Nurturing a future we are all proud of

Two years on from the start of Government intervention, our improvement plan is underway and we have a thirst for knowledge and collective ambition to define the future vision of our Council and how that will transform the lives of our residents. We are making positive progress in the way we run the council and we are working hard to regain the trust of our residents, but we recognise there is more to be done and are committed to working tirelessly to achieve this.

Based at the heart of the Thames Gateway in close proximity to the east of London, Thurrock is a brilliant part of the UK – with urban centres, picturesque towns, beautiful countryside, 18 miles of river frontage and a rapidly growing population. The borough is only half an hour’s journey from central London and covers 165 square kilometres, of which 70% is greenbelt land. Thurrock’s larger towns include Corringham, Grays and Tilbury and there are also three international ports bringing trade to the area. With great connectivity and amazing natural assets, Thurrock is a mix of industrial, urban and rural settings.   

Thurrock is proud of the diversity of its communities. We have a higher-than-average number of people who are Black, Asian or identify as being part of other ethnic groups. Our population is also increasing by over 10 per cent every decade, with the 2021 Census showing the population as 176,000.  

Overall levels of deprivation in Thurrock are lower than the national average, but some areas of Thurrock are among the 20 per cent most deprived in England. More than 1 in 5 children under 16 years old in Thurrock are growing up in poverty (21.2 per cent), higher than the national rate (20.1 per cent). Child poverty is more concentrated in the most deprived areas of Thurrock (6 per cent of children live in poverty in parts of Grays, Thurrock and Little Thurrock Rectory, whereas the figure rises to 56.4%.in parts of Tilbury). 

The landscape and demographics of Thurrock are part of its identity and help shape the focus for service provision in the area. We are determined to build a council that reflects these needs and one that the residents are proud of.

Thurrock is a welcoming place. The Council is immensely proud to both represent and work for Thurrock’s communities and fully understands there needs to be significant change in how the organisation operates to deliver for its residents and to create the Council that Thurrock’s residents deserve. The scale of the transformation needed should not be underestimated. At the same time, this period of transition presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of a council that wants to be at the very forefront of sustainability, innovation and economic opportunity. Each and every commissioner, leader and member of staff at the council has signed up for the challenge ahead – and is excited to see what the future holds. 

We are committed to bringing transformative change to both the organisation and the wider borough. We have already welcomed brilliant individuals that want to lead this change and build a council for the future – one that is high performing, innovative and delivering services that improve the lives our residents. We are ambitious in our aspirations for the future council and our change in operating model sits at the heart of our ability to transform the lives of residents. We are driving towards a Council that is focussed on ensuring residents and communities have access to affordable and responsive services, where digital tools are used to create simple and effective processes.

Working closely with communities and external partners, we have begun to build resilience and empower communities to drive innovation that improves their lives. We have made great progress, but there is still more to do. We are confident that Thurrock Council can genuinely become an inspiration and source of learning to other local authorities across the country.

We see the transformation needed as two-fold. Firstly, the Council must achieve true financial sustainability by stabilising the budget and ensuring the Council possesses the skills and capability to lead it forwards. We have already take steps to achieving this by creating the first set of savings we committed to delivering, with minimal impact on services. Secondly, we need to become an enabling Council through changing our Operating Model. A journey that requires shifting the culture and of the organisation as a whole. Our purpose remains unwavering, to create the Council that Thurrock deserves and to be the best Council we can. As such, this is a unique opportunity to drive radical and sustainable change in a local authority.

• Thurrock’s population increased by 11.6% from 157,700 in 2011 to 176,000 in 2021.

• The population is one of the most culturally diverse in the region, 21% of residents were born overseas.

• 69,500 households and 7,000+ businesses

• 35 minutes by train to the City of London

• 26,000 new jobs and 32,000 new homes needed within 20 years

• Business growth – 1,310 new businesses over the last 5 years

• Location of one of 8 Freeports – Thames Freeport

• Strategic partner in Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA), South East Local Enterprise Partnership and Thames Estuary plans

• The Council is one of the largest local employers with over 2,500 staff – 67% of whom are residents

• Council owns 10,000 council houses including 1,200 sheltered and extra care homes

• Council has 49 councillors covering 20 wards: 26 Labour seats, 12 Conservative seats, 7 Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors seats, 1 Independent seat, and 1 Reform UK seat (2 vacant seats).

• Thurrock has two parliamentary constituencies: Thurrock (Jen Craft MP) and South Basildon and East Thurrock (James McMurdock MP)

Thurrock Corporate Plan 2024 - 2029

Thurrock Council: Commissioners’ fourth report - 6th March 2025

Thurrock Council: Ministerial response to Commissioners’ fourth report – 6th March 2025

Enhanced Improvement Recovery Plan - October 2023

Best Value Inspection Report May 2023

Improvement and Recovery Plan - December 2022

Links to Improvement and Recovery Board Meetings

Thurrock Council Accounts

Peer Challenge Review - January 2022

Future Operating Model

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy