Council and democracy

Agenda item

Lower Thames Crossing

Minutes:

Councillor Gledhill, Leader of the Council, stated that this was the first opportunity to present the report to Council on events following the Secretary of State’s announcement on the 12 April 2017 of a preferred route for a Lower Thames Crossing. That the purdah period had prevented debate and that the announcements were required so that Thurrock could move forward onto the next stage. Councillor Gledhill stated the decision on the route had been the wrong one and that Members and the public would also agree that this decision was the wrong one.

 

The report had been presented at Full Council to maintain the Council’s continued stance that it was opposed to any new river crossing and associated new road in Thurrock. As the Council continued to oppose the principal of the new crossing it had to be recognised that any damage it may do to the borough should be minimised as far as possible. In a statutory role, the Council will continue to engage with Highways England and to ensure that the responses put together are backed up with solid facts and figures from independent air quality testing.

 

The voices of Thurrock will continue to be heard as Thurrock residents would feel the negative impact of this scheme whilst everyone else would get the potential benefits. To ensure that Thurrock residents got a fair representation as the process continued, the Council had agreed a £50,000 budget each year to help residents get the best deal from the decision. Councillor Gledhill stated that this figure should be matched by Highways England and not be reliant on one authority to pay for work needed to get the best for the residents that it affected the most.

 

A clear time table had been set by the Council to ensure that Highways England informed the Council of any advance notices and details of any information, events or correspondence relating to the crossing.

 

Councillor Gledhill agreed to endorse the amendment to recommendation 1.6 as proposed by Councillor Gerrish and that became the substantive recommendation. The amended recommendation 1.6 read as follows:

 

That General Services Committee be invited to establish a cross party Lower Thames Crossing Task Force and to agree its Terms of Reference at the next General Services Committee meeting;  or alternatively  consider a change to the constitution to include a new overview and scrutiny committee to look expressly at the Lower Thames Crossing and if agreed bring a report to Full Council as to its possible Terms of Reference, the financial and legal implications including any impact on political balance calculations and payment of special responsibility allowances.

 

Councillor Gledhill agreed that all Members should have the opportunity to take part in this debate.

 

Following this Full Council meeting, the Secretary of State will be contacted on how the Council want to take this proposal forward. It would be equally important that the three Group Leaders meet with Highways England to discuss the next steps.

 

Councillor Gledhill stated that the Council had some challenging decisions to make but agreed that the Council was here for the whole of Thurrock and it would be in the residents’ interests that the Council agree to the recommendations.

 

Councillor Gledhill commented that residents had been very forthcoming with views and that it was absolutely right that they should continue to do this but this should be facilitated as best as it could be.

 

Councillor B Rice stated that she spoke on behalf of the residents and that it was a shame that not all public questions were heard. The Council should stand united and represent the residents of Thurrock that there are no more crossings in Thurrock. Councillor Rice was in agreement with the amendment that it was important that such a specialised committee be set up and that the Council should be ready for any legal challenges it may face.

 

Councillor Jones echoed Councillor Rice’s comments and that Thurrock had the worst air quality in the country and that fully independent air quality tests should be undertaken.

 

Councillor B Little stated that with heavy heart he agreed with the recommendations but had been opposed to the proposed crossing for the last eight years fighting for residents of his Orsett Ward. Efforts had been made to further other proposals and that this option would not be the solution to the current congestion issues. The Chair of the Highways England should communicate more with the Council, Road User Groups and the public so that they can understand the timings and the proposals being put forward.

 

Councillor Spillman stated that the Council should, where legally possible, prevent any new further crossings in Thurrock in the future.

 

Councillor Gerrish reaffirmed the opposition of the Labour Group to the new Lower Thames Crossing in Thurrock and had been consistent in both administration and opposition in arguing that the crossing would be wrong for Thurrock. That the details of the route are incorrect and damaging and that the Council should continue to fight the plans and step up on the responsibilities of fighting for this specific route. Councillor Gerrish stated that there was now some urgency for the Council to respond to the proposal and that the proposed Task Force Group or Overview and Scrutiny Committee would ensure that the pressure be kept on and to escalate the fight. Either of these groups should allow residents input to ensure that outside opinions are heard.

 

Councillor G Rice stated that the Council will continue to fight as this decision would affect the whole borough and that full independent air quality tests should be undertaken so that facts and figures would be made available when requested.

 

Councillor Fish accepted the amendment and that it was important that the proposal received the proper scrutiny that it deserved that gave all Members and the public the opportunity to contribute and get involved.

 

Councillor J Kent stated that the Council should remain united and remain opposed to the crossing and stated that this report had come too late, it should have been presented either at the June Full Council or a Special Meeting of Council during April or May 2017. Councillor J Kent had concerns not only with the damage the crossing will have on Thurrock but also with the infrastructure and housing associated with the crossing that will be developed over time. Improvements had to be made to the Highways England consultation and this Council must hold them to account.

 

Councillor Duffin questioned whether recommendation 1.3 should include all data not just the data that made it into the report. Thurrock Council should stand opposed to the proposal and continue to fight and get the best deal for residents.

 

Councillor Piccolo stated he had been opposed to the proposed crossing from the start but working with Highways England could enable the Council to have some inside knowledge as to what was being proposed and how best the Council could fight against any decisions.

 

Councillor Allen stated that Thurrock Council should continue to oppose the proposed crossing and do everything in its power to fight and challenge it.

 

Councillor S Little had campaigned since 2008 for any further crossings in Thurrock and stated that this proposal would not sort out the current congestion issues. Councillor S Little had concerns that communications from Highways England was very unacceptable in letting residents know what was happening and that this had to be improved, as had the Council’s communication efforts.

 

Councillor Redsell agreed it was good that all Members were in agreement and that the public be made more aware that they can ask questions at overview and scrutiny committees.

 

Councillor Wheeler stated that the UKIP fought hard against the Lower Thames Crossing as part the general election campaign.

 

Councillor Hamilton stated that further independent assessments should be carried out by those with no vested interests.

 

Councillor V Holloway stated that she would be supporting the amendment but questioned what more could be done to stop the decision made by the Secretary of State and asked what influence the two Thurrock MPs were having on Government. The Council needed to work with residents and fight more to say no to the proposed crossing.

 

Councillor Okunade supported joint working against this crossing and would continue to vigorously fight for residents.

 

Councillor Smith commented that it was a shame that the passion and anger demonstrated in the Chamber tonight had not been reflected in the recommendations.

 

Councillor Snell stated he had stood opposed to the crossing from day one. That Highways England should be challenged more as to the intention of the data received and that early engagement and challenge was vital. The participation of the public at overview and scrutiny committees and Members on outside bodies was vital to ensure the voice of residents could be heard.

 

Councillor Gledhill thanked all Members for their comments and support and agreed that residents had the right to speak and that participation at overview and scrutiny committees was vital.

 

Councillor Gledhill stated that the Council were not resigned to the proposed crossing but full structured answers based on facts had to be prepared and ready for representation. That data from independent assessments would need to be undertaken as part of this.

 

Councillor Gledhill agreed that the Council should stand united which in turn would result in a much stronger argument.

 

The process to make the Council’s voice heard by those Members who had been elected to represent every resident, would start today by approaching Highways England to ensure that the process started to get proper engagement, proper information and proper data.

 

Councillor Gledhill stated that a direct mail would be sent to all 160,000 Thurrock residents to ensure that everyone had the right to comment.

 

The Mayor adjourned Full Council at 8.14pm due to a general disturbance making orderly business impossible.

 

Councillor Coxshall left the Chamber.

 

Full Council reconvened at 8.20pm.

 

On a Point of Order, Councillor Redsell stated that swearing was unacceptable in the Chamber and that Councillor Wheeler should stand up and apologise. Councillor Wheeler responded by apologising for the bad language used.

 

At 8.22pm, Councillor Jones requested a Point of Order that Councillor Coxshall had behaved disrespectfully to Members and members of the public by laughing throughout the disturbance.

 

Councillor Coxshall returned to the Chamber.

 

The Mayor called a vote on recommendation 1.6 as amended and the Leader stood to confirm this had been accepted by him as the new recommendation.

 

Upon being put to the vote, 39 Members voted in favour of the recommendations with 4 Members against, whereupon the Mayor declared the recommendations carried.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.         That Thurrock Council maintains its opposition to any new river crossing and associated new road in Thurrock and that any engagement by the Council with Highways England does not constitute acceptance of the overall scheme.

 

2.         That the Council utilises Highways England’s scheme development process in order to continue its opposition to the scheme, fulfil its statutory responsibilities as a planning and highway authority, as a consultee and as a landowner, and to protect the interests of residents in Thurrock.

 

3.         That the Council ask Highways England to jointly establish with the Council a process for independent air quality testing and to provide the Council with access to all data used to reach decisions.

 

4.         That the Council request financial support from Highways England or Government in order to meet its responsibilities and to represent the interests of Thurrock’s residents.

 

5.         That Highways England be informed that the Council requires at least 1 weeks advanced notice and details of any information, events or correspondence relating to the Lower Thames Crossing in Thurrock.

 

6.         That General Services Committee be invited to establish a cross party Lower Thames Crossing Task Force and to agree its Terms of Reference at the next General Services Committee meeting;  or alternatively  consider a change to the constitution to include a new overview and scrutiny committee to look expressly at the Lower Thames Crossing and if agreed bring a report to Full Council as to its possible Terms of Reference, the financial and legal implications including any impact on political balance calculations and payment of special responsibility allowances.

 

7.         That the three Group Leaders write to the Secretary of State for Transport setting out the Council’s position following full Council and that Highways England be invited to meet with the three Group Leaders as soon as possible.

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