Intervention at Thurrock Council
Documents relating to the intervention in Thurrock Council.
There are great concerns about the scale of the financial and commercial risks potentially facing Thurrock Council, which are compounded by the council’s approach to financial management and the seriousness of the allegations that have been made by third parties about the processes that have been applied to the operation of the council’s commercial strategy.
The government is not satisfied that the pace or scale of the council’s response is proportionate to the issues it faces and has decided that Thurrock requires immediate urgent government action.
On 2 September 2022 the former Secretary of State announced that after due consideration he was using his powers under the Local Government Act 1999 to intervene at the council.
Essex County Council were appointed to the role of Commissioner and powers granted to them to oversee the financial functions of Thurrock Council. Alongside this work Essex County Council were also appointed as a Best Value Inspector in order to assess whether there was best value failure in other functions of the Council.
On 14 December 2022 it was agreed that the Best Value Inspection team from Essex County Council will have more time to complete their report. Essex County Council will now provide their report to the Secretary of State by 17 February 2023.
On 24 January 2023 the Minister for Local Government announced that after due consideration the Secretary of State was minded-to use his powers under the Local Government Act 1999 to expand the intervention at the Council. The department invited representations from the Council and other interested parties on the first report from the Commissioner, an update letter from the Best Value Inspector and the proposed expansion of the intervention by 7 February 2023.
On 1 March 2023 the Minister for Local Government wrote to the leader of Thurrock Council, to communicate the government’s proposed response to the council’s request for Exceptional Financial Support for 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Following consideration of these representations, on 16 March 2023 the Minister announced that the Secretary of State would expand the intervention at the Council.
Essex County Council submitted the final version of their Best Value Inspection report to the Secretary of State on 19 May 2023, following a representations process whereby any particular individuals criticised were given an opportunity to read and respond to any relevant parts of the report before it was published.
On 15 June 2023 the Minister for Local Government announced that Thurrock’s Best Value Inspection report was published, which included key findings and recommendations.
On 5 October 2023 the Minister for Local Government published the second report from Thurrock Council’s Commissioners, providing an update on the progress of the intervention. Following the second report the Minister has decided that Essex County Council will exit its role as Commissioner, given that the first phase of the intervention has concluded with the publication of the Commissioners’ second report.
For the next phase of the intervention, Gavin Jones, Chief Executive of Essex County Council, and Nicole Wood, Section 151 Officer of Essex County Council, are appointed as Lead Commissioner and Finance Commissioner respectively, continuing their existing roles in the intervention, but on an individual basis rather than on behalf of Essex Country Council. Gavin Jones and Nicole Wood have already been leading Essex County Council’s work as Commissioner in Thurrock, and so we are confident they have the skills and capabilities to continue to fulfil these roles. Appointing them as individual Commissioners will minimise disruption to the intervention and promote continuity and consistency in decision making and support.
On 5 October 2023 the Minister for Local Government decided to make an order under section 86 of the Local Government Act 2000 to move Thurrock Council to a scheme of whole council elections from May 2025 onwards. The May 2024 elections of one third of members will go ahead as planned, to ensure residents have the opportunity to have their say.
The order to move Thurrock Council to a scheme of whole council elections from May 2025 onwards was laid in Parliament on 23 April 2024 and will come into force on 1 July 2024.
On 7 March 2024, alongside a written ministerial statement, the Minister for Local Government published the third report from Thurrock Council’s Commissioners, providing an update on the progress of the intervention.
On 6 March 2025, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, announced the publication of the fourth report from Thurrock Council’s Commissioners, providing an update on the progress of the intervention. The Minister also announced the extension of the appointment of Dr Dave Smith, Managing Director Commissioner.
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, confirmed the appointment of Denise Murray as the Finance Commissioner at Thurrock Council from 1 April 2025.
On 19 June 2025 the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution announced in a written ministerial statement the publication of the Commissioners’ fifth report and that the Secretary of State is minded to issue new Directions to the Council extending the intervention at Thurrock Council until 30 April 2028. The commissioner team, if appointed, would consist of a Lead Commissioner, Finance Commissioner and Managing Director Commissioner. The Minister invited representatives from Thurrock Council and any other interested parties on the proposed intervention package by 2 July 2025.
On 17 July 2025 the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, after consideration of the representations received, announced in a written ministerial statement that the extension of the intervention at Thurrock Council until 30 April 2028. He also confirmed the appointment of the current three Commissioners, Gavin Jones CBE (Lead), Denise Murray (Finance) and Dr Dave Smith (Managing Director Commissioner).
On 27 January 2026, the Minister of State for Local Government, and Homelessness, Alison McGovern MP, published the sixth report from Thurrock Council’s Commissioners, providing an update on the progress of the intervention. The Minister also confirmed that she was content for the Council to initiate a recruitment process for a Chief Executive subject to a suitable candidate being recruited. The Minister confirmed that Commissioners will continue to support the Council and that following the conclusion of the recruitment process, the department would review whether further changes would be needed to ensure the Commissioner team has capacity to provide sufficient support to the Council, and assurance to Ministers.
On 15 July 2026, Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern MP, announced via written ministerial statement, that should the Council successfully appoint a Chief Executive, the Managing Director Commissioner would subsequently step away from their role and a third commissioner would be appointed with responsibility for transformation, in due course.
On 7 September 2026, in line with the Minister’s announcement on 15 July 2026, the Managing Director Commissioner role at the Authority concluded and Dr Dave Smith’s appointment came to an end.