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 the 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 the 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
On the 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.
Documents
Last updated 7 March 2024 + show all updates
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Added Thurrock Council: Commissioners’ third report; Thurrock Council: Ministerial response to Commissioners’ third report.
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Added Thurrock Council: Exceptional Financial Support request 2024-25.
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Added Commissioner’s second report; ministerial response to second report; revised Explanatory Memorandum; Commissioner appointment letters; and letters to the Leader of Thurrock Council and to the Leader of Essex County Council.
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Added best value inspection report, and letters to Leader of Thurrock Council and Thurrock commissioners.
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Added letters setting out the expansion to the intervention package; letter of appointment of the Managing Director Commissioner; representations from the council; and revised Directions and Explanatory Memorandum.
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Added Thurrock Council: Exceptional Financial Support request 2023-24.
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Added Best Value Inspection update letter; Commissioner’s first report; letters setting out a proposed expansion to the intervention package.
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Updated to reflect that Essex County Council have been given more time to complete their Best Value Inspection report, and will provide their report by 17 February 2023.
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First published.