BOROUGH council leader Louise McKinlay has launched a stinging attack on Labour rival Mike Le- Surf, saying his vision for the future of Brentwood could have been "drawn up on the back of an envelope".
However Mr Le-Surf hit back describing one of her own ideas as something out of "The Stepford Wives".
The Tory's broadside against the leader of the council's minority Labour group, is the latest in a series of spats between the two politicians.
Mrs McKinlay hit out after Mr Le-Surf emailed her his vision for Brentwood's future.
The row comes against the backdrop of the Tory-controlled council consulting with residents on its vision and priorities for the future.
Mr Le-Surf, who represents Brentwood South, said the borough should be "a vibrant community that respects the town's heritage and culture while embracing change".
He added that it should be "a place where families feel safe, can grow and live together and a borough who's (sic) public services are delivered and accessed locally by people who care and invest in Brentwood".
However, Mrs McKinlay said: "You can't just come up with five or six sound bites and write them on the back of an envelope.
"The key point, which he has failed to address, is how is anyone going to measure the success of his goals.
"Saying making Brentwood fair and accessible for all – how is anyone going to judge whether it is successful?"
She added: "They are just a series of airy-fairy statements that are not measurable.
"When we finalise our vision we will tell residents exactly what we intend to achieve. For example, if I say we are going to increase recycling to 60 per cent I either meet it or I don't."
Mr Le-Surf replied: "The only vision that the Brentwood Tories have is tunnel-vision.
"A place to come home to, taken for their initial draft, reads like a page from The Stepford Wives.
"In contrast to the Tories' cardboard conservatism, Labour's vision will enhance the lives of residents and help us build a strong and vibrant community ."
Liberal Democrat opposition leader David Kendall also hit out at the Tories' vision.
He said: "After years of damaging Tory control, these silly statements will mean little to residents and are proof this Tory administration has run out of steam.
"If they are serious about taking this town forward then their vision should embrace the Town Hall project, think again about what is developed on William Hunter Way and listen more to what residents are saying."
