GOVERNMENT intervention into Thurrock Council will continue for at least the next year. 

Jim McMahon, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, made the announcement to parliament today (Thursday, 17 July).

In a statement he said: "On 19 June, I informed the House that I was satisfied that Thurrock Council is not yet complying with its Best Value Duty. 

"I proposed to issue new Directions to Thurrock Council to extend the statutory intervention until 30 April 2028, and asked the Council and others to provide representations by 2 July 2025.

"I received three representations which I considered carefully. I am satisfied that the Council is not yet complying with its Best Value Duty. I have concluded that it is both necessary and expedient for me to exercise powers in the 1999 Act as I proposed, with minor amendments.

"I have today issued Directions to the Council under section 15(5) and 15(6) of the 1999 Act to implement the proposed intervention package. These come into effect immediately and will remain in force up to and including 30 April 2028. 

"The Directions issued on 2 September 2022 (updated on 16 March 2023) are revoked with immediate effect. This package, to be in place until 30 April 2028, comprises of specific actions the Council is required to take alongside the appointment of three Commissioners with powers to exercise functions. 

"I am confident that this package will address the issues identified and is necessary for the Council to secure compliance with its Best Value Duty.

"The success of Thurrock is important both for its own benefit and that of the region, with its critical role in local government reorganisation and devolution across Essex, which offers significant opportunities to drive growth, improve transport connectivity and build new homes, as well as raising living standards for its population.

"I have today appointed Gavin Jones CBE, Denise Murray and Dr Dave Smith to continue as Commissioners.

"I have issued Directions which, in summary, require the Council to:

• continue to implement and report on plans for the Authority's improvement and recovery, to the satisfaction of the Commissioners.
• develop and maintain a revised Corporate Plan which includes the necessary work to ensure the Authority's compliance with the Best Value Duty.
• Ensure that the Authority has personnel with sufficient capability and capacity including access to appropriate specialist expertise where required. 
• work with Commissioners on the work with other councils in the Greater Essex area for unitary local government and the Devolution Priority Programme on implementing any such proposals later agreed upon.
• Fully co-operate with the Commissioners and take any reasonable action within the Authority's functions to prevent further failure, as reasonably determined by the Commissioners.

Commissioners will be able to exercise functions:

• associated with the governance, scrutiny and transparency of strategic decision making by the Authority.
• associated with financial sustainability and delivering financial governance and scrutiny of strategic financial decision making by the Authority.
• associated with the Authority's operating model and redesign of services to achieve value for money and financial sustainability; and those that ensure the Council has the right skills, capacity, capabilities and structures to make improvements.

"I intend to review the proposed arrangements by Summer 2026 when I would expect there to be further clarity on broader plans for devolution and local government reorganisation across Greater Essex.

"As with other statutory interventions led by my department, the Council will be required to cover the costs associated with the Commissioners and provide reasonable amenities and services and administrative support. 

"I am assured this provides value for money given the expertise that is being brought, and the scale of the challenge."

It is estimated the cost of commissioners to Thurrock taxpayers is around two million pounds to date.

Thurrock MP Jen Craft said: "In the last two years, we've seen significant steps forward in the recovery of Thurrock Council. The tireless work of the new Labour administration, commissioners, and council staff and officers has begun to put things right for our area. 

"This extension of the Best Value Duty reflects the scale of the challenge that was inherited.

"The Conservatives drove the council into crisis, with unprecedented levels of debt, and fixing the mess they left will take time."

"As a local resident myself, the last thing I want is for this important progress to be undone. We have all lost out because of the failures of the past, and this continued oversight provides important support as the council works to restore vital services for families in Thurrock."