The Council’s strategy to offload 10 libraries to Direct Help and Advice (DHA) by the end of 2018, is now in progress with the first library, Sinfin, being handed over in Mid-May […]
This is the first in a series of 3 interviews with the Party Leaders about their 2018 manifestos. Labour chose not to paticipate. Ruth Skelton – Liberal Democrat Matthew Holmes – Conservative […]
Plain accuracy with addresses for people in elected office is of paramount importance. This is such a sensitive subject that there is no room for ambiguity. It is a matter of public […]
As lead partner in a consortium of local authorities in the county, Derby City Council is taking part in a pilot scheme to enable the Government to develop its plan to move […]
3.5 years ago, all Councils were mandated by Government to convert all old-style Special Educational Needs (SEN) Statements into a new, more comprehensive Education Heath and Care Plan (EHCP); this document is […]
The Council has previously back-tracked significantly on its claim that Ram Energy is the cheapest tariff. It revised the position to state that, if someone has not switched before, then RAM Energy […]
Since 2010 Derby City Council has done a good job in managing its finances and protecting its reserves – in fact so good, specific usable budget reserves have increased by £46m! Many […]
Alex Dann is trying to get elected to Derby City Council an exclusive way – as an Independent candidate for Oakwood. She won’t have the support of any party machinery in her […]
In August 2016, Richard Smalley was found guilty of electoral fraud in his attempt to become Conservative Councillor for the Allestree Ward; he stated a false address on his nomination paper. The […]
Derby, like all cities, needs to spend considerable amounts of money each year on maintaining, and developing schools, roads, housing, and completing significant new infrastructure projects. These are long term programmes, which […]
In response to the last Derby News article on, “Council now misleading Department of Education on Special Needs Children Plans …”to avoid being in the headlines”, a parent from Sinfin contacted me, […]
The transfer of Statements to Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for Special Needs Children is a programme that has to be legally completed by 31 March 2018. It started in September […]
Delivering on budget for any organisation is always a success, especially one the size of Derby City Council – this is the expectation for 2017/18 ( reported in the Cabinet meeting 14 […]
Last week, Derby News highlighted that the Council’s Monitoring Officer, Janie Berry, had instructed the censoring of the public video record of the Full Council Meeting of the 24th January 2018. This […]
There is only fact that is certain with Council finances, and that is the amount of money (revenue) available to the Council to spend each year ( exc. schools) No one knows […]
The popular belief is that the Council is closing the Central Library to save money for the Council Tax payer; a necessity driven by funding cuts from Central Government. However, it will […]
At last nights Council meeting, Cllr Fareed Hussein sunk to a new low by accusing Cllr Smale that his motion to have Cllr Nawaz removed from a Committee was motivated by Racism! […]
The Council’s policy, with respect to the 10 non-statutory libraries, was to encourage volunteer led community groups to run them; so-called Community Managed Libraries (CMLs- as defined by Locality). No such groups […]
The Council Cabinet meeting, which meets every month, and is chaired by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Ranjit Banwait, is the main executive forum for authorising policy and expenditure. This is […]
The Council Cabinet will be discussing its 2018/19 Budget next week following a period of consultation at the end of 2017. It found savings in the budget of £5.3m principally due to: […]
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