Planning peace with Thurrock Council is on the DC agenda

PEACE may be about to break out between planners on Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation and Thurrock Council.

Over recent months contentious decisions by both authorities have led to a number of planning conflicts – with the Corporation dropping the Council as its planning services partner.

Many Thurrock councillors have been caustic in their views of the unelected government quango and much criticism of its role has been voiced in the council chamber.

Members had been told that Development Corporation officers and planning decision-makers had turned down a number of invitations to meet to discuss their differences.

However, at Monday’s meeting of the Corporation’s planning committee, its chairman Bill Samuel said that he was plotting a course of action that could lead to less friction and more understanding.

He announced that on September 1 he and the Corporation’s senior planning officer would be meeting their counterparts on the Council for a consultation aimed at bringing the two organisations together.

“I hope this will help us understand each other’s role and needs,” he said, adding that it was his intention that members of the two planning committees could then have informal meetings once or twice a year.”