VOTERS took the head of the Thurrock Conservative Group leader in Thursday’s elections, failing to re-elect him following council’s catastrophic debts.

Mark Coxshall stepped in as caretaker leader following the resignation of Rob Gledhill over disastrous investments which left the council virtually bankrupt and with £1.5 billion debt. He lost his Chafford and North Stifford seat to Labour’s Vikki Hartstean, polling 639 votes to Ms Hartstean’s 741.

Yet the Conservatives remain in power with 26 seats, having held three, gained one and lost four seats. The council now also has 19 Labour members, one from Thurrock Independent Group and three non-aligned Independents.

Thurrock Independents held one seat and lost two while the non-aligned Independents held one, gained one and lost one seat.

Labour had a successful night even though it didn’t win power, gaining five seats and holding four.

Thurrock Nub News editor, Neil Speight, is celebrating following a resounding win as an Independent in Stanford-le-Hope West where he ousted Conservative, Shane Hebb, former councillor responsible for finance, by 643 votes to 511.

Mr Speight will be privy to confidential council papers and will have to balance his role as a councillor and as editor of a news outlet.