Title

FINANCE

Public inquiry into Thurrock's financial failure rejected

The Government has rejected a request for a public inquiry into Thurrock Council’s financial failure and levels of debt.

The Government has rejected a request for a public inquiry into Thurrock Council's financial failure and levels of debt.

Thurrock members wrote to local government secretary Michael Gove on behalf of more than 1,500 residents who had called for a public inquiry into the local authority's financial issues.

But local government minister Simon Hoare said a public inquiry would not ‘provide further understanding into the historical failings or management of the council that is not being achieved through statutory intervention'.

Thurrock has been subject to Government intervention since issuing a section 114 notice in December 2022 after accruing debts of £1.3bn.

FINANCE

Government rejects food waste transparency call

By Neil Merrick | 03 February 2026

The Government has rebuffed calls for transparency around funding for food waste collections, insisting it is not in the ‘public interest’.

FINANCE

London needs fewer councils as part of a broader governance reset in the capital

By Cory Berman | 02 February 2026

Cutting the number of boroughs in London would enable the creation of the governance system the capital has been crying out for, say Dr Simon Kaye and Cory B...

FINANCE

Rebuilding the scaffolding to repair communities

By Paul Marinko | 28 January 2026

Community tensions have been rising in the last year, a new survey by Starfish Search has found. Paul Marinko talks to councils about the scale of the challe...

FINANCE

CCN: Counties and rural unitaries short changed compared to mets

By Joe Lepper | 23 January 2026

Government funding for counties and rural unitaries over the next three years will only meet 2p of every £1 they spend on meeting rising costs, County Counci...

Popular articles by William Eichler