Council understates Children’s Services budget by £6m…again!
“The current single biggest risk that the Council faces is the cost and demands for Children’s Social Care” “…this is of significant risk to the Council’s financial sustainability.” Quotes from the Council’s […]
Allestree Hall & Golf course – bunkered by incompetence. Or vested interest?
The fate of the Allestree Golf Course was sealed 15 months before it actually closed. In September 2019 the Cabinet approved a “preferred bidder” whose proposal was to renovate Allestree Hall and […]
“Not a responsible use of public funds”: Padley rejects Council’s £1m+ re-location plan.
In a previous Derby News article “Dubrek Studios’ community facility to be demolished and made ‘homeless’ by Council’s flawed planning” (Nov 7th 2021) I referred to the fact that the Council was […]
Better planning makes a better budget. Not Buzzwords!
On Wednesday 8th December 2021 the Chief Finance Officer, Simon Riley, will present a paper to Cabinet for approval which does not withstand a basic level of scrutiny. It can be stated […]
Dubrek Studios’ community facility to be demolished and made ‘homeless’ by Council’s flawed planning.
The planned £45m Becketwell Performance Venue comes at a price for 2 community facilities in Derby – the Padley Centre, and Dubrek Studios. The neighbouring properties, situated on Becket Street, are both […]
Council needs to change from an undemocratic,unrepresentative Cabinet system
As a representative democracy, Derby City Council is broken! The democracy begins and ends with an annual vote; there is little in the way of “representation” in policy and decision making. Derby […]
Tory Cabinet staring into a £27m Budget “Black Hole”
At the Cabinet Meeting on the 6th October 2021 Cllr Shanker disclosed that Senior Officers were staring at a £27m “Black hole” in the Council’s finances – less than a year after […]
Derby City Council fails to tell Parents (of Special Needs children) about OFSTED/CQC inspection
OFSTED and the Care Quality Commission are returning to Derby this week to perform a joint inspection of how the Council carries out its statutory duties in relation to children and young […]
Cllr Roulstone (Finance) forgets borrowing £25m!
Derby City Council’s Budget Reserves have been dramatically depleted over the last few years under the Tory administration from £35.9m to £18.3m with a further significant reduction this year. This subject was […]
Council already forecasting a £12m overspend – incompetent budgeting!
In a Council Cabinet report to be presented next Wednesday, the Finance Team, headed by Simon Riley, will be reporting a forecast overspend of £12m just 3 months into the 2021/22 financial […]
Booking a slot at Raynesway tip. How difficult is it?
Just over a year ago, Derby City Council introduced a booking system for Rayneway tip ( Household Waste Recycling Centre – HWRC). This was done to avoid over crowding and maintain social […]
Council illegally promotes unapproved school for Special Needs children
Every child has the right to an appropriate education based on their needs. This can present challenges for parents when their child has Special Educational Needs; this is exacerbated when those needs […]
Holiday Hunger: £1.2m “additional” money yet the Tories continue to be vague on Derby’s response.
At the Cabinet meeting on 9th June 2021, it was announced that the Council had just been made aware (since 2nd June2021) of an additional £1.195m, from the Government, for the Holiday […]
The ony future for Derby City Council is a formal Coalition
The local elections on May 6th will result in another “hung” Council, with no party in overall control. In May 2018 the Council needed a change from the disastrous Banwait leadership. Although, […]
Derby Tories rush through major decisions prior to Elections – avoiding scrutiny
In what seems like pre-election panic, Derby City Council’s Tory administration are rushing through 2 significant decisions prior to Polling Day on the 6th May, by-passing any form of public scrutiny. Becketwell […]
A38 Road Expansion “stopped” following resident’s legal objection on Climate Change grounds.
On the 18th March 2021, the High Court confirmed that the Secretary of State for Transport (Grant Shapps) conceded that the decision to approve the A38 road expansion scheme was “unlawful” and, […]
Becketwell Performance Venue: subsidy could require 1.5% Council Tax increase
Early in 2020, with the Assembly Rooms refurbishment plan in tatters, St James Securities (SJS)- the developer of Becketwell, presented the Council with an offer it couldn’t refuse; to build a modern, […]
Derventio Housing’s “cash machine” raises further questions for the Regulator. Will they take legal action?
In a previous article “Derventio Housing’s housing benefit ‘cash machine’ now funds 3 Directors on nearly £100k salary each” I highlighted the large salaries paid to the directors of Derventio Housing. An […]
Rough Sleepers, Homelessness gives Derby Food4Thought
According to Derby City Council’s official Rough Sleeper Count – there were 6 people sleeping on the streets at the end of November 2020 – down from 14 a year earlier. If […]
Despite Cllr Barker’s “personal interest” in the Market Hall project, there is still dithering and lack of vision
During the 11th November 2020 Cabinet meeting, Cllr Mick Barker, belatedly declared an interest in the Market Hall refurbishment project; he was advised to do so by the Council’s Legal Officer. He […]
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