On 1 December 2021, Kemi Badenoch MP, Minister of State for Equalities and Levelling Up Communities, confirmed in a written ministerial statement to Parliament that the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, had appointed commissioners to intervene at Slough Borough Council.
The current commissioners were appointed on 20 November 2024 by the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim MacMahon OBE MP, following his decision to extend the intervention in Slough Borough Council until 30 November 2026.
Full details of the background to the intervention, including all documents relating to the intervention and commissioner letters of appointment, can be found on the government website.
The commissioners are:
- Lead Commissioner: Gavin Jones
- Managing Director Commissioner: Will Tuckley
- Finance Commissioner: Denise Murray
- Commissioner: Gerard Curran.
Lead Commissioner: Gavin Jones
Gavin recently stepped down from serving as the Chief Executive of Essex County Council, to concentrate on his role as a Best Value Commissioner.
Gavin served as Chief Executive of Essex County Council between 2016-2025, having previously spent 10 years as Chief Executive of Swindon Borough Council.
For 8 years, he also served as the Chairman for the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE), working with councils across the UK.
Prior to his 20 years in Local Government, he worked in senior positions within the private sector. His last role before joining public service in 2005 was as Vice President for Marketing and Customer Services within the airline industry.
Recognised as one of Britain’s most innovative leaders, he’s been listed among the top 50 New Radicals and voted as one of the most influential people in the UK Local Government sector. Gavin was also appointed the Lead Commissioner at Thurrock Council in May 2023 and sits as Chairman of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Challenge Board. Gavin was recently appointed a senior advisor to a large UK based consulting company, Newton.
Managing Director Commissioner: Will Tuckley
Will was appointed as interim Chief Executive of Slough Borough Council in April 2024, and became Managing Director Commissioner in November 2024. Will has previously worked as interim Chief Executive in Brighton and Hove City Council, was Chief Executive at Tower Hamlets Council between 2015 and 2023, and was Chief Executive at the London Borough of Bexley between 2008 and 2015.
Finance Commissioner: Denise Murray
Denise Murray has been a Best Value Finance Commissioner since 2023 and was formerly a Section 151 Officer from 2015- 2024, most recently for Bristol City Council.
Denise has a strong public sector ethos and extensive experience of successfully delivering service improvements and transformation in large complex organisations. Her local government, voluntary and private sector roles have provided a sound understanding of a wide range of People, Place, Commercial and Corporate functions at unitary, county, borough, district, and parish level across the south of England. Denise is also currently the Finance Commissioner for Slough Borough Council.
While tackling the key challenges facing local government, Denise has played a critical role in navigating complex decisions, to enable the development of balanced 5 year rolling medium term financial plans, building financial resilience for future shocks, and simultaneously retaining capacity and capability to deliver wider strategic objectives.
Commissioner: Gerard Curran
Ged Curran is currently a Non-Executive Director at the Enforcement Conduct Board and NHS Cambridge and Peterborough Integrated Care Board. He was previously Chief Executive of the London Borough of Merton from 2004-20021. He held previous roles at board level in Newham, Waltham Forest, and Lambeth Councils, and previously practised as a Solicitor.