The Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness has responded to Thurrock Council Commissioners’ most recent report into the council’s improvement journey, published today. In her letter of 27 January 2026, Alison McGovern MP says she is pleased to see the continued progress made by the council, including the smooth transition to new leadership and the necessary steps the council continues to take to reduce its level of debt.
In their letter to the Secretary of State on 5 November, Commissioners noted the ongoing progress and positive changes made by Thurrock Council since their last report, commenting on the Good judgement from the Care Quality Commission during that period. They also highlighted the considerable progress made by the council in developing a transformation roadmap, with services and corporate teams working together to demonstrate a co-ordinated, one council approach to transformation and the delivery of the associated savings.
Other key positive findings of the report include:
- A new Leader and Cabinet have continued to own the recovery agenda and drive improvement forward, with a new encouraging, optimistic and hopeful narrative about the organisation and its future.
- A strengthened leadership cohort across the Council, as the Senior Leadership Team and Assistant Directors which operates effectively together across the organisation on major cross-cutting issues including the council’s transformation roadmap.
- An increasing number of examples of the council inviting external challenge and third party scrutiny of its services and arrangements, including an LGA peer review of the housing service, and a review by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny of its new Overview and Scrutiny arrangements.
- Staff and resident engagement and internal communications have increased or matured, with monthly all staff briefings and regular Ask the Council public question time events.
- Improvements in the council’s budget management, and also in financial monitoring and transparency in reporting to ensure that officers and members have a clear understanding of the Council’s financial challenges and a collectively agreed approach to addressing these.
Of course, as a council in intervention there is still a great deal still to do, and the report recognises the importance of maintaining pace with improvement and transformation and continuing to address historic issues. The report sets out its recommendations for the council’s areas of focus for the next period, which include ongoing work to achieve savings and debt reduction; agree and finalise the revised constitution, financial regulations, and scheme of delegation; more work to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements; an effective model of individual performance management agreed and allied with the Corporate and Improvement Plan; and an embedded programme of meaningful engagement with staff, residents and partners to rebuild trust and confidence in the council, further building on the positive work to date.
In her letter, Alison McGovern MP notes the risk to ongoing organisational capacity due to the significant pressures of delivering transformation alongside Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution. She says that it will be crucial that the council does not lose focus in the next few months, and ensures that it maintains the pace of its improvement, alongside the important transformation programmes.
Because of the progress that has been made, Commissioners have suggested that the council is ready to move forward with a less intensive intervention, and as part of that to recruit their own Chief Executive, should a suitable candidate be found. Currently, the most senior officer in the council is a Government-appointed Managing Director Commissioner, Dr Dave Smith.
Cllr Lynn Worrall, Leader of Thurrock Council, said: “I welcome the findings of Commissioners in their latest letter to Government, which really shows the huge strides forward that the council has taken over the last year, building on previous progress.
“We know there are challenges ahead, but it does feel as though we are much better-equipped to tackle them, as a well-run council with the right governance, systems and processes in place.
“On the basis of the significant progress we have made, which I’m really pleased to see recognised by the Secretary of State and Commissioners, it does feel the right time for us to take more ownership of the council, and seek a new Chief Executive.
“I’m hugely grateful to Dave both for helping to get the council back on track, and for his personal support as I took on the role of Leader. He will leave the council in a good place, and with a strong team of senior officers who will continue to work with my Cabinet to drive Thurrock forward.
“I am well aware there is still a huge amount to do to get Thurrock’s finances into the best shape as we evolve with neighbours into a new council. My Cabinet and I look forward to working with Commissioners to continue on our improvement journey.”
The Commissioners’ sixth report can be found at: GOV.UK - Thurrock Council: Commissioners’ sixth report
The Minister’s response here: GOV.UK - Thurrock Council: Ministerial response to Commissioners’ sixth report