ESSEX County Council is to be relieved of its role of watchdog on embattled Thurrock Council in a reshaping moved announced by government minister Lee Rowley today (Thursday, 5 October).

However, two of its senior officers who were installed as 'commissioners' to guide virtually bankrupt Thurrock back to better health, will remain in post – but as 'standalone' commissioners.

They are current lead commissioner Gavin Jones who is chief executive of Essex County Council and Nicole Wood who was brought in as Thurrock's finance commissioner, based on her full time role as executive director for finance and resources at the Chelmsford-based county authority.

They have been backed up by a team of officers from Essex, who will now go back to their normal duties.

There is no mention in today's announcements of what will happen to Patrick McDermott, a highly-regarded civil servant from the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities who has seconded to Thurrock as its chief of staff.

Nicole Wood and Gavin Jones - retained as commissioners at Thurrock.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government Lee Rowley, who has fronted up government intervention, says his move will allow Essex County Council to exit from their formal support as a corporate body.

He says: "The support provided by Essex County Council has been invaluable in allowing detailed diagnostic work to be completed on the finance and governance issues at Thurrock."

The minister has confirmed that managing director commisioner and CEO Dr Dave Smith will continue in his role.

Mr Rowley, said to be "mindful of the need for commissioner remuneration to represent value for money for local taxpayers", has determined new fees of £1,200 a day for the lead commissioner and £1,100 a day for Dr Smith and Ms Wood.

The overall message from today's announcements, which includes publication of a report by commissioners, is upbeat.

The report is part of the intervention process at Thurrock Council that started in September when the full scale of the council's £1.5 billion debt was revealed. Commissioners were appointed by the government to take full control of the financial functions of the authority and assess actions needed to limit any risks to services.

The report is described as positive about the progress being made to lay the foundations for improvement and defines the 'huge scale' of the journey ahead and that the road to recovery will be long.

Mr Rowley has also highlighted some aspects of the recovery that are lagging. He said: "The council should be commended for producing an enhanced Improvement and Recovery Plan, although there is clearly significant work ahead to ensure that this plan can be resourced and delivered.

"It is now vital the Council focuses on what it needs to do and the pace of change needs to accelerate.

"Further slippage on key issues, such as the review of the capital programme and the implementation of a robust delivery risk assessment for savings, cannot happen.

"It is also critical that the council takes all necessary steps to improve its financial position and builds on the early work undertaken to improve governance."

Thurrock Council leader Cllr Andrew said: "The recognition of the work underway is heartening and I am under no illusion about the challenges that lie ahead.

"We will continue to work with Commissioners to drive forward with the changes needed to shape our recovery. I am committed to working with elected Members and officer colleagues throughout this process to do everything it takes to rebuild our council. Under my leadership, the council will never repeat the mistakes of the past.

"I remain determined to protect vulnerable residents and ensure that essential services are delivered across the borough. Thurrock is a borough that will succeed and flourish. We want to be the energetic, hard-working and ambitious council local people need and deserve."

Dr Dave Smith.

The council's chief executive and managing director commissioner, Dr Dave Smith, added: "This latest report provides further focus for the changes that are underway and that we will be making moving forwards for the good of the borough.

"My role as commissioner and chief executive strengthens the collaborative approach between our council and the Commissioner Team as we've worked with government through the initial phases of intervention. We are advocating a one council approach to instil best practice across the whole organisation. This will continue as we build a council fit for the future.

"We now need to accelerate the pace of change to create a united and efficient council that is sustainable over the long term, providing much needed stability for Thurrock."

It was also confirmed today that elections will take place in the borough when a third of seats will be up for grabs. However, those elected will only serve a year before an all-out election across Thurrock in May 2025.

It may even be that by then there will be different ward boundaries.

Mr Rowley said: "At the time of the Best Value Inspection report's publication on 15 June I announced that the secretary of state and I were minded to move Thurrock Council to whole council elections, to bring stability to the council, and to encourage greater consistency and longevity in decision making.

"I have decided to proceed with the proposal on which I sought representations and therefore intend to make an order under Section 86 of the Local Government Act 2000 to move Thurrock Council to a scheme of whole council elections from May 2025 onwards. The May 2024 elections of one third of members will go ahead as planned, to ensure residents have the opportunity to have their say."