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PEOPLE with complaints about Thurrock councillors are to contact the council rather than the Standards Board for England in future.

In the past, public complaints about councillors went directly to the national board, but new regulations mean that as from today, they should be directed to Thurrock Council's Monitoring Officer.

The officer will take any complaints to a sub-committee of the council's Standards Committee within 20 working days.

The sub-committee will decide whether a complaint should be referred for investigation, some other action or whether no further action needs be taken.

There will be a right of appeal if the sub-committee decides no further action is necessary.

There will be further publicity around the borough by way of leaflets and posters and the council's website contains the necessary forms and a series of Frequently Asked Questions to help explain the process.

Mike Carpenter, Independent Chair of the Standards Committee, said: "We at the local standards committee welcome this change.

"Having local people look at local issues is the correct way forward - at least in the first instance.

"We are committed in our support to the council in maintaining the highest possible standards of our elected representatives."

2:20pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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