confidence” motion would be used going forward.

Councillor Aker questioned what other ideas had been put forward before this proposal and urged the Leader to say that the service charges would be scrapped from tonight.

Councillor Gledhill stated that any increase in new charges or rent increases was unpopular. Councillor Gledhill stated he would not be bullied into making any decisions and reconfirmed that residents would only be charged for the services they used and that further decisions would go back to Cabinet following scrutiny. Councillor Gledhill stated that a decision would be made when ready.

Councillor G Rice stated that the service charges were scandalous and that the administration should be ashamed of themselves.

Councillor Gerrish questioned whether the service charge was suspended this evening as the Leader thought he might have had an easier ride. That the Leader should not have blamed Officers or Scrutiny Committees but to take the blame and responsibility for himself. Councillor Gerrish stated that some residents would not be able to pay the service charge therefore they should go completely.

Councillor Pothecary stated that she was a strong opposition to the service charges and that she would be proud to support the Motion. Councillor Pothecary thanked the previous chairs of the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee for all the hard work previously undertaken. That Councillor Pothecary was proud of the campaign and that petitions, consultations and scrutiny committees should be listened to. Councillor Pothecary concluded that the service charge was not right, not fair and should be scrapped.

Councillor Jones stated that the service charges were wrong and hitting the wrong people. Councillor Jones then gave Members a brief overview of the expenditure of an elderly resident living in sheltered housing.

At 0.28am, Councillor Gledhill, called a Point of Order on personal explanation or clarification. Councillor Gledhill stated he wanted to make clear that the charges were only on the services that were used which would in turn free up money that could be put back into other services.

Councillor B Rice thanked Members for their support and was disappointed in the Leader’s approach and was not becoming behaviour of a Leader of a Council. That Councillor Gledhill should now do the right thing and scrap the service charges. Councillor B Rice spoke on behalf of the residents that Councillor Gledhill should now take full responsibility

The Mayor called a vote on the Motion.

Following a unanimous vote in favour, the Mayor declared the Motion carried.