I reported a few days ago about the proposed new £60k Communications Consultant that Cllr Banwait feels that he needs in the Council. This evening (9 Nov 2016) was the Cabinet meeting […]
Banwait’s bizarre response to being challenged on £60k Communications Consultant
Drugs on the streets of Derby: Is it acceptable that young people are exposed to this?
Guest Author: Ruth Richardson – Youth Worker; Multi-Faith Centre (Roma Community Care) The youth club in Peartree was established over four years ago and since then has been engaging upward of sixty […]
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 […]
Padley ‘Sleep Out’ fundraiser for Derby’s homeless, vulnerable and needy
The Padley Group is one of the most well-respected charities operating in Derby focussed on supporting the homeless, vulnerable and needy. They operate 365 days a year, offering rooms, food, education and […]
Ex-Mayor Cllr Pegg lies to Police and Crime Commissioner to secure funding
When the ex-Mayor of Derby, Cllr Paul Pegg, submits a bid for £19,750 of public money, to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), based on lies, and inaccuracies, it […]
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 […]
“Breaking down barriers for Disabled”; Do What You Want-Live 2016
Over 70 organisations gathered for the annual Do What You Want Live (DWYW) event, organised by Disability Direct, at the Roundhouse in Derby today. It was an exhibition, and a celebration, of […]
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have changed the FOI response to reflect a much lower, competitive £/ream price and so the £115k waste statement is no longer valid.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 […]
Job opportunities and optimism at St James Centre following £0.5m successful lottery bid
An innovative programme for 3-25 year old disabled young people will be delivered by the St James Centre following the awarding of a 5 year, £0.5m National Lottery grant. Apart from securing […]
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 […]
Lakeside School parents lobby Council in support of Teaching Assistants.
I reported on Tuesday about the letter that was issued by the acting Heads of Lakeside School that tried to undermine the Teaching Assistant’s pay cut claim by suggesting that they were […]
Teaching Assistant dispute: Council uses Lakeside School to spread false propaganda to Parents
It has never been disputed by Derby City Council that the Teaching Assistants have lost considerable money in the Equal Pay Review / Changes to Terms and Conditions process; the issue is […]
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 […]
Teaching Assistant dispute: simple explanation of the Council’s pay omnishambles!
Why are the Teaching Assistants in dispute? What is the real reason for the pay cut? How is the Council being disingenuous? What is the only solution that makes sense? (NB There […]
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 […]
STRIKE!: Teaching Assistants target Banwait’s Boulton ward for support
“It’s immoral what is happening to you, absolutely immoral. This Council has got choices…and it has chosen to hit you…and it’s wrong. We must stop them! And it must never happen again. […]
Racism: clearly alive and thriving in Derby
Guest Author: Ruth Richardson – Youth Worker; Multi-Faith Centre (Roma Community Care) Whether it is covert, or overt, the young people of Peartree are routinely experiencing racism. Many of the children and […]
Council refuses information request on Labour Party agent’s privileged access history
The Grant Thornton report issued in June 2016 was very critical of the access rights given to James Shires, the Labour Party agent. Shires has his own security pass for the Council offices, and […]
Cllr Paul Pegg re-writes history, and takes credit for work done by Officers.
Once again Cllr Paul Pegg has been found skirting with reality in his recollection of the facts of history. At the Council meeting on 14th September 2016 a question was asked about […]
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