Commissioners | Improvement | Thurrock Council

In October 2023, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced a named Commissioner team to continue the improvement work with Thurrock Council.

The team comprises:

Gavin Jones, Lead Commissioner
Nicole Wood, Finance Commissioner
Dr Dave Smith, Managing Director Commissioner.

This provides continuity from the previous arrangement. Previously Essex County Council acted as 'Best Value Commissioner' for Thurrock Council from the point of intervention in September 2022. Dr Dave Smith was appointed Managing Director Commissioner in March 2023.

Gavin Jones, Lead Commissioner

Gavin Jones is the Chief Executive of Essex County Council. As Lead Commissioner, he:

provides oversight of, and strategic leadership for, the wider Commissioner team
chairs the Improvement and Recovery Board

Gavin has served as Chief Executive of Essex County Council since 2016, having previously spent 10 years as Chief Executive of Swindon Borough Council. He joined local government after working in commercial sectors such as airline, travel, and technology.

Gavin was listed as one of the 'Top 50 New Radicals' in the Sunday Observer's national campaign for Britain's most innovative leaders, and voted one of the most influential leaders in local government. Gavin has been Chair of Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) since 2016, helping it to grow and support leadership across the local government sector.

Dr Dave Smith, Chief Executive and Managing Director Commissioner

Dr Dave Smith is the Managing Director Commissioner. He fulfils the role of Chief Executive for Thurrock Council and is responsible for its day-to-day operations. He also chairs the Governance Recovery Board.

Dave uses his independent position to provide advice and guidance to the council on matters concerning infrastructure or regeneration in the local area – for example, Thames Freeport, local transport initiatives. He also represents Thurrock in any discussions and negotiations on the expression of interest submitted to the government on wider devolution in Essex.

Most recently Dave was Chief Executive at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority from 2016. He has held senior executive positions within local government since 2008, including 7 years as Chief Executive of Sunderland City Council and senior positions at Liverpool City Council and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

Nicole Wood, Finance Commissioner

Nicole Wood is Executive Director for Finance and Resources at Essex County Council, and Section 151 Officer. As Finance Commissioner, she:

provides oversight of Thurrock Council's finance functions
chairs the Finance Recovery Board

Nicole joined Essex County Council in 2008 following roles at the London Borough of Hackney, the Audit Commission and Oldham Council.

Chief of Staff

The Commissioner team is supported by Chief of Staff, Cristina Hall – a civil servant from the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities.

Commissioner publications

The Commissioners report our progress to the government's Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on a regular basis. Their first report was submitted to the Secretary of State on 5 December 2022. It was published on 24 January 2023.

Commissioner reports to the Secretary of State:

For openness and transparency, each Commissioner declares any interests that may affect their role.

Commissioner declarations of interest

Declaration of interests – Gavin Jones (PDF 143.48KB)

Declaration of interests – Dr Dave Smith (PDF 144.43KB)

Declaration of interests – Nicole Wood (PDF 116.80KB)

Commissioners receive reasonable expenses and fees that the Secretary of State determines are to be paid to them by Thurrock Council. The Secretary of State is mindful that expenses and fees need to represent value for money for local taxpayers. For more information, go to GOV.UK: Thurrock Council Explanatory Memorandum, 16 March 2023.

Commissioners Costs Q3 2024 (PDF 72.33KB)