At yesterday’s Full Council meeting a motion was tabled by Labour Leader of the Council, Cllr Shanker, to award Dame Margaret Beckett the Freedom of the City of Derby in recognition of […]
Undignified debate on motion to award Dame Margaret Beckett the Freedom of Derby
Derby Homes’ confused response to Derby News article on Council House waiting list.
Derby News published an article (16 April 2023) entitled, “Not fit for purpose:How long is the Council House “Waiting List” ( Part 2)” which analysed data on the priority allocation / advertising […]
Council’s Legal Officer refuses Cllr Shanker’s request to present a public report on Sinfin Incinerator
Agenda Item 16 at the next Council Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 12 July 2023 is an update on the Sinfin Incinerator -Long Term Waste Management Project. However, once again, this will be […]
Questions over the sale by St James Securities of 3 ex-Council owned properties on Green Lane.
This week, St James Securities ( Developer behind the Becketwell Regeneration) sold 3 properties on Green Lane to the Berry Group. It was reported that: “As part of the on-going regeneration project […]
St James Securities’ “secret” £45.8m Becketwell fixed price deal.
In early June 2023, St James Securities (SJS) signed a contract with Bowmer and Kirkland (B & K) for the construction of the Becketwell Performance Venue (BPV). The value of the contract […]
Council’s post-16 Home to School transport policy bringing hardship to vulnerable children.
In 2002/23 , Derby City Council spent £8.4m on Home to School transport. The cost of the service increases each year with last year’s budget being overspent by £3m. The Council has […]
Interview: Cllr Baggy Shanker – Leader of Derby City Council
The newly appointed Leader of Derby City Council, and Leader of the Labour Group in Derby, Cllr Baggy Shanker, was elected on the strength of a manifesto which detailed specific policies with […]
Launch of the Derby Poverty Truth Commission
Yesterday saw the launch event of the Derby Poverty Truth Commission . The Truth Commission, which is part of the independent Derby Poverty Commission, chaired by the Dean of Derby seeks to […]
Heather Wheeler MP: “did not knowingly lie to Parliament” on the Hilton ward vote.
Tragically, on May 5th 2023, during the count for the Hilton Ward (South Derbyshire District Council), Cllr Gillian Lemmon passed away; it was a great shock to all those who knew her. […]
Derby City Council elections: Now for the political bunfight!
2023 was the first “All Out” election for many years. Many Cllrs were retiring leaving opportunities for new blood, new ideas, and a shift in the complexion of the Council? On May […]
Interview with Russell Armstrong : Unpacking Reform Derby
Russell Armstrong is one of the 51 Reform Derby candidates (Chellaston and Shelton Lock) standing for election on May 4th 2023 – this is his first time standing for election. I was […]
Cale Street Investments’ Eagle Market plans stalled due to planning objections
In January 2023, Cale Street Investments (Kuwaiti backed owner of Derbion and the Eagle Market), submitted a planning application for the demolition of the Eagle Market to be replaced by a mixed […]
Not fit for purpose:How long is the Council House “Waiting List” ( Part 2)
A previous article Council Housing in Derby: How long is the “Waiting List”? questioned the validity of the idea that there is a Council House “Waiting List”. This article will examine this […]
Allestree Park: Derbyshire Wildlife Trust under investigation for illegal felling of trees.
On 22nd March 2023, Derby City Council’s Audit and Governance Committee resolved to launch an investigation into the potentially criminal action by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (DWT) in Allestree Park. Reports had been […]
St James Securities’ £1.8m Public Square behind plan for April 2023.
On 27 July 2020 St James Securities (SJS) signed an Agreement with Derby City Council for a new Public Square (next to the old Debenhams) at a cost of £1.8m. In its […]
Derby leads the way on the Youth Alliance
In Derby there are 59,500 children and young people ( aged 18 and under); 25% live in low income families. 47% of the population have at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), […]
Derby City Council’s Tory administration misled the public on the future of libraries
On the 15th February, Cllr Eyre clarified the position with respect to the future of the libraries. He was clear that no libraries would close. In summary, from 1st April all Community […]
Enthusiasm Trust being transformed for Derby’s Young People
4 years ago I wrote two articles about The Enthusiasm Trust and its controversial founder Joe Russo. It raised many questions about the charity’s internal governance, Russo’s salary, the source and use […]
New Council Houses Delayed again at Derby Homes’ Chesapeake Road site.
On the 8th January 2023 I published an article on the poor progress being made by Derby Homes on its Council House Build programme. Derby Homes: incompetent management of new house building […]
Godwin Developments’ infamous Landmark scheme: the most expensive unused car park in Derby.
Just under 5 years ago, Godwin Developments submitted a planning application to develop the tallest residential building in Derby – the so-called “Landmark” building . Planning permission was finally granted in August […]
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