[2] From April to September 1996, the Local Government Commission for England reviewed Thurrock's electoral arrangements.

[4] The government issued statutory instruments implementing the commission's recommendations in July 1996 and February 1997.

[5][6] The wards of Belhus, Corringham and Fobbing, Ockendon, Stifford and West Thurrock had their boundaries redrawn, with the number of seats in West Thurrock increasing from 2 to 3 while the number of seats in Corringham and Fobbing fell from 3 to 2.

[11] The Liberal Democrats fielded one candidate, Stephen Martine in the Stanford-le-Hope West ward, and did not win any seats with an overall vote share of 0.4%.

There was one independent candidate, Marie Bamford-Burst, who stood in Tilbury Riverside and secured an overall vote share of 0.3%.

James Calder in the Grays Riverside ward also stood as an Independent Residents Association candidate, securing 0.5% of the overall vote share in the borough.