Derby City Council’s Acting Chief Executive, Christine Durrant, dropped a “bombshell” on the desk of the new Council leadership at the end of last week regarding the A52 road improvement scheme. “Very […]
A52 project; Council approved an unfunded £9.5m overspend in January 2018…which no one knew about, until now?
Ranjit Banwait takes legal proceedings to over-turn election result
Ranjit Banwait lost his Boulton Ward seat by 474 votes in the May 3rd election to UKIP candidate Paul Bettany. This was not a close-call, he received 30% less votes than Bettany, […]
Council takes its first positive steps into the post-Banwait era….but it is just Day 1!
Last night was Day 1 of the new Council administration. It formalised much of what had been discussed in the media in terms of who would run the Council, and who was […]
What are the new Council Administration’s priorities in its 1st 100 days?
On Wednesday this week, the Conservative group should take up office as the new minority administration in Derby City Council. They will be supported by the Liberal Democrats and UKIP to secure […]
Derby News Community Grants
The Derby News Community Grant initiative was launched in memory of my Mother and Father who both died in the last few years. It is a way in which their personal legacy […]
Derby City Council likely to breach new Data Protection Regulations with Library strategy.
Derby City Council operates a very strict Data Protection policy in its libraries; it stipulates that volunteers have no access to the Library Management system. They are unable to view any personal […]
Cllrs Banwait and Bayliss test the “purdah” rules: Have they used public money to influence the outcome of the election?
Since 27th March 2018, Derby City Council (DCC) has been in the pre-election period , known as “purdah”. This means that the use of Council resources for political purposes is strictly prohibited […]
Alex Dann : Independent Candidate for Oakwood – “taking a chance on change”
Alex Dann, Independent Candidate for Oakwood, reflects back on her 2018 campaign: Previous article about Alex as she set off on her bid to be elected : “Can you be an Independent […]
Alan Graves (Council Leader UKIP): Manifesto 2018 interview
This is the last in a series of 3 interviews with the Party Leaders about their 2018 manifestos. Labour chose not to participate. Ruth Skelton – Liberal Democrat Matthew Holmes – Conservative […]
Labour lies to the public over its ‘fake’ claims on “congestion charging”
In Labour’s May 2018 manifesto it states – “Labour Oppose Tory Congestion Charge”. Derby Labour Leader Cllr Banwait says: “We have a choice over how to improve our air quality: pay more Tory […]
Matthew Holmes (Council Leader Conservatives): Manifesto 2018 interview
This is the second in a series of 3 interviews with the Party Leaders about their 2018 manifestos. Labour chose not to participate. Ruth Skelton – Liberal Democrat Matthew Holmes – Conservative […]
Council protects Management jobs at the expense of front-line paid Library Assistants….still to be replaced by volunteers
The Council’s strategy to offload 10 libraries to Direct Help and Advice (DHA) by the end of 2018, is now in progress with the first library, Sinfin, being handed over in Mid-May […]
Ruth Skelton (Council Leader Liberal Democrats): Manifesto 2018 interview
This is the first in a series of 3 interviews with the Party Leaders about their 2018 manifestos. Labour chose not to paticipate. Ruth Skelton – Liberal Democrat Matthew Holmes – Conservative […]
Why is Cllr Banwait creating ambiguity over his address and where he lives?
Plain accuracy with addresses for people in elected office is of paramount importance. This is such a sensitive subject that there is no room for ambiguity. It is a matter of public […]
Good news! Council to receive an additional £6m government funding this year.
As lead partner in a consortium of local authorities in the county, Derby City Council is taking part in a pilot scheme to enable the Government to develop its plan to move […]
Ashton’s story; 4 years lost, battling Derby City Council for an appropriate education.
By law every child is entitled to an “appropriate education” regardless of ability. The Council, legally, has to take the necessary steps to provide schooling that recognises the needs of the individual […]
Councils “tick-box” approach to the education plans for Special Needs children is only storing up problems for the future
3.5 years ago, all Councils were mandated by Government to convert all old-style Special Educational Needs (SEN) Statements into a new, more comprehensive Education Heath and Care Plan (EHCP); this document is […]
RAM Energy : Can significantly overstate real savings – check the maths carefully before signing up!
The Council has previously back-tracked significantly on its claim that Ram Energy is the cheapest tariff. It revised the position to state that, if someone has not switched before, then RAM Energy […]
Council budget reserves increased by £46m since 2010 – so why the continuing cuts to services?
Since 2010 Derby City Council has done a good job in managing its finances and protecting its reserves – in fact so good, specific usable budget reserves have increased by £46m! Many […]
Silverhill Primary School ‘£3000’ theft: a cover up, incompetence and the ‘uncomfortable truth’
Last week, Sarah Lloyd, who had been Treasurer, and then Chair, of the Silverhill Primary School Parent, Teachers and Friends Association (PTFA), based in Mickleover, pleaded guilty to the theft of nearly […]
