Improvement

In September 2022, Directions issued to us by the Government required us to put in place an Improvement and Recovery Plan to the satisfaction of Commissioners.

At a minimum, the plan is required to include:

• an action plan to achieve financial sustainability and to close any short-term and long-term budget gaps identified by the council across the period of its medium-term financial strategy, including a robust multi-year savings plan
• an action plan to ensure the council's capital, investment and treasury management strategies are sustainable and affordable
• a strict debt reduction plan, and an updated minimum revenue provision policy in line with all relevant rules and guidelines
• an action plan to ensure the council is complying with all relevant rules and guidelines relating to the financial management of the council
• a suitable scheme of delegations for financial decision-making

Our Improvement and Recovery Plan sets the short-term, medium-term and longer-term actions we'll take to deal with the challenges we face.

Our ambitions within the plan are to:

• agree and embed a new vision, values and culture across all levels of the organisation
• reduce our borrowing as quickly as possible
• achieve financial sustainability as quickly as possible
• embed a system of strong governance across the organisation
• develop a new locality-based preventative integrated operating model
• capitalise on Thurrock's growth opportunities

The plan has 5 main themes:

• financial sustainability
• governance and scrutiny
• strategic direction
• place leadership and growth
• leadership and culture

You can download the full plan below.

We must report to the Commissioner on our Improvement and Recovery Plan progress at 6-month intervals, or at such intervals as the Commissioner may direct.