MEMBERS of Brentwood Council were accused of “communist tactics” by the opposition after suggesting shops-to-rent be built on a car park.

The idea floated by Brentwood First councillor Russell Quirk to build six shops in Westbury Road, and the council to keep three which would be rented out to independent businesses, was described as “socialism at its worst degree” by Tory Roger Hurst.

Mr Quirk said the idea, which is supported by the ruling coalition administration, would be to rent out the units, which would sit below flats, to retailers such as a butcher or fishmonger who wouldn’t normally be able to afford rental prices on the High Street.

Mr Quirk said he thought the scheme would revitalise that end of the High Street, which sits the M25 side of Weald Road.

He said: “The idea is entrepreneurial and innovative, like much of what we’re trying to do in the borough. But it was shouted down as ridiculous.

“There’s an opportunity at that site. We would control the rates and would be able to offer shopskeepers rents they could afford.

“It was just an idea that would have to go through a process before anything was decided.”

Mr Quirk presented the idea at the latest assets and enterprise committee, which he chairs. The item wasn’t on the agenda, which agitated opposition Tories, and was brought up at the beginning of the meeting.

Mr Hurst went on to tell Mr Quirk it wasn’t a secret that they disagreed on what he called “social enterprise”.

He added: “I hate social enterprise. I think it’s socialism at its worst degree. If you’re talking about a state-run town, I think you’ll find the inhabitants of Brentwood will be appalled.”

Mr Hurst went on to suggest the council read Das Kapital, the book written by Karl Marx, a critical analysis of political economy.

Other plans include selling off the Warley Training Centre, in The Drive, and replacing it with 38 homes, five of which would be retained by the council to rent out.

Mr Quirk said: “We want to keep  these assets for revenue purposes, but the Tories say no.

“They take it to the extreme and say the council should own nothing.” 

Council leader Barry Aspinell said it was no secret that Brentwood, along with other councils around the country, would be bankrupt within a decade if other means of raising revenue weren’t sourced – and soon.

He said: “Other councils are three, four, five years ahead of us at the moment with these kind of plans. 

“It’s about an investment philosophy which raises revenue and being in a position so we’re not struggling when the Government inevitably cuts our grant.”

He addded: “I can’t for the life of me understand the opposition.”