2024 Thurrock Council election

Last updated

2024 Thurrock Council election
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←  2023 2 May 2024 (2024-05-02)2025 →
17 out of 49 seats to Thurrock Council
25 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
  Male portrait placeholder cropped.jpg Councillor John Kent.png
LeaderAndrew JefferiesJohn Kent
Party Conservative Labour
Leader's seat Ockendon Grays Thurrock
Last election26 seats, 32.4%19 seats, 45.1%
Seats before2319
 Third partyFourth party
  Male portrait placeholder cropped.jpg Male portrait placeholder cropped.jpg
LeaderNeil Speight [lower-alpha 1] Eugene McCarthy
Party Independent Green
Leader's seat Stanford-le-Hope West N/A
Last election3 seats, 10.0%0 seats, 0.2%
Seats before7 [lower-alpha 2] 0
Thurrock UK ward map 2010 (blank).svg
Wards of Thurrock Council
Leader before election

Andrew Jefferies
Conservative

Leader after election

TBD

The 2024 Thurrock Council election is due to be held on 2 May 2024 to elect a third of the members of Thurrock Council in Essex, England. It will be held on the same day as other local elections across England, including the 2024 Essex police and crime commissioner election.

Contents

Background

At the previous council election in May 2023, the Labour opposition led by John Kent made gains against the incumbent Conservative administration led by Mark Coxshall. [1] [2] Labour gained five seats, increasing its total share of seats in the council to 19. The Conservatives, now having 26 seats, retained control of the council but saw their majority reduced to three. The Thurrock Independents lost two seats but held one, leaving them with a single councillor. The election also returned three independents not affiliated to any party. [3] [4] Coxshall lost his seat in the election, and later in the month the council elected Conservative Andrew Jefferies as the new leader of the council. [2] [5]

In July 2023, Conservative councillor Sue Sammons left her party to become an independent in protest of its decision to cut local bus services. This action left the Conservatives with a majority of two on the council. [6] In the same month, the Thurrock Independents de-registered as a political party. [7] The make-up of the council now consisted of five seats being held by independents, 19 held by Labour and 25 held by the Conservatives. [6] The independents in the council later organised themselves into a single group, the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors (NPAIC), [8] [9] with councillor Neil Speight as their spokesman. [10] [11] NPAIC candidates are running in this election as independents. [12]

In February 2024, it was revealed that the Conservative administration was considering an increase in council tax of 7.99% from April to present a balanced budget for 2024–2025. [13] Council tax had already been increased by 10% the previous year as a condition for additional financial support from the government to help reduce the council's £636 million deficit. [14] The administration also planned to make savings of £18.2 million over the next two years. It had already introduced several measures to cut spending, which included a 7.7% increase in rent for council housing and an introduction of charges for school transport among other measures. [13]

The Conservative administration put forward its economic proposals in its budget for 2024–2025, which was voted on by councillors in March 2024. Conservative councillors were whipped to vote in favour of the budget. [9] Labour abstained from the vote, allowing the budget to pass. [15] Two Conservative councillors, Jack Duffin and Alex Anderson, rebelled against the party leadership and voted against the budget with three NPAIC councillors. Duffin and Anderson were subsequently suspended from the Conservative group as a disciplinary measure and became independents, resulting in the Conservatives losing their majority and the council falling under no overall control. [16] [8] Duffin and Anderson did not join the NPAIC and have instead sat alone as unaffiliated independents. [17] [9] Following their suspension, the Conservatives have continued to run the council in a minority administration. [16]

Election

The election is due to be held on 2 May 2024, the same day as other local elections across England. [16] [18] Under its current electoral system, elections to the council are held annually every three in four years, with a third of its 49 councillors elected to represent one of its 20 wards for a term of four years at each election. [19] As such, three wards will not be contested this year, including Stifford Clays, Little Thurrock Rectory, and Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park. This will be the last election held under this system, as all 49 seats will be contested in elections every four years from May 2025 onwards following reforms implemented by the government as part of its ongoing intervention in the council after its effective bankruptcy in 2022. [20] [21] Electors will also be able to vote in the 2024 Essex police and crime commissioner election which is being held on the same day, including in the wards which are not up for contention in this council election. [22]

The Labour Party and the Conservative Party will stand in every ward at the election. [23] It is expected that the low national polling numbers of the Conservatives, as well as the financial difficulties faced by the council during the Conservative administration, will influence the outcome of the election, with local election experts Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher suggesting that Labour could regain its traditional control of the council. [24] [23] According to its leader John Kent, Labour "cannot promise the earth" amid the financial burden faced by the council but will focus on maintaining public services and being open and transparent, protecting services for the elderly and the young while maintaining basic services. [23] The strengthened local presence of independent candidates and the Green Party led by Eugene McCarthy, standing in seven and four wards respectively, is also expected to pose a potential challenge to the Conservatives. According to McCarthy, the Greens will focus on building new council homes, investing in high streets and delivering "common-sense" finances. [23]

Results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Thurrock Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023. [20] [12] One candidate will be elected per ward. [22] The final results are expected to be declared overnight at around 3AM on 3 May 2024. [25]

Aveley & Uplands

Aveley & Uplands
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Augustine Chidi Ononaji
Labour Cathy Sisterson
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Belhus

Belhus
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Victoria Claire Holloway
Conservative Georgette Polley
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Chadwell St. Mary

Chadwell St. Mary
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ngozi Alike
Conservative Charlie Taylor-Webb
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Chafford & North Stifford

Chafford & North Stifford
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Adam Carter
Labour Lynda Hilary Heath
Independent Bisi Sowunmi
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Corringham & Fobbing

Corringham & Fobbing
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent John Robert Fox
Labour James Patrick Mackinlay
Conservative Shane Ralph
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

East Tilbury

East Tilbury
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alastair Michael Craft
Conservative Shamim Miah
Independent Sue Sammons
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Grays Riverside

Grays Riverside
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Daniel David Fallows
Labour Tony Fish
Conservative Bunmi Ojetola
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Grays Thurrock

Grays Thurrock
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John George Kent
Conservative Joglur Rahman
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Little Thurrock Blackshots

Little Thurrock Blackshots
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Michael John Fletcher
Conservative Joy Redsell
Green Magun Singh
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Ockendon

Ockendon
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ryan James Polston
Conservative Luke Spillman
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Orsett

Orsett
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Day
Independent Jack Sean Duffin
Labour Carl Anthony Graham Morris
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

South Chafford

South Chafford
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Caitlin Elizabeth Fallows
Conservative Tunde Ojetola
Labour Gary Watson
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Stanford East & Corringham Town

Stanford East & Corringham Town
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Roy Robert Jones
Labour Ajay Kapoor
Conservative George Joseph Wright
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Stanford-Le-Hope West

Stanford-Le-Hope West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Ross James Byrne
Conservative Terry Picollo
Labour Philip George Smith
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

The Homesteads

The Homesteads
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Clifford John Holloway
Conservative Allen Mayes
Independent Lisa Jane Sargent
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

Tilbury St. Chads

Tilbury St. Chads
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Daryl Palmer
Labour Kairen Raper
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

West Thurrock & South Stifford

West Thurrock & South Stifford
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Elisabeta Ionica Gherga Blaj
Green Ri Goodyear
Labour Lee Watson
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors

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References

  1. ↑ Spokesman of the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors, which represents the majority of independent councillors at the time of this election.
  2. ↑ Including five members of the Non-Political Alliance of Independent Councillors and two unaffiliated independents.
  1. ↑ Whitehouse, Ellis (5 May 2023). "Local Elections 2023: Thurrock Council leader loses seat as Conservatives take heavy losses". EssexLive. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Labour resurgence in Thurrock but Tories hang on to overall control despite losing leader". Thurrock Nub News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  3. ↑ Boakye, Kwame (5 May 2023). "Thurrock leader loses seat but Tories retain control". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  4. ↑ Sexton, Christine (5 May 2023). "Thurrock elections 2023: Conservatives hold despite Labour success". Thurrock Gazette. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  5. ↑ "Sue confirmed as mayor and new leader is voted in". Thurrock Nub News. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Bus decision is final straw for Tory councillor and she quits Tories". Thurrock Nub News. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "Thurrock Independents [De-registered 26/07/23]". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  8. 1 2 Boakye, Kwame (4 March 2024). "Conservatives lose overall control of Thurrock". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "Tory rebels are ousted following defiance over budget". Thurrock Nub News. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  10. ↑ "Agenda and minutes: Council – Wednesday, 31st January, 2024 7.00 pm". Thurrock Council. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  11. ↑ Sexton, Christine; Speight, Neil (22 March 2024). "Thurrock Tories accused of 'weaponising racism' for political gain after leader's address to chamber". Thurrock Nub News. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Statement of Persons Nominated: Thurrock Election of a Borough Councillor, 2024" (PDF). Thurrock Council. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  13. 1 2 Sexton, Christine (12 February 2024). "Thurrock Council aiming to raise council tax 7.99 per cent". Thurrock Gazette. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  14. ↑ Dedman, Simon (7 February 2024). "Bankrupt authority considers 8% council tax rise". BBC News. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  15. ↑ Dedman, Simon (29 February 2024). "In-debt council approves 8% tax rise and cuts". BBC News. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 Dedman, Simon (1 March 2024). "Tories lose control of council after budget fallout". BBC News. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  17. ↑ "Current councillors". Thurrock Council. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  18. ↑ Stephenson, Wesley (26 March 2024). "Local elections 2024: Is there an election in my area?". BBC News. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  19. ↑ "Thurrock Council Best Value Inspection Report" (PDF). Essex County Council. May 2023. pp. 16, 34. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  20. 1 2 "Elections and election results: Election dates". Thurrock Council. 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  21. ↑ Boakye, Kwame (6 October 2023). "Essex CC stood down as Thurrock's commissioner". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  22. 1 2 "Candidates announced for Thurrock Local Elections 2024". Your Thurrock. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Sexton, Christine (15 April 2024). "Local Elections: Thurrock Council candidates". Yellow Advertiser. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  24. ↑ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael (26 March 2024). "Local elections: Councils to watch". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  25. ↑ "Estimated declaration times for May 2 local, mayoral and police elections". Thurrock Gazette. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
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