Martin Ford 15 June 2023

Thurrock commissioners call for sector-wide change

Commissioners at crisis-hit Thurrock Council have called for sector-wide measures to bolster the role of top officers.

The team from Essex CC led by Tony McArdle made recommendations for the wider sector in its Best Value report on Thurrock, published today.

It suggested the Government issued guidance to strengthen the role of the three statutory officers – section 151, monitoring officer and head of paid service – and require them to work together, in addition to legislating to ‘strengthen and clarify’ the role of the monitoring officer.

Earlier this year, Max Caller, a regular reviewer and commissioner at failing authorities, said there was ‘no real rules’ on how the three statutory roles should work and ‘no explicit qualifications’.

To continue reading visit The MJ (£).

If this story is of interest, check out our feature, 'Preventing future Section 114 notices'.

Sign up here to receive our free daily news and jobs bulletin.

#Intervention #Finance #commercial investment

Analysis

Small Scale, Big Potential: Town and parish councils and devolution

Parish and town councils could play a central role in making devolution work for communities.

Opinion

LocalGov Round Up: Pay, Pride in Place and LGR

This week councils faced pay decisions, sweeping reorganisation plans, fresh regeneration funding and tensions over the future shape of local government.

Most Popular News

Council workers offered 3.3% pay rise

Government confirms seven locations for new towns

Final reorganisation decisions for four priority areas announced

Essex threatens legal action over reorganisation

Pride in Place: £319m announced for high street regeneration

New Products

Safeguarding Children - the AAT Way

MSL enhances hygiene auditing with air quality testing for Awaab’s Law compliance

Cadcorp launches Mapestry

Bolton Council Upgrades 120+ School Crossings with Smart CMS Control by Lucy Zodion

NEC CONTRACTS HAS GONE DIGITAL: PAPERLESS, TO GIVE YOU MORE

Vent-Axia Delivers Social Housing a Smart Ventilation Solution Ahead of Awaab’s Law

New remotely lockable cabinet will help manage medication for people with mental health issues

Case Studies

Acrospire Delivers Seamless Heritage Lighting Upgrade on Bath’s North Parade Bridge

Acrospire Delivers Retrofit Lighting for Newbridge’s Joe Calzaghe Footbridge

Acrospire Delivers PIR-Controlled Lighting at Ruislip Lido Car Park

Spennymoor Market Place and Consett Middle Street revitalised using Thorn Lighting’s Thor Lanterns and Customisable Gobo Projectors

Acrospire Partners with Bath & North East Somerset Council to Illuminate Historic Film Location with LED Upgrade

Believ to install 22 charge points across Redcar and Cleveland

Acrospire Enhances Harlington Underpass with Energy-Saving Vandal-Resistant Lighting

Company Anouncements

Apricorn Becomes First and Only Hardware-Encrypted USB Storage Device Manufacturer to Achieve AS9100 Certification

AAT helps Councils step up to address children’s social care

CU Phosco Approved as a Crown Commercial Service Supplier

Acrospire triumphs at the 2025 HEA Awards with Sustainable Project of the Year

TRT Lighting retrofit helps Lincolnshire County Council cut street lighting energy use by over 65%

Vent-Axia Welcomes Healthy Homes Standard

Vent-Axia Helps Tackle Condensation and Mould this World Ventilation Day