LITTLE that is new has emerged from the fifth edition of a report from commissioners on the state of Thurrock Council.

Since being installed to run the authority after the council's financial collapse came to light in 2022, Gavin Jones and Dr Dave Smith have been two of three commissioners, initially working with Nicole Wood and latterly with Denise Murray.

They were put in place because the government was not satisfied that the pace or scale of the council's response to its collapse was proportionate to the issues it faced.

On a regular basis they report back to the government.

Their first four reports can be found via these links:

• GOV.UK: Commissioner's first report, 24 January 2023
• GOV.UK: Commissioners' second report, 5 October 2023
• GOV.UK: Commissioners' third report, 7 March 2024
• GOV.UK: Commissioners' fourth report, 6 March 2025

Today (Thursday, 19 June) the Government published the latest report from Commissioners into the recent progress made.

The report highlights the work underway in Thurrock to work with partners across Greater Essex on Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation and recommends extending the period of intervention so that it aligns with future proposals and timetables on local government reorganisation in Greater Essex.

The commissioners noted that Thurrock Council has engaged "positively" with them since 2022 when intervention was necessary, and that the authority has "…taken seriously its commitment to recovery and improvement." 

It reports that a balanced budget had been successfully set in May 2025, despite the challenges to do so. Though commissioners had already reported on the change of administration at the council following last year's local elections, commissioners chose to highlight it again.

They also say while there have been significant improvements through more collaborative relationships between members and officers as well as a training offer for officers to improve the quality of reports, the Council's political and organisational leadership must continue to model the right behaviours and call it out where it falls short.

Additionally, the commissioners positively noted the recent Ofsted rating for the borough's children's social care services as 'outstanding' and steady improvements in town planning and development control.

While commissioners noted the many areas of progress against the nine key priority areas for improvement, there are still significant hurdles to overcome before intervention can come to an end. The commissioners highlighted the continuing and sustained financial pressures faced by the council, as well as constraints on staff capacity and capability, and a need for greater focus on ensuring strategic improvements such as the council's new Corporate Risk Register, are replicated across all departments and teams.

They suggest a time may be approach when the council would be better served by ending the dual role of commissioner and managing commissioner, currently occupied by Dr Smith.

It is the Commissioners' perspective in Thurrock there will need to be a time when it should revert to a more traditional Chief Executive model.

Commissioners also say there remains a weakness in the authority's approach to risk management and it has not yet been embraced across the council as an essential organisational capability.

And the capacity of council services to meet borough residents' needs is highlighted. The report says: "While some progress has been made around efficiency, this will not be enough to strategically reshape the Council to ensure it becomes fit for the future, whether it continues to stand alone or is merged into a larger unitary through local government reorganisation.

And it adds: "Despite ongoing good work, the Council is still some way from achieving its Best Value Duty and it will take time for the improvements to become sustainable and part of the organisational culture."

Responding to the report from the commissioners, council leader Cllr Lynn Worrall, Leader of Thurrock Council said: "Residents of Thurrock, council staff and elected councillors will all welcome the fact that Thurrock Council is making real and sustained progress on what will be a long journey of improvement – but we are collectively determined to get there, making sure Thurrock is a council fit for the future."

"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, which we will be held accountable to. But there is more work yet to do.

"On behalf of the Council, I want to thank the commissioners for their hard work with us and for their insight.

"The simple message is this: a lot has been done, but we have much, much more to do."

The report can be read in full via this link.