THURROCK Labour Group is set to begin the momentous task of rebuilding “shattered” trust with residents after remarkable wins at Thursday’s elections.
Labour councillors swept the board as residents voiced their anger at a £1.5billion debt, rising council taxes and dwindling services under the Tories.
With national unrest also weighing down on the Conservatives, they lost ten seats and narrowly held on to just one, following the election count at the Backstage Centre in Purfleet.
Eight of those seats were won by Labour leaving the party with 27 seats - a five-seat majority.
Tory David Day only just hung on to Orsett, a strong Tory seat, winning by 657 votes to Jack Duffin's 570.
Mr Duffin a former Conservative councillor, stood as an Independent after losing the Tory whip, helping to tip the Conservative council into no overall control weeks before the election.
Following the triumph for Labour, "delighted" John Kent leader of the group, said residents were eager for change.
He said: “It is clear that the bond of trust between Thurrock Council and our communities has been shattered by the events of the past few years.
“The number one priority of my new Labour administration is to rebuild that trust. We will, at all times, put the needs of our residents at the heart of all we do – we will be honest, open and transparent.”
Mr Kent added: “Where the council has been too inward looking, we will reach out. Decision makers will be out in the community, talking to residents and answering questions in a straightforward way.
“For too long, there has been a lack of clarity and accountability around council decisions so, we will make sure that council decisions, budgets and expenditure transparent and easily accessible to our residents.
"Everybody understands that Thurrock Council is bankrupt. That must not be allowed to become an excuse for poor services – we will work hard to make sure that basic services are delivered as well as possible.”
Independents are now nipping at the heels of the Conservative Group with nine members, only four less than the Tories.
Five Independents work together under the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors.
Five Independents work together under the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors.
Spokesman Fraser Massey, said: “I could sense a strong independent vote especially in the East of the Borough, With good future candidates I can only see the independent vote share continue to grow as Thurrock residents realise they have a real choice apart from the Westminster parties.”
Following the count, these are the results:
- 27 Labour – held 4, gained 8, lost 0
- 13 Conservative – held 1, gained 0, lost 10
- 9 Independent – held 2, gained 2, lost 0
Full results
Aveley and Uplands:
- Ononaji, Augustine Chidi – Conservative = 721
- Sisterson, Cathy – Labour = 1,235 – Elected
Electorate: 7,609
Turnout: 26.20%
Belhus:
- Holloway, Victoria Claire – Labour = 1,072 – Elected
- Polley, Georgette – Conservative = 483
Electorate: 7,329
Turnout: 21.79%
Chadwell St Mary:
- Alike, Ngozi – Labour = 1,133 – Elected
- Taylor-Webb, Charlie – Conservative = 439
Electorate: 7,410
Turnout: 21.65%
Chafford and North Stifford:
- Carter, Adam – Conservative = 603
- Heath, Lynda Hilary – Labour = 855 – Elected
- Sowunmi, Bisi – Independent = 300
Electorate: 5,654
Turnout: 31.27%
Corringham and Fobbing:
- Fox, John Robert – Independent = 684 – Elected
- MacKinlay, James Patrick – Labour = 354
- Ralph, Shane – Conservative = 426
Electorate: 4,441
Turnout: 33.30%
East Tilbury:
- Craft, Alastair Michael – Labour = 444
- Miah, Shamim – Conservative = 96
- Sammons, Sue – Independent = 725 – Elected
Electorate: 5,287
Turnout: 24.25%
Grays Riverside:
- Fallows, Daniel David – Green = 286
- Fish, Tony – Labour = 1,168 – Elected
- Ojetola, Bunmi – Conservative = 359
Electorate: 8,359
Turnout: 21.83%
Grays Thurrock:
- Kent, John George – Labour = 1,428 – Elected
- Rahman, Joglur – Conservative = 408
Electorate: 6,731
Turnout: 27.90%
Little Thurrock Blackshots:
- Fletcher, Michael John – Labour = 720 – Elected
- Redsell, Joy – Conservative = 614
- Singh, Magun – Green = 157
Electorate: 5,151
Turnout: 29.41%
Ockendon:
- Polston, Ryan James – Labour = 1,271 – Elected
- Spillman, Luke – Conservative = 1,124
Electorate: 8,485
Turnout: 28.71%
Orsett:
- Day, David – Conservative = 657 – Elected
- Duffin, Jack Sean – Independent = 570
- Morris, Carl Anthony Graham – Labour = 424
Electorate: 5,060
Turnout: 32.91%
South Chafford:
- Fallows, Caitlin Elizabeth – Green = 156
- Ojetola, Tunde – Conservative = 433
- Watson, Gary – Labour = 763 – Elected
Electorate: 5,157
Turnout: 26.55%
Stanford East and Corringham Town:
- Jones, Roy Robert – Independent = 809 – Elected
- Kapoor, Ajay – Labour = 768
- Wright, George Joseph – Conservative = 383
Electorate: 6,290
Turnout: 31.29%
Stanford-le-Hope West:
- Byrne, Ross James – Independent = 656 – Elected
- Piccolo, Terry – Conservative = 306
- Smith, Philip George – Labour = 544
Electorate: 5,654
Turnout: 27.06%
The Homesteads:
- Holloway, Clifford John – Labour = 731 – Elected
- Mayes, Allen – Conservative = 590
- Sargent, Lisa Jane – Independent = 713
Electorate: 6,391
Turnout: 32.17%
Tilbury St Chads:
- Palmer, Daryl – Conservative = 160
- Raper, Kairen – Labour = 641 – Elected
Electorate: 4,447
Turnout: 18.73%
West Thurrock and South Stifford:
- Blaj, Elisabeta Ionica Gherga – Conservative = 526
- Goodyear, Ri – Green = 211
- Watson, Lee – Labour = 1,272 – Elected
Electorate: 9,167
Turnout: 22.20%
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