SOUTHEND Council insists there was “no conflict of interest” involving the managing director of a company handling a £50million leisure development near the seafront.

The planned complex, on the Seaway car park, is being developed by Turnstone Estates.

It is set to feature an 11-screen Empire Cinema with an IMAX screen, as well as a hotel, ten restaurants and cafes, two indoor leisure centres, a new public square and a multi-storey car park.

Mick Thwaites, a former police chief in Southend, submitted a question to the council asking whether there was a “conflict of interest” involving the development.

The £50million complex is expected to create a further 450 jobs in Southend, it was originally allocated as part of Southend’s Central Area Action plan.

Mr Thwaites said the issue had arisen because Tim Deacon, the managing director of Turnstone, had been a former employee of estate agents, Savills.

Savills was appointed by Southend Council to select the developer for Seaway.

Mr Thwaites said at the council’s latest policy and resources scrutiny committee meeting: “Given that Tim Deacon of Turnstone was until 2011 employed by Savills, surely this would have been considered as a potential conflict of interest that Savills may have had in this matter?”

Mr Thwaites spoke of a letter sent in November 2014 to Southend Council’s corporate property and asset manager, Alan Richards, by Paul Bird, associate director of Savills, regarding the “lease and sale” of Seaway.

However, Andrew Moring, Tory councillor for corporate and community support, confirmed there was “no conflict of interest”.

He said: “Savills best grasped the brief and demonstrated they had the skills to act for the council and proposed a fair and appropriate fee to do so.

“Savills undertook a conflict check prior to appointment and confirmed that ‘we have undertaken a conflict of interest check and confirm that we believe there is to be no conflict of interest by accepting the instruction.

“We will therefore be independent external advisors’.”

The Echo contacted Tim Deacon, following the question put to Southend Council.

When asked for comment about the answer given to Mr Thwaites by the council, Mr Deacon said: “I understand the question was raised and it was answered at the scrutiny committee meeting, by the council.

“I don’t have any further comments to make.”