In 2022 the council's level of debt arising from failed investments led to it issuing aSection 114 notice, being the local authority equivalent of declaring bankruptcy. The government directed neighbouringEssex County Council to take over Thurrock's finances and also appointed a new managing director for the council.
Since 2024, the government has planned to abolish the council and merge it with other parts of Essex as part of its plannedreorganisation of local government in Essex in 2025, with the next local elections in 2025 likely postponed until 2026.[5]
Urban districts were abolished in 1974 under theLocal Government Act 1972. A newnon-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 withBasildon to place the whole designated area for Basildonnew town in that district.[7][8] The reformed Thurrock district was givenborough 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.[9]
The council was made aunitary authority on 1 April 1998, taking over county-level services in the area fromEssex County Council. The way the change was implemented was to create a newnon-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".[10] Thurrock remains part of theceremonial county of Essex for the purposes oflieutenancy.[11]
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.[14] One of the companies in which the council had invested, Toucan Energy, went into administration on 11 November 2022.[15][16] Businessman Liam Kavanagh is accused of cheating the council out of as much as £130 million in relation to the deals.[17] Thurrock also made a £94million loan to the Just Loans Group plc, a business lender which went bankrupt in June 2022.[18]
On 2 September 2022, theSecretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities intervened in the running of Thurrock Council, passing financial control of the council toEssex County Council, as well as ordering a Best Value Inspection, in response to concerns about the council's level of financial risk and debt.[19] 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.[20]
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.[18][21] On 19 December 2022 the council issued aSection 114 notice barring any new expenditure, being the local authority equivalent of declaring bankruptcy.[22][23] In March 2023 the government appointed a new managing director for the council, Dave Smith.[24]
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 nocivil parishes in the borough, which is anunparished area.[25]
The role ofMayor of Thurrock is largely ceremonial, usually being held by a different councillor each year. Political leadership is instead provided by theleader of the council. The leaders since 1989 have been:[29]
Of the nine independent councillors, eight sit together as the "Non-political Alliance of Independent Councillors", the other does not belong to a group.[38] In February 2025, the government postponed the elections that were due to take place in May 2025 for a year, to allow for alternative local government structures for the area to be considered.[39]
Thurrock Council also operates Thurrock Youth Cabinet, an electedyouth council of young people in the borough aged 11 to 18, or 11 to 25 if they have a disability orspecial needs.[40][41] Members are elected from schools or local youth groups to represent one of the 20 wards of Thurrock and have to live, study or work in the borough.[42][43] TheMember of Youth Parliament and theDeputy Member of Youth Parliament for Thurrock also sit on the youth cabinet.[42][43]
Civic Offices, New Road, Grays: The 1986 original building to the right of the entrance, 1992 central block in the middle and 2022 block to the far left.
The council is based atThurrock Town Hall on New Road in Grays.[44] 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.[45] In 1986 the council built itself a new headquarters at the corner of New Road and Derby Bridge Road in the centre of Grays.[46] 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.[47][48]
Since the last boundary changes in 2004, the council has comprised 49councillors representing 20wards, 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.[49] This system will change from 2025, with elections being held every four years for the whole council.[50]
Shield and crest originally granted to Thurrock Urban District Council on 17 January 1957. Supporters granted on 14 May 1976.
Crest
On a wreath of the colours an Albatross rising Proper from a bollard Sable roped Or.
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.
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).[52]
