Improvement

Commissioners

In October 2023, the then Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced a named Commissioner team to continue the improvement work with Thurrock Council. Updates to the commissioner team were made in March 2025.

The team comprises:

  • Gavin Jones, Lead Commissioner
  • Denise Murray, 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.

Denise Murray was appointed as Finance Commissioner in March 2025 following Nicole Wood, the then Executive Director for Finance and Resources and Section 151 Officer at Essex County Council, standing down as Finance Commissioner in February 2025.

Gavin Jones, Lead Commissioner

Gavin Jones recently stepped down from serving as the Chief Executive of Essex County Council to concentrate on his role as a Best Value Commissioner.

As Lead Commissioner, he: 

Gavin served as Chief Executive of Essex County Council between 2016-2025, having previously spent 10 years as Chief Executive of Swindon Borough Council. For 8 years, he also served as the Chairman for the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE), working with councils across the UK. 

Prior to his 20 years in Local Government, he worked in senior positions within the private sector. His last role before joining public service in 2005 was as Vice President for Marketing and Customer Services within the airline industry. Recognised as one of Britain’s most innovative leaders, he’s been listed among the top 50 New Radicals and voted as one of the most influential people in the UK Local Government sector.

Gavin was also appointed as the Lead Commissioner at Slough Borough Council in May 2023 and sits as Chairman of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Challenge Board. Gavin was recently appointed a senior advisor to a large UK based consulting company, Newton.

Dr Dave Smith, Chief Executive and Managing Director Commissioner

Dr Dave Smith is the Managing Director Commissioner. In his role, he: 

  • Fulfils the role of Chief Executive for Thurrock Council and is responsible for its day-to-day operations.
  • Chairs the Governance Recovery Board.

Dave uses his independent position as the Managing Director Commissioner 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.

Denise Murray, Finance Commissioner

Denise Murray has been a Best Value Finance Commissioner since 2023 and was formerly a Section 151 Officer from 2015- 2024, most recently for Bristol City Council. As Finance Commissioner for Thurrock, she:

Denise has a strong public sector ethos and extensive experience of successfully delivering service improvements and transformation in large complex organisations. Her local government, voluntary and private sector roles have provided a sound understanding of a wide range of People, Place, Commercial and Corporate functions at unitary, county, borough, district, and parish level across the south of England. Denise is also currently the Finance Commissioner for Slough Borough Council.

While tackling the key challenges facing local government, Denise has played a critical role in navigating complex decisions, to enable the development of balanced 5 year rolling medium term financial plans, building financial resilience for future shocks, and simultaneously retaining capacity and capability to deliver wider strategic objectives.

Chief of Staff

The Commissioner team is supported by Chief of Staff, Cristina Hall – a civil servant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. 

Commissioner publications

The Commissioners report our progress to the government's Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government 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)

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-2024-Q4 (PDF 78.43KB)

Commissioner letters

The letters below confirm decisions made by Commissioners, including appointments to the Thurrock Council's Senior Leadership Team.

Letters confirming decisions of Commissioners

Letter from Thurrock Council Commissioners confirming appointment of Robert Persey as Director of Adults and Health - 4 April 2025 (PDF 231.60KB)
Letter from Thurrock Council Commissioners regarding the sale of an asset at St Chad's, Tilbury, 14 March 2024 (PDF 98.96KB)
Letter from Dr Dave Smith, Managing Director Commissioner, confirming appointment of Dawn Calvert as Interim Chief Finance Officer, 20 February 2024 (PDF 134.29KB)
Letter from Dr Dave Smith, Managing Director Commissioner, confirming appointment of Daniel Fenwick as Executive Director of Corporate Services and Monitoring Officer, 21 November 2023 (PDF 138.12KB)
Letter from Dr Dave Smith, Managing Director Commissioner, confirming appointment of Alex Powell as Assistant Chief Executive, 21 November 2023 (PDF 134.33KB)
Letter from Thurrock Council Commissioner Team, confirming appointment of Steven Mair as Section 151 Officer, 7 September 2023 (PDF 114.71KB)
Letter from Gavin Jones, Essex County Council Commissioner, confirming appointment of Dr Dave Smith as Head of Paid Service and Chief Executive, 27 April 2023 (PDF 127.62KB)