Councillor Coxshall stated he was happy to be presenting his first Portfolio Holder report for regeneration, planning and assets and how proud he was of the direction of the department had changed and outlined the key areas to his report:

•           Grays South Master Plan, to link the River front and the Grays station crossing redevelopment, would be joining together to create a wider plan and news on the funding for this should be known before Christmas.

•           To deliver a local plan with real engagement – a plan to engage with all residents to ensure it had the full backing of all.

•           Implement an Asset Review for all Council assets to make sure they are categorised into one of the following: retain them, re-use them or release them, to maximise the money for the services of this Council.

•           For Tilbury the master plan for the Civic Square and the wider area had been developed, consulted on and now agreed for implementation. A further wider master plan would be drawn up with the aim of ensuring that the Port of Tilbury expansion brought wider benefits to the local community.

•           Have a good principle of “More for Less” which will be delivered with an aim of delivering an underspend for this financial year; there is already an underspend of £20,000.

•           A tremendous increase of jobs with companies such as Amazon and UPS moving into the area which could create 2000 jobs that would result in those that want a job to have a job.

Councillor J Kent thanked the Portfolio Holder for the report and enjoyed the delivery of his statement with particular reference to the “good rate of investment gained over the last five years”. Councillor J Kent asked the Portfolio Holder if the administration would be looking to use compulsory purchase order powers to land bank parcels of land brought for future sale or development. Councillor Coxshall agreed that this was a serious issue and hoped that CPO did not have to be used.

Councillor Smith agreed that it was good news regarding the future projects and job vacancies and thanked officers for all the hard work. Councillor Smith asked the Portfolio Holder for his reassurances that infrastructure, schools and GP hubs would be high priorities and also when the maps for brown and green fill sites would be available.

Councillor Coxshall stated that £60 million had already been invested on road improvement with £150 million spent on Junction 30; with four schools being opened in the borough and three new schools proposed for 2017; four new Living Together hubs had already been proposed.

Councillor Piccolo asked what plans were in place to relocate industrial developments located in residential areas where HGVs were causing havoc on local roads with noise and pollution and what incentives would be available to relocate to a more suitable location. Councillor Coxshall stated this was happening over and over again in the borough and that a Policy was in place for when growth happens and houses expanded onto brown fill sites. Councillor Coxshall stated that good news may come out of Option 2 of the Local Plan which is announced next year.

Councillor Duffin asked the Portfolio Holder for a date when the green and brown fill sites maps would be available for sharing with the residents of Thurrock. Councillor Coxshall stated that full maps and a consultation will be undertaken next year to ensure that the planning enquiry was watertight and that the statutory process was followed.

Councillor Ojetola enquired if the Portfolio Holder could work with the Government, Highways England and the Portfolio Holder for Highways on the east face slip road off the A13 to reduce the impact of traffic. Councillor Coxshall stated no growth bid for this had been in Options 1, 2 or 3 and how the east face slips would make a major difference to access to and from the Lakeside basin.

Councillor Allen asked the Portfolio Holder what plans were in place for improving the A1089 following the expansion of the logistic park in Tilbury. Councillor Coxshall stated that a larger master plan was required to engage with residents on what was required and to get involved when the master plan comes out in Option 2.