THURROCK Council leader Terry Hispey has urged all users of adult social care services in the borough to have their say on proposed increases to its cost.

Increases proposed by the ruling Conservative group earlier this year have sparked intense debate and condemnation across the council's political divide.

At the last full council meeting councilor Hipsey called on his Labour counterpart John Kent to resign, saying that Labour propaganda saying the charges had already ben increased were blatant lies.

He says that the charges have not been increased, and any decision won't be made until the views of users have been taken into account, saying: "For the official record, no decision to increase social care charges has been made.

A public consultation exercise is currently underway which will not be finished until December. I would therefore urge every service user to reply to the consultation whilst they have the opportunity to do so.

"The Labour group and the person who printed and promoted this blatant lie should be totally ashamed of themselves.

"Not only have they brought Thurrock Council into disrepute, they have attempted to undermine the consultation process and have also attempted to cause an emotive upset amongst those residents who rely of the councils care service.

"I have asked for the resignation of the author of this disgraceful newsletter. I still stand by my request and whatever way the Labour group want to use their usual exaggerated spin, this is a blatant lie and nothing else.

"I would like to know how the more "honest" minded Labour group members can allow lying literature to be published by others in their group.

"I thought at least some of them had a conscience. Sadly this disgraceful literature is still being distributed."