BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service reporter Christine Sexton, previews next week's vote in Thurrock.

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THIS year's local election in Thurrock on Thursday, 4 May is set against a backdrop of financial turmoil, which is set to last for decades.

No matter which party forms an administration following the elections, commissioners appointed by the Government to find a way out of the £1.5billion debt accrued through bad investments will still be in charge of the council's purse strings for some time to come.

The administration will also have to negotiate the continuation of some large scale schemes, including the long-awaited new Stanford-le-Hope station and the demolition and reconstruction of the Blackshots tower blocks, though the commissioners have appeared to back the much-needed new homes to replace the crumbling, mould-ridden flats.

They will also have to ride the wave of any new revelations emerging from continuing investigations into investments made with money borrowed from other councils across the country.

Despite the difficulties suffered by the current administration, Conservatives are likely to remain in power following the election.

Conservatives currently have 29 councillors against Labour's 14 seats. There are also three Thurrock Independent councillors and three non-aligned members. Eight Tory seats are being contested in May. Labour is defending four seats but would need to win 15 seats for a majority.

Basildon and Thurrock Conservatives and Thurrock Council leader Mark Coxshall have been approached to share their manifesto and aims for the future if they are returned to power. Neither has responded.

However, the Thurrock Labour group has.

It says honesty, openness, fairness, respect, and hard work are the main tenets of its election promises.

The group says it will ensure the council has a solid financial foundation based on straight talking and getting back to basics.

Labour says there will be "more transparency" and "no more catastrophic secret deals" and no more "playing fast and loose with people's money".

The group says it will build fairness and equality into council dealings, councillors will remember who they are there to serve and the party will work hard to rebuild residents' trust in the council.

Labour's manifesto says it will ensure council officers are there to advise while councillors make decision. The secrecy with which deals were made that led the council into its current financial crisis have, the party said, turned a "reasonably well-run council into a financial basket case" which has "saddled residents with decades of debt".

Cllr John Kent, leader of the Labour Group said: "Thanks to the Conservatives' catastrophic mishandling of the council finances, the challenge we face is huge and the council – and the borough as a whole – will be very different in years to come.

"We have to, very carefully, go through all council assets – including remaining investments – to ensure we get the very best price when we come to sell them.

"We need to pursue those responsible for this catastrophe – through the courts if necessary – to make them pay for their actions.

"Labour will not agree to any Council Tax increase, above the level of the Council Tax cap, without a referendum. We know that Thurrock Tories will be looking to increase Council Tax by 10 per cent again next year – Labour will not support that."

Thurrock's Independent group, which currently has three councillors who are all up for election, is also ready to share its opinions and says it wants to bring "power back to the people".

The group, which is not aligned to any political party, says it wants to "improve and secure the future of the borough for families in the community.

The administration's financial failings, which have left the borough with millions of pounds of debt, are high on the agenda for the Independents who say they will "tackle the failings".

The group says it will keep weekly bin collections and keep the street lights on.

They will push for homes for constituents instead of catering to the needs of property developers and London boroughs.

In addition, they pledge to protect green spaces from being concreted over or used to make way for wind farms.

There will be a "zero tolerance" approach to antisocial behaviour.

Residents will also be "given a voice" in the council chamber with "no more secrets" within any new administration.

Group leader Cllr Gary Byrne said: "Thurrock is effectively bankrupt. There is no magic wand, the Conservatives' Thurrock bubble has burst. Our aims and promises are achievable with no or at low cost.

"Priority homes for Thurrock's residents comes for free, protecting our green spaces comes for free, giving the residents a say in chamber comes for free, improved project management on bin collections comes for free."

Mr Byrne added: "The main parties can no longer continue to throw money at a problem hoping it will go away. They have killed the golden goose. It's the residents who will suffer for many years to come as a direct result.

"Our policy is tell our residents the truth. Giving residents false hope while canvassing on doorsteps only to let residents down again after the election maybe the Conservative way. We prefer putting resident first, politics a poor second."

There are a number of non-aligned independents standing, among them current East Tilbury councillor Fraser Massey.

Cllr Massey says he will stand up for the protection of the green belt. He will also fight against plans to "surround our area with overhead power pylons" and fight for improved road safety.

He told the LDRS: "I continue to strive for improvements to road safety. Some aspects are in place such as the speed safety camera, along with better signage will help to keep speeding down on the road near the school."

Cllr Massey is standing against Labour's Alastair Craft and Conservative, Daryle Palmer.

Other non-aligned candidates are Craig Austin who is standing in Tilbury Riverside & Thurrock Park against Labour's Cici Manwa, and Conservative Cllr Allen Mayes; Neil Speight who stands in Stanford West against incumbent Tory Cllr Shane Hebb and Labour's Philip Smith, and Roy Jones is standing in Stanford East & Corringham Town alongside Labour's John Cecil and current Conservative councillor Shane Ralph.

Polling hours on Thursday, May 4 are from 7am until 10pm. A new law means that those voting in person are required to show photo ID at the polling station, such as a passport. Expired ID documents will be accepted if the photo is still a good likeness.