Thurrock Council Explained

Thurrock Borough Council
Logo Pic:Thurrock Council logo.svg
Logo Res:250px
House Type:Unitary authority
Motto:By Thames to all the peoples of the world[1]
Leader1 Type:Mayor
Leader1:Kairen Raper
Party1:
Labour
Election1:22 May 2024[2]
Leader2 Type:Leader
Leader2:John Kent
Party2:
Labour
Election2:22 May 2024
Leader3 Type:Managing Director
Leader3:Dave Smith
Election3:21 March 2023[3]
Seats:49 councillors[4]
Structure1:Thurrock_Council_2024_revised.svg
Structure1 Res:250px
Structure1 Alt:Thurrock Council composition
Political Groups1:
Administration (27)
  • Other parties (22)
    • Term Length:Four years
    Voting System1:First past the post
    Last Election1:2 May 2024
    Next Election1:1 May 2025
    Session Room:File:Thurrock Civic Offices 2022 wing.jpg
    Meeting Place:Thurrock Town Hall, New Road, Grays, RM176SL

    Thurrock Council is the local authority for the borough of Thurrock in the ceremonial county of Essex, England. Since 1998 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. It is a member of the East of England Local Government Association. The council is based in Grays.

    In 2022 the council's level of debt arising from failed investments led to it issuing a Section 114 notice, being the local authority equivalent of declaring bankruptcy. The government directed neighbouring Essex County Council to take over Thurrock's finances and also appointed a new managing director for the council.

    History

    Thurrock Urban District had been created in 1936 from the former urban districts of Grays Thurrock, Purfleet and Tilbury and the Orsett Rural District.[5]

    Urban districts were abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. A new non-metropolitan district called Thurrock was created covering almost the same area as the former Thurrock Urban District, with just a minor change on the border with Basildon to place the whole designated area for Basildon new town in that district.[6] [7] The reformed Thurrock district was given borough status at the same time, allowing the council to call itself "Thurrock Borough Council" and letting the chair of the council the title of mayor.[8]

    The council was made a unitary authority on 1 April 1998, taking over county-level services in the area from Essex County Council. The way the change was implemented was to create a new non-metropolitan county of Thurrock covering the borough, but with no separate county council; instead, the existing borough council took over county council functions, making it a unitary authority. Since 1998 the council has generally styled itself "Thurrock Council" rather than "Thurrock Borough Council".[9] Thurrock remains part of the ceremonial county of Essex for the purposes of lieutenancy.[10]

    The planning function for large developments was exercised by the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation in the whole of the borough from 2003 to 2012.[11] [12]

    Financial difficulties

    In 2020, it emerged that the council had borrowed £420 million to buy into the solar power market, eventually rising to a total investment of £655million.[13] One of the companies in which the council had invested, Toucan Energy, went into administration on 11 November 2022.[14] [15] Businessman Liam Kavanagh is accused of cheating the council out of as much as £130 million in relation to the deals.[16] Thurrock also made a £94million loan to the Just Loans Group plc, a business lender which went bankrupt in June 2022.

    On 2 September 2022, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities intervened in the running of Thurrock Council, passing financial control of the council to Essex County Council, as well as ordering a Best Value Inspection, in response to concerns about the council's level of financial risk and debt.[17] The council's financial exposure arises from loans of more than a billion pounds used to fund commercial investments. Council leader Rob Gledhill resigned on 2 September 2022, the day the government intervention was announced.[18]

    On 29 November 2022, Thurrock Council admitted that in that financial year it had a near £500 million budget deficit, mostly from failed investments. It asked for emergency financial assistance from the government.[19] [20] On 19 December 2022 the council issued a Section 114 notice barring any new expenditure, being the local authority equivalent of declaring bankruptcy.[21] [22] In March 2023 the government appointed a new managing director for the council, Dave Smith.[23]

    Governance

    As a unitary authority, Thurrock Council provides all local government services, albeit with oversight of the council's finances from Essex County Council since the government intervention in September 2022. There are no civil parishes in the borough, which is an unparished area.[24]

    Political control

    The council has been under Labour majority control since the 2024 election.

    Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:[25] [26]

    Lower tier non-metropolitan district

    Party in controlYears
    1974–1979
    1979–1982
    1982–1998

    Unitary authority

    Party in controlYears
    1998–2004
    2004–2007
    2007–2012
    2012–2014
    2014–2021
    2021–2024
    [27] 2024–2024
    2024–present

    Leadership

    The role of Mayor of Thurrock is largely ceremonial, usually being held by a different councillor each year. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1989 have been:[28]

    Councillor Party From To
    Jimmy Aberdein[29] 1989 1995
    Andy Smith[30] [31] 1995 30 Jun 2004
    Anne Cheale 30 Jun 2004 24 May 2006
    Terry Hipsey 24 May 2006 25 Mar 2009
    Garry Hague 25 Mar 2009 19 May 2010
    John Kent 19 May 2010 25 May 2016
    Rob Gledhill[32] 25 May 2016 2 Sep 2022
    Mark Coxshall 13 Oct 2022 7 May 2023
    Andrew Jefferies[33] 24 May 2023 22 May 2024
    John Kent 22 May 2024

    Composition

    Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:[34] [35] [36] [27]

    PartyCouncillors
    27
    13
    9
    Total49
    Of the nine independent councillors, eight sit together as the "Non-political Alliance of Independent Councillors", the other does not belong to a group.[37] The next election is due in May 2025.[38]

    Premises

    The council is based at Thurrock Town Hall on New Road in Grays.[39] When the council was created in 1974 it used the former offices of the Thurrock Urban District Council in a converted house called Farley and adjoining buildings around the junction of Whitehall Lane and Palmers Avenue in Grays.[40] In 1986 the council built itself a new headquarters at the corner of New Road and Derby Bridge Road in the centre of Grays.[41] The building has subsequently been extended westward along New Road with a large central block added in 1992 and a new wing at the corner of New Road and High Street completed in 2022.[42] [43]

    Elections

    Since the last boundary changes in 2004, the council has comprised 49 councillors representing 20 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, electing a third of the council each time for a four-year term. In the fourth year of the cycle there is no election.[44] This system will change from 2025, with elections being held every four years for the whole council.[45]

    Wards

    The wards, with their numbers on the map below, are:[44] [46]

    Arms

    Escutcheon:Argent on a fess wavy between in chief a ship's screw and a wheel Azure and in base a Celtic cross also Azure charged in the centre with a Tudor rose Proper three lymphads Argent.
    Crest:On a wreath of the colours an Albatross rising Proper from a bollard Sable roped Or.
    Supporters:On the dexter a sea-lion guardant Or gutty Sable the tail Vert gutty Or and Argent holding in the dexter claw a block Or tackle Sable and on the sinister a knight in armour tempus 1370 resting the exterior hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword a hound at his feet all Proper upon a compartment per pale water barry wavy Argent and Azure and a representation of a stone quay Proper.
    Motto:Secundum Tamesim Quovis Gentium (By The Thames To All The Peoples Of The World).[47]
    Notes:Shield and crest originally granted to Thurrock Urban District Council on 17 January 1957. Supporters granted on 14 May 1976.

    Mayors

    The mayors since 1982 have included:

    Councillor Party From To
    Bob Wood[48] [49] 1982 1983
    Sid Josling[50] 1984 1985
    Arthur Clarke[51] 1985 1986
    George Watts[52] 1988 1989
    John Dunn[53] 1989 1990
    Ken Evans[54] 1990 1991
    Kitty Price[55] 1991 1992
    Pat Rice[56] 1993 1994
    Barry Palmer[57] 1994 1995
    Reg Lee[58] 1995 1996
    Sid Josling 1996 1997
    Arthur Bennett[59] 1997 1998
    Albert Vandersteen[60] 1998 1999
    Carl Morris[61] 1999 2000
    Julian Norris[62] [63] 2000 2001
    Barrie Lawrence[64] 2001 2002
    Gordon Barton[65] 2002 2003
    Gerard Rice[66] 2003 2004
    Ian Harrison[67] [68] 2004 2005
    Colin Churchman[69] 2005 2006
    Joy Redsell[70] [71] 2006 2007
    Diane Revell[72] 2007 2008
    John Everett[73] 2008 2009
    Maureen Pearce[74] 2009 2010
    Anne Cheale[75] 2010 2011
    Yash Gupta[76] [77] 2011 2013
    Tony Fish[78] 2013 2014
    Steve Liddiard[79] 2014 2015
    Sue Gray[80] [81] 2015 2016
    Cathy Kent[82] [83] 2016 2017
    Tunde Ojetola[84] 2017 2018
    Barbara Rice[85] 2018 2019
    Terry Piccolo[86] 2019 2021
    Sue Shinnick[87] [88] 2021 2022
    James Halden[89] 2022 2023
    Sue Little 2023 2024
    Kairen Raper[90] 2024

    See also

    Thurrock, the area with borough status which this council administers.

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Thurrock Council Communications Strategy 2021–24 . 2021-10-13 . 2022-11-07 . Thurrock Council . 2.
    2. News: Sexton . Christine . Labour takes the reins of 'bankrupt' council . 24 May 2024 . BBC News . 23 May 2024.
    3. Web site: Managing Director Commissioner joins Thurrock Council . Thurrock Council . 30 March 2023 . 21 March 2023.
    4. Web site: Council and democracy: Your Councillors. 2022-11-07 . Thurrock Council.
    5. Web site: Thurrock Urban District . A Vision of Britain through Time . GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth . 9 June 2023.
    6. si. The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972. 1972. 2039. 31 May 2023.
    7. si. The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973. 1973. 551. 31 May 2023.
    8. Web site: District Councils and Boroughs. 28 March 1974. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 9 June 2023.
    9. si. The Essex (Boroughs of Colchester, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock and District of Tendring) (Structural, Boundary and Electoral Changes) Order 1996. 1996. 1875. 9 June 2023.
    10. act. Lieutenancies Act 1997. 1997. 23. 26 April 2023.
    11. si. The Thurrock Development Corporation (Area and Constitution) Order 2003. 2003. 2896. 11 June 2023.
    12. si. The Thurrock Development Corporation (Dissolution) Order 2012. 2012. 995. 11 June 2023.
    13. Web site: Court hears Thurrock Council paid £5 million commission to flamboyant entrepreneur to set up flawed solar farm deals. Questions raised about its diligence and fears for the future over its billion pound borrowing strategy . Thurrock Nub News . 17 October 2020 .
    14. Web site: TOUCAN ENERGY HOLDINGS 1 LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK . 2022-11-12 . find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk . en.
    15. Web site: 2022-11-11 . Solar farm owner Toucan Energy enters administration amid Thurrock scandal . 2022-11-12 . the Guardian . en.
    16. Web site: The Sunshine Millionaire: How one man took £130m from British taxpayers . . 1 August 2023.
    17. Web site: Government announces intervention into Thurrock Council . gov.uk . 2 September 2022.
    18. News: Tory-run Thurrock council faces inquiry over 'exceptional' debt levels . The Guardian . 2 September 2022 . Patrick . Butler.
    19. News: Thurrock council admits disastrous investments caused £500m deficit . Butler . Patrick . The Guardian . 29 November 2022 . 1 December 2022.
    20. News: Thurrock council ignored bankruptcy warnings and took 'unprecedented risks' . Butler . Patrick . The Guardian . 30 November 2022 . 1 December 2022.
    21. Web site: What happens if a council goes bankrupt? . House of Commons Library . 11 June 2023 . 21 November 2022.
    22. News: Thurrock Council issues S114 notice of financial distress . 20 December 2022 . BBC News . 19 December 2022.
    23. Web site: Local Government update . UK Parliament . 11 June 2023 . 16 March 2023.
    24. Web site: Election Maps . Ordnance Survey . 11 June 2023.
    25. Web site: Compositions calculator . The Elections Centre . 4 March 2016 . 20 August 2022.
    26. News: Thurrock . 22 November 2009 . . 19 April 2008.
    27. Web site: 2024-03-01 . Conservatives lose majority on Thurrock Council after budget vote . 2024-03-03 . BBC News . en-GB.
    28. Web site: Council minutes . Thurrock Council . 19 December 2022.
    29. Web site: Council minutes, 8 October 1997 . Thurrock Council . 11 June 2022.
    30. Web site: Respected senior councillor Andy Smith dies . 2014-08-12 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette . Abbott . Matt.
    31. Web site: Tribute to Councillor Andy Smith . Thurrock Council . 11 June 2022.
    32. News: Thurrock Council leader resigns as government steps in . 3 September 2022 . BBC News . 2 September 2022.
    33. News: Day-Parker . Jessica . Thurrock Council leader Andrew Jefferies' resignation . 24 May 2024 . Thurrock Gazette . 14 May 2024.
    34. News: Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England . 21 May 2024 . The Guardian . 4 May 2024.
    35. News: Bus decision is final straw for Tory councillor and she quits Tories . 19 January 2024 . Nub News . 13 July 2023.
    36. Web site: Thurrock Independents . Electoral Commission . 19 January 2024.
    37. Web site: Public reports pack, 23 May 2024 . Thurrock Council . 24 May 2024 . 35.
    38. si. The Borough of Thurrock (Scheme of Elections) Order 2024. 2024. 543. 24 May 2024.
    39. Web site: Contact us . Thurrock Council . 11 June 2023.
    40. Book: A History of the County of Essex: Volume 8 . 1983 . Victoria County History . London . 35–56 . 11 June 2023.
    41. Foundation stone on eastern block says "This foundation stone was laid by the Mayor of Thurrock Cllr. Arthur A. Clarke J.P. March 1986
    42. Foundation stone on central block says "This foundation stone was laid by the Mayor of Thurrock Cllr. Mrs A.M.K. Price May 1992
    43. Web site: Innovative new council building paves way for ambitious regeneration . Thurrock Council . 11 June 2023 . 8 June 2022.
    44. si. The Borough of Thurrock (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. 2002. 2234. 11 June 2023.
    45. News: 7 April 2024 . Local election candidates named . 14 April 2024 . Thurrock Nub News.
    46. Web site: Wards and polling stations. www.thurrock.gov.uk. Thurrock Council. 17 May 2017. en.
    47. Web site: East of England Region . Civic Heraldry of England . 9 March 2021.
    48. Web site: 1982 Thurrock Labour Party Annual Christmas Dinner at Tilbury Community Centre . 2020-02-05 . 2022-05-10 . Tilbury and Chadwell Memories . Cowin . Cliff.
    49. News: Council Backs Village Fight to Ban Dump . 1982-06-25 . Thurrock Gazette.
    50. Web site: Bet Josling (Thurrock) . 2001-11-01 . 2022-05-10 . Essex County Standard.
    51. Web site: The Russian Spy who loved Thurrock . 2018-03-23 . 2022-05-10 . Your Thurrock.
    52. Web site: Meeting of Council, Wednesday, 27th September, 2017 8.00 pm (Item 49.) . 2022-05-10 . Thurrock Council. 27 September 2017 .
    53. News: In Other News... . Cook . Myles . 1988-04-22 . Thurrock Gazette.
    54. Book: Keating, Terry . East Thurrock United Club History . November 2013 . 180–181.
    55. Web site: Tribute to ex-Mayor Kitty Price . 2015-03-08 . 2022-05-10 . Thurrock Gazette.
    56. Web site: Thurrock: Son follows dad to mayor's post . 2003-05-23 . 2022-05-09 . The Echo.
    57. Web site: Tributes to former East Tilbury councillor and borough mayor from across the political divide . 2020-07-16 . 2022-05-10 . Thurrock Nub News . Speight . Neil.
    58. Web site: Tributes to Reg Lee: Former mayor and war hero . 2013-03-08 . 2022-05-10 . Your Thurrock.
    59. Web site: Speak out on plans for Tilbury fort . 1998-09-21 . 2022-05-10 . Essex County Standard.
    60. Web site: Albert - driver to the rich and famous, and the mayor of Thurrock . 1998-10-06 . 2022-05-10 . Essex County Standard.
    61. Web site: Council Minutes: 8 December 1999 . 1999-12-08 . 2022-05-10 . Thurrock Council.
    62. Web site: Thurrock: Mayor in office . 2001-06-26 . 2022-05-09 . The Echo.
    63. Web site: Stanford-le-Hope East Ward (Pre-2004) Previous Election Results . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Council . https://web.archive.org/web/20110608223424/http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/democracy/content.php?page=wrd14 . 2011-06-08.
    64. Web site: Borough Council election . 2009-11-24 . Thurrock Borough Council . https://web.archive.org/web/20110608223732/http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/democracy/pdf/election_20040610.pdf . 8 June 2011 . dead.
    65. Web site: Farewell and thanks to ex-mayors . 2008-03-26 . 2022-05-09 . The Echo . Speight . Neil.
    66. Web site: Familiar name is back in the council business . 2008-05-02 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette . Cramer . Lucy . Ellis . Alex.
    67. Web site: Former Thurrock mayor, Ian Harrison, dies after a short illness . 2018-03-15 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette . Pickles . Jonathan.
    68. Web site: Former Mayor of Thurrock, Ian Harrison dies . 2018-03-16 . 2022-05-09 . Your Thurrock.
    69. Web site: Conservatives now officially biggest party on council after shock councillor decision . 2016-09-21 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette.
    70. Web site: Go-kart tragedy . 2007-09-19 . 2022-05-09 . The Echo . Ellis . Alex.
    71. Web site: Councillor Joycelyn Redsell . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Council.
    72. Web site: Tributes paid to well respected former Thurrock councillor and Mayor Diane Revell . 2018-07-17 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette.
    73. Web site: Tributes made to former mayor of Thurrock, John Everett . 2018-05-24 . 2022-05-09 . Your Thurrock.
    74. Web site: New mayor appointed for the borough . 2009-05-14 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette.
    75. Web site: Thurrock's mayor to retire . 2011-04-05 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette.
    76. Web site: Political stalwart Yash Gupta retires after twenty years of public service . 2016-04-24 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette.
    77. Web site: Yash crushes the opposition . 2008-05-02 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette.
    78. Web site: New mayor of Thurrock announced . 2013-05-23 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette . Abbott . Matt.
    79. Web site: UKIP abstain as a Labour mayor Steve Liddiard elected in Thurrock . 2014-06-12 . 2022-05-09 . Your Thurrock.
    80. Web site: "Thurrock's favourite Nan" installed as mayor of Thurrock . 2015-05-28 . 2022-05-09 . Your Thurrock . G. . Peter.
    81. Web site: Councillor Sue Gray . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Council.
    82. Web site: Councillor Cathy Kent elected as new Mayor of Thurrock . 2016-05-26 . 2022-05-09 . The Echo.
    83. Web site: Councillor Cathy Kent . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Council.
    84. Web site: New mayor is elected for Thurrock at ceremony . 2017-05-24 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette . Critchell . Matthew.
    85. Web site: Chadwell councillor Barbara Rice is elected Mayor of Thurrock . 2018-05-24 . 2022-05-09 . Your Thurrock.
    86. Web site: Councillor Terry Piccolo appointed as new Thurrock Mayor . 2019-05-22 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Gazette.
    87. Web site: Sue Shinnick is borough's new mayor . 2021-05-27 . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Nub News . Speight . Neil.
    88. Web site: Councillor Sue Shinnick . 2022-05-09 . Thurrock Council.
    89. News: 2022-05-26 . New mayor vows Thurrock will 'rival London's square mile' . en-GB . . 2022-05-26.
    90. Web site: Tilbury girl is borough's first citizen - new cabinet is named . 2024-05-23 . 2024-08-11 . Thurrock Nub News.

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