THE Audit Commission says Thurrock Council is playing “catch up” with the regeneration of the borough, and it is “uncertain” if things will improve.

The Government watchdog looked at the council’s regeneration service up until March this year when the Tories were still in control, and gave it a one star rating out of three.

But the leader of Thurrock Council, Labour’s John Kent, said things have improved since his party seized control.

He said: “The inspection looked at the council’s regeneration service up until March this year, things have moved forward incredibly quickly since then.”

The report, published yesterday (23 sept), said the council has been “slow to grasp the opportunities presented by the regional growth agenda” and the service is “slow in responding to the needs of deprived communities, or of key partners.”

But the report does say that things are starting to improve.

The commission’s senior manager, Ian Davidson, said: “After a slow start, Thurrock Council is now getting to grips with the deep-seated local economic problems facing the borough.

“ It is making a more visible contribution to growth, helping to attract some key investments.

“It has played a part in major projects, such as the new port facility and the new Royal Opera House workshop site.

“Important local barriers to future growth, such as poor skills and educational achievements, and the lack of an overall planning framework, are now being tackled.

“But some real challenges lie ahead, the council must play a bigger role in enabling and embedding local growth, especially in partnership.”

Cllr Kent says that the Government’s decision to let the council take over Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation in April 2012 means it has confidence in the authority.

He said: “The reality now is that the Royal Opera House production park in Purfleet is due to open before Christmas.

“At the opposite end of the borough the dredging work for the new super-port at London Gateway is halfway towards completion and at the Port of Tilbury there are exciting plans for expansion.

“Added to this is an end to the confusion over the development corporation’s future. The transfer of the corporation’s powers to the council is not only a testament to the Government’s confidence in this authority, but a sensible move bringing all the regeneration capacities under one roof.”