Derby News’ article on January 2019 “Assembly Rooms: Is the Council’s ‘Refurbished’ option really Value for Money?” concluded, based on leaked documents, that the Conservative Council’s preferred option of a Refurbished Assembly […]
Assembly Rooms : Council uses inflated benefit figures in D2N2 funding bid to massage its business case.
Mocking a hate incident is never acceptable…even in the Council Chamber
From Oct 12th-19th is Hate Crime Awareness Week. A timely occasion given the escalation of division in this country, particularly over Brexit. Abuse of politicians, to the point of being intimidating, has […]
Does the recent UNESCO Heritage advice signal the end of ‘The Landmark’ building project?
The Landmark building project was approved by the Planning Committee back in February 2019. Despite being initially rejected by the Committee, and considered by many residents to be unsightly ( albeit supported […]
Assembly Rooms refurbishment : Council will inevitably announce a cost overrun to the £24m budget – just a matter of time!
Last week, Derby City Council declared that the completion date for the refurbished Assembly Rooms had slipped from Autumn 2020 to November 2021. Despite this, they maintained that the budget will remain […]
The Life of a recovering Addict is amazing!
There seems to be no common thread as to why people become drug addicts. They come from all walks of life, all upbringings and all dimensions of the demographic spectrum. Each person’s […]
OFSTED and Care Quality Commission report very critical of Special Educational Needs provision in the City
For the past 4 years I have been writing about how Derby City Council’s Special Education Needs (SEN) provision for children has fallen woefully below standard. How the development of children with […]
70 years celebration of Derby’s War Memorial Village
Following the visit of HRH Princess Anne to the War Memorial Village, last month, to mark its 70th Anniversary, yesterday, was a day of celebration in the village and ending with a […]
Artcore brings “togetherness” in Art in their new City Centre building
On the 15th August, Artcore, Derby’s foremost Arts charity proudly opened their new City Centre venue to a group of invited guests, including the Mayor of Derby. Artcore describes itself as: “… […]
Celebration at the Hindu Temple connecting Uttarakhand in North India to Derby – UK to UK
Uttarakhand is a region in the north east of India bordering Nepal, Tibet and the Himalayan mountains. The population is 10 million most of whom are Hindus speaking the Hindi language. Whilst […]
The wrong strategy on the Sinfin Incinerator could be the Tory Council’s “A52 moment”
Not terminating the Sinfin Incinerator contract in September 2018 turned out to be the right decision. This has meant that Time has forced the hands of the main contractor, Resource Recovery Solutions […]
Darley Park concert 10p ticket contribution to Derventio Housing – helping the homeless, or the highly paid?
7 sponsors of the Hannell’s Darley Park Concert have committed to personally donate 10p for every ticket sale to 2 local charities who “Help the Homeless” – The Padley Centre and Derventio […]
Derby Caribbean Carnival 2019
Princess Anne joins 70th Anniversary celebrations of the War Memorial Village in Derby
In 1952 Mr Williams. “crippled in a Mosquito crash”, during World War 2, was one of the first 20 people to be housed in the newly built War Memorial Village in Derby. […]
Godwin’s latest development set to be approved, despite 40 objections – but Marketing Derby is in favour
Godwin Developments, the developer of the highest residential block in Derby, ‘The Landmark’, has re-submitted the planning application for another development – the car park on Agard Street. Originally they planned to […]
This is Derby Celebration event – sports, arts and culture collaborate to improve essential life skills of young people
A colourful, vibrant, and inspiring event took place in the Market Square on Saturday 13th July as a fitting end to a year long project called – This is Derby. The project […]
Godwin’s ‘Landmark’ tower block plan – sliding to the right.
In February 2019, the Council approved the Planning application for the 17 floor, 201 apartment block due to be located on Phoenix Street, overlooking St Alkmund’s way. Although, at the time it […]
Derby Hospital’s music festival cancelled! Why was the NHS so involved?
The so-called “Sound of Summer” music festival featuring Rita Ora, The Vamps, Rudimental, and Rak-Su has been cancelled weeks before it was due to take place on August 3rd. The concert, branded […]
Jericho House (for recovering drug addicts) “loved me till I could start loving myself”
In 1996, an elderly lady living in Alvaston wanted to support a charitable cause with the sale of her deceptively large property on London Road. By a quirk of fate she was […]
Cabinet to approve £1m to “Change Derby” – the benefits are “an act of faith”
Today, the Cabinet is set to approve a proposal by Council Officers, to spend £1m on a new “Change Derby” programme. After much questioning last night at the Executive Scrutiny Board ( […]
Council’s £5.4m deficit this year; explained by “smoke and mirrors”
When is a balanced position, not a balanced position? When you use reserves to plug the gap! When is a budget, not the budget? When you change it during the year! Some […]
