Thurrock Council has today (17 July) welcomed the decision by the Minister for Local Government, Jim McMahon MP, to extend the period in which dedicated commissioners remain at the authority. Following the existing commissioners’ fifth letter to Government last month, which noted sustained progress made by Thurrock Council as it navigates its recovery and improvement journey, the government has today confirmed to maintain intervention help the council sustain its progress and improve services to local residents.
The commissioners noted the good work underway in Thurrock, which in his statement today, the minister endorsed. Following the change of administration and a new Leader and Cabinet, the Government has highlighted the positive way in which both elected Members and officers continue to work hard to create a fresh start for Thurrock.
In her letter to the Minister, following the commissioners’ report back to Government, Cllr. Lynn Worrall, Leader of the Council, welcomed the recommendation for intervention to remain in place to help sustain the positive progress. The council continues to work hard to reduce costs and debt and has published its first Corporate Plan. An Annual Report is set to be published next week (23 July) at Thurrock Council’s Cabinet meeting – both documents set out the council’s performance against key performance indicators, demonstrating increased transparency and a continued path of making sure strategic improvements, such as the council’s new Corporate Risk Register, are replicated across all departments and teams.
Responding to the statement today by the minister, Cllr. Lynn Worrall, Leader of Thurrock Council, said: “I know that Thurrock residents want to see real improvements in the way the council is run – and I am pleased to say that both the government and the team of commissioners working with us daily – are seeing results. We are committed to delivering positive changes for the residents of Thurrock and are pleased that we will be able to continue working with the commissioners to achieve further progress.
“It is clear that Thurrock Council is getting better. Our children’s services have been rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, the National Planning Service has highlighted real improvements in our planning service and our new Corporate Plan sets out a clear direction for the future. Our Annual Report to residents, to be published next week, will set out further areas of improvement – as well as those areas where we must work harder to achieve our goal of a well-run, transparent and stable council that provides value for money in all its services.
“I want to thank staff, elected Members and stakeholders for their hard work in getting Thurrock Council to a place where we can talk ambitiously about the future and where we are focusing on delivering the very best for our residents.
“The simple message is this: a lot has been done, but we have much, much more to do.”
You can find the ministerial decision, published today, here: Parliament.uk - Local Government Best Value, Statement made on 17 July 2025