Thurrock Council has elected to terminate its strategic services partnership with Serco which was originally intended to continue until at least 2019.

This is not due to any incompetence on the service provider’s part. In a press release, the council stated that “overall Serco has provided appropriate quality services, which have met the requirements of the contract which was negotiated in 2004.”

However, Thurrock Council’s assistant CEO Steve Cox said that ending the contract was still ultimately necessary:

“A world dominated today by austerity and budget cuts is very different to that envisaged in 2004 when this contract was signed and as we continue to shape a different way forward for Thurrock Council.

Both Serco and the council came to realise this and a series of tough, but fair negotiations began, culminating in [this] announcement.”

The cost of the contract termination is yet to be disclosed, with some sources suggesting that it could be in the range of £5 million to £9 million.

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