THE Conservatives on the Castle Point District Council on Wednesday re-elected its current leader, who vowed to tackle the borough’s Local Plan in front of a packed council chamber.

Council leader Colin Riley, re-elected for a second term, told the Kiln Road council chamber he is taking a “cross-borough” approach to draw up a fresh Local Plan, which members threw out in March.

David Smith, the planning inspector appointed to examine the authority’s New Local Plan 2016, in January rapped the authority for not “engaging constructively” with other councils to meet housing needs.

Mr Riley said: “Being re-elected as council leader is a very daunting task, it’s all about efficiency.

  “We are taking a cross borough approach to draw up the new Local Plan, where council leaders from the five boroughs are meeting up once a month to discuss (it).

“We have to bring a joint local plan together.”

Addressing the chamber, Mr Riley revealed it was "with regret” he will not be appointing veteran Conservative Bill Sharp in his cabinet.

He explained: “Bill Sharp is no longer included in my cabinet, it was a difficult decision to take.

“I have asked Bill instead to take on an important scrutiny role.”

Instead Sharp was replaced by estate agent and Conservative councillor Colin Maclean, whose portfolio includes customer engagement and commercialism. 

March - Mr Sharp was subjected to a council probe following allegations of harassment, and bullying the owners of a new restaurant in London Road, Hadleigh.

Meanwhile the mood was buoyant throughout Wednesday’s meeting, where forty members of the public witnessed Conservative councillor Jeffrey Stanley re-appointed as deputy leader alongside the annual mayor making.

Councillor Steven Cole officially handed the Mayoral chain to Councillor Brian Wood, who will take up civic duties until 2018.

Mr Cole said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank you all. It has been an amazing year.

“I’m severely dyslexic, I wish I didn’t have this but I do.

“To all the young people just believe in yourself, it’s better to have tried than not to have tried.”

In a speech, Mr Wood thanked the chamber for his new role but revealed he was undecided over his mayoral charities.

He added: “I will treat you all with respect and be non-political at all times.

“Remember, it’s nice to be important but more important to be nice.”

Councillor Ray Howard, who served Canvey for more than 30 years in County Hall, received a long standing-ovation for his duties paid after deciding to step down during this year’s elections.