The 2nd of Banwait’s 50 pledges which he made in April 2017, has not delivered as promised. To re-cap: On 12th April, Cllr Banwait made 50 pledges to the people of Derby: […]
Banwait’s 50 Pledges ; 2nd one fails target date
“Smoke and Mirrors” : Council declares £28m ‘cuts’ yet total funding remains flat.
In the most recent Budget consultation (published 12 December 2016) , it states that £28m cuts are required over the next 3 years from 2017/18. For the sake of clarity – there […]
Last day for toilets as Council cancels expensive 30 year contract
Between 1989-1991 the Council decided to install 3 automatic, single toilet units on 30 year contracts at a total forward rental cost to the Tax payer of £1.9m. This was being paid […]
Significant financial decisions for a Council that has no money
For a Council that is having to monitor revenue spending very closely, then the business cases for these significant projects, need to be robust and transparent. We look forward to the point […]
How the £250k Moorways Swimming Pool saving was calculated.
Previously the Council had advised that they could not provide numbers regarding the savings attributable to Moorways. In a further request they have supplied this breakdown which supports the numbers ( more […]
Austerity?: Labour Council to vote – £90k on political assistants it cannot afford!
The Labour Council has been unrelenting in its pursuit of the rhetoric about Tory Government cuts. Funding has been so severely shaved that vital services and public events have had to be […]
Opportunity to do good with £93k windfall income, missed – to be put in reserves.
In austere times, when funds are short, and critical services/events of public value have been cut then windfall receipts can present an opportunity. At the Cabinet meeting this week, the following is […]
Banwait to spend £60,000 on communications consultant
A Council that is battling with austerity funding , and diverting scarce resources away from discretionary services ( including Xmas lights) to mandated, statutory obligations shouldn’t be considering funding £60,000 on a […]
Council’s gender pay gap for the low paid, widens, despite Equal Pay Review
Derby City Council exhibits significant gender pay inequality despite a comprehensive Equal Pay Review. Through Freedom of Information I asked for a detailed breakdown of all salaries into salary bands, and between […]
Council’s incompetence wastes £115,000 on expensive photocopying paper.
(UPDATE : Since writing this article, the Council have changed the FOI response to reflect a much lower, competitive £/ream price and so the £115k waste statement is no longer valid. It […]
Council clueless about costs of Moorways Swimming Pool
The closure of Moorways Swimming Pool has prompted much public annoyance throughout the City, and is the subject of a high profile campaign and petition to the Council. The fact that Derby’s […]
Council cuts to charities is now undermining community
The arbitrary cuts to Voluntary Sector grants back in March 2016 were cynical – they were never necessary. I wrote on a few occasions that the Council could not control their finances […]
Derby City Council gambles £15,000 on 2nd, St Peter’s Qtr ballot
On 7th September Derby City Council Cabinet approved the “loan” of £15,000 to an external company, St Peter’s Quarter Derby Ltd (SPQ), to fund a 2nd ballot of its members to decide […]
Audit report confirms Derby City Council can’t make “informed decisions” or “assure value for money”
Derby City Council’s new external auditors, Ernst & Young, have issued a very critical interim report( 23 September 2016) about the way that the Council has been managing its finances for the […]
Derby City Council Funding – remains flat for 8 years.
The Derby Labour Party rhetoric is that, Council funding has been cut, for the last 6 years, since the Conservative Party came to power in 2010, leading to a reduction in services. […]
No transparency over use of Council’s £2.2m saving. Why not in the public interest?
As I reported earlier this week the Council saved £2.2m in it’s Revenue Budget in 2015/16. This was confirmed in the Council Cabinet papers presented at the meeting on 13th July 2016 […]
“Labour Govt demand £39m savings from Derby City Council”
In the latest literature from the Derby Labour Party: It mentions in bold, after the statement, about the £116m that “They ( Tory Govt) have now demanded a further cut of £45m.” […]
Derby Labour Party’s £161m budget cuts lie!?
Derby Labour Party is handing out leaflets which state “Since the Tories came to power £116m has been slashed from services in Derby. They have now demanded a further cut of £45m”. […]
Derby City Council’s Budget con-trick. Where did the £70m go?
In October 2014 the Council reported that £69m cuts needed to be made in the 3 years following 2014/15. 2015/16 – £22m ; 2016/17 – £24m ; 2017/18 – £23m – due […]
Council’s incompetence costs Derby Tax payers £2.8m by axing Citizens Advice Bureau
This chart, based on an independent examination by the Treasury, concluded that the £200,000 paid by Derby City Council to the Citizens Advice Bureau, would save £3 million elsewhere in the Council […]
