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 […]
Derby City Council’s Tory administration misled the public on the future of libraries
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 […]
Council Housing in Derby: How long is the “Waiting List”?
There is no such thing as a Council House “Waiting List”. There are many numbers published that are described as such, and quantify its perceived “length” but they don’t bear close examination. […]
Bad decision making : Library report contained significant errors, used old data and missed opportunities.
There is much concern in Derby over the closing of the 10 Community Managed Libraries. The budget for 2023/24 will remove all of the the funding. An unapproved Expression of interest activity […]
Another fine mess! Derby City Council’s unconstitutional Library strategy.
The Council is in a mess over Libraries – again! Derby News published many articles in 2017-18 on the failings and flaws of the Community Managed Libraries (CML) strategy. One of the […]
Derby Homes: incompetent management of new house building programme
A previous article “The problem with Council Housing…” addressed the issues with the Council House waiting list. Derby Homes manages the housing stock on behalf of Derby City Council; it has a […]
Derby City Council Budget : 8 Questions that Councillors should ask
Just a few weeks ago the Council published a headline statement that next year’s budget would show a deficit of £34m. It transpires that the number only contained part of the story […]
Time has run out on Derby City Council’s financial “fudging” strategy
Next week the Council will publish its draft 2023/24 budget for consultation. This is the annual process which concludes in February when the Council approves the finalised document. The initial indications are […]
Council Houses rented to national charity free of charge – not for homeless families.
The number of Council houses in Derby decreases each year despite increasing demand. The last reported number was 12,539 on 31 March 2022. It is the Council’s stated policy to make the […]
Derby City Council to write off £36m from Becketwell Performance Venue cost.
It is well documented that Derby City Council will pay a fixed price of £45.8m to St James Securities (SJS) for the Becketwell Performance Venue, irrespective of any prevailing inflationary pressures. The […]
Derby: Remembrance Day 2022
New Mayoral County Authority: Consultation or undemocratic “Done Deal”?
On the 2nd November 2022 Derby City Council agreed to proceed with the consultation on the new East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). This is a new governmental body proposed in the […]
Derventio Housing Trust: Time for the Council to investigate.
On October 18th 2022 Derby City Council’s Regeneration and Housing Scrutiny Board received a paper on “Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)”. Paragraph 4.21 stated: “In response to the increase in Supported Exempt […]
St. James Securities’ fixed price contract for the Council’s Becketwell Performance Venue at risk due to inflationary pressures
In July 2020,the Leader of the Council, Cllr Poulter, announced that St James Securities (SJS) had made a proposal to build a Performance Venue (BPV) on the Becketwell site for a fixed […]
The problem with Council Housing…
The latest report issued by Derby Homes on Council Housing applications provides an interesting insight into why it is difficult to secure a Council House and the demographics of the people applying. […]
Home to School transport for vulnerable children to be cut by £3m due to Council’s poor planning
Derby City Council has launched a 12 week consultation on the “Post 16 -19 Home to School Travel Assistance Policy” with the objective of saving £3m from a forecast spend of £8m. […]
Council’s depleted reserves flattered by COVID…for the moment.
At last weeks Cabinet Meeting, Tory Leader of the Council, Cllr Chris Poulter made the statement that the main Budget Risk Reserves were “wasted on the A52”. This wasn’t true. The Cabinet […]
Cllr Poulter lies over use of reserves for A52 overspend
Tory Derby City Council Leader, Cllr Poulter, today lied in the Cabinet Meeting to cover up the real reason for the forecasted depletion of £30m of budget risk reserves over the last […]
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