Earlier in the year Dr Patrick Boateng of local charity JEM ( Jobsearch-Education-Mentoring) was contacted by an officer from the Palace of Westminster to run an event to coincide with Parliament week. […]
Cllr Banwait fails to turn up to present his keynote speech on “political engagement”
Council’s Vision on Special Needs Education is blind to Brackensdale School’s success.
Last week, David Hall, the Head of Brackensdale Junior School made a presentation to parents and members of the community on Derby City Council’s proposed changes to the Vision for Special Needs […]
Council “slashes” £70m off its budget cuts claim.
The Council has been telling the public over the last few years about the massive cuts made to services as a result of reductions in the Government Grant. During the 2016 election […]
Remembrance Day – Derby Market Place 2017
Joseph Chivayo’s 11 hour Remembrance Day challenge
For the 3rd year, Joseph Chivayo committed to run for 11hrs 11 mins and 11 seconds on the 11th November to generate £1111.11 for his chosen charities – Royal British Legion and […]
Derby Churches Night Shelter Map for homeless people this winter
From 1 December 2017, the 7 day a week Night Shelter service for anyone finding themselves on the street over night, starts again. It is run by Derby Churches / Derby City […]
Cllr Bolton lies to her Ward constituents over “being greedy”
It was recently reported that Cllr Bolton (Labour – Chaddesden) had overspent on her postage budget. What wasn’t exposed was that she had lied to her constituents over this matter. In 2016/17 […]
Inside the Padley ‘Homeless’ Day Centre; making it personal
“Sludge, 3 sugars”; “weak tea, half a cup, no sugar”; “coffee, with cold water, quarter sugar” and so was the variety of the breakfast drinks I served during my early morning stint […]
Cllr Baggy Shanker provides limited clarity on the failed Teaching Assistant agreement.
The March 2017 agreement ended a very public, and damaging dispute between Derby City Council and UNISON/School Support/Teaching Assistant staff. This was agreed shortly after Cllr Baggy Shanker became involved, and his […]
High5 : reaching beyond recruitment with a social conscience
When I first spoke to Sharon Turner, the founder of High 5 recruitment, I was impressed by the social conscience angle to her business. Yes, she is fundamentally about matching people with […]
Cllr Paul Pegg’s charity funds 50% of new War Memorial
The Derby Telegraph has reported that the new War Memorial in Mackworth has cost £18,000 funded by s106 money ( contributions by house builders into the community). It is correct to say […]
Cllr Bayliss on Leadership, Libraries, and the Assembly Rooms insurance pay-out
On 20th September 2017, in Full Council, Cllr Paul Bayliss ( Labour Alvaston, ex-Leader of the Council, and Deputy Mayor) made a statement regarding a complaint (re: refuse worker pay , and […]
Council grants planning permission for Incinerator to company that is “technically bust”
On Thursday of last week, Derby City Council’s Planning Control Committee granted planning permission for the experimental testing, of a new pyrothermic technology, for a 12 month period in a (incinerator) plant […]
Roma girls in Derby subjected to bullying and racism at Merrill Academy
Some of the highest rates of exclusions from Derby’s schools are of girls from the Roma community – yet they want to be at school, and get an education. Why is there […]
Women’s Work: a thriving and growing women’s centre continues in Derby.
Media reports of the potential imminent closure of the Derby Women’s Centre ignored one vital fact. There is another Charity in Derby that was established 15 years ago, is thriving, well-funded, available […]
Full copy of the Labour Group “motion” calling for Banwait ” to resign with immediate effect”
This is the full transcript of the “motion”, written by Cllr Pegg, tabled at the Labour Group meeting on Tuesday night….and voted upon. See : Derby Labour Group propose a “Vote of […]
Derby Labour Group propose a “Vote of No Confidence” in Cllr Banwait
This week at a meeting of the Labour Group of Councillors ( including local party members) a motion was tabled of “No confidence” in Cllr Banwait, as Leader of the Labour Group […]
Council fails another pledge : £250,000 programme of cultural events
As one its 50 Pledges, the Council committed to communicate a £250,000 programme of cultural events by “Summer 2017”, including a “Cultural Charter” Summer has now gone…. Thus far, the commitment has […]
Council’s Brown Bin Scheme is now costing Derby money – what happened to the £1m saving?
Following further requests under Freedom of Information it is now clear that the Council’s Brown Bin Scheme is costing the city more than it saves. The principle of charging residents for a […]
Under threat of deportation; ‘stateless’ asylum seeker seeks sanctuary from Saudia Arabia.
A, is an Asylum seeker from Saudi Arabia living in Derby – fearful for his future. Every day anxious that it will be his last day, expecting to be seized and deported, […]
