Cllr Banwait has made it his mantra that every cut that has had to be made by the Council was driven solely by the Tory Government Cuts. I’ve commented many times that […]
Banwait’s Budget Illusion and the extra £9m funding
Derby City Council : Clueless in the Chamber
Just who does the Derby City Council leadership think they are kidding when they speak of “consultations” with the public? Saying that you are “consulting” when in fact you are following a […]
Cutting Voluntary Sector Grants: Imagine the Council were that stupid!
Imagine this being an empty room in the Indian Community Centre! Imagine that all of the elderly ladies stayed at home! Imagine that they didn’t meet their friends, didn’t share a meal […]
Voluntary Sector: 100% Council Grant cuts will be negligent and cynical
In a few weeks time, the Council will decide on whether to proceed with their plan to cut 100% of the Voluntary Sector Grants. If this is carried out, it will not […]
Teaching Assistant Crisis: Did Banwait mislead the Council over UNISON?
During the Full Council meeting on November 25th 2015, Cllr Banwait was asked a question from a member of the public and his response was punctuated by an attack on UNISON, one […]
Teaching Assistant Pay Crisis: Banwait’s sinking fast without any ideas!
Derby City Council’s Equal Pay Review should be about a focussed set of changes to assure gender equality between all employees in similar jobs. It should not be a vehicle to promote […]
Derby City Council propose cutting 100% of all Voluntary Sector grants: Do they know the consequences?
In my earlier article, “Derby City Council has “lost the plot” on Voluntary Sector Grants” I provided a critique of the Council’s most recent consultation into the funding of the Voluntary, Community […]
Derby City Council Budget: Protest about damaging political cuts!
Derby City Council issued their 2016-19 Budget Consultation, yesterday. This makes proposals for how they will deliver the plan for the next 3 years and is open for public feedback by 5 […]
Derby City Council’s travesty of democracy over Teaching Assistant petition
Last Wednesday I reported on the fiasco which was the “debate” in the Derby City Council meeting on the Teaching Assistant’s petition. The Mayor rudely cut short Julia Redfern’s opening speech after […]
Labour Council insults Teaching Assistants with “wishy-washy” debate
When Ranjit Banwait was asked by a fellow member of the Council Chamber whether he was planning to audition for the role of “Wishy-Washy” in this year’s pantomime – I was reassured […]
Special Educational Needs : Derby City Council is failing the children.
Derby City Council’s Plan for 2015-18 declares that Special Educational Needs (SEN), education and safeguarding children are all “Must Do’s”. This is an explicit commitment that resources will be prioritised to ensure […]
Derby City Council defer Pay Cuts until 1 June 2016; short-term victory for protestors
Following the demonstrations and public outcry against the Pay cuts for the Teaching Assistants, and lack of agreement, this is the letter issued by Paul Robinson yesterday to all affected staff. Note […]
Derby City Council has “lost the plot” on Voluntary Sector Grants
Over the last few years Derby City Council has lost all direction over the grant funding for the Voluntary, Community and Faith (VCF) Sector. It is successfully achieving only one objective, and […]
Derby City Council : where the ‘hidden homeless’ don’t count.
Recently the Derby City Council published their “Council Plan Performance Measures and Actions 2014/15” which shows how they are doing on their annual objectives. Recently my eye was drawn to one in […]
Derby City Council’s “Big Conversation” is a charade and limp party politicking
Last week, Ranjit Banwait, the leader of Derby City Council re-invigorated the “Big Conversation”. Despite the recent consultation in 2014, the Council sees the need to ask the public again, essentially the […]
Derby City Council – no commitment to transparency on Castle Nursery closure
On June 8, I published an article called “Derby City Council wantonly axe ‘Outstanding’ Castle Nursery”; this included the response from the Derby City Council press office. The article was sent to […]
Derby City Council wantonly axe ‘Outstanding’ Castle Nursery
SUMMARY Derby City Council has decided to close the Castle Nursery in order to re-allocate £100,000 ( of a £195 million budget) and deprive the children of Derby of an Outstanding Nursery […]
JET (Jobs, Education, Training) : Derby Telegraph promoting PR – what happened to journalism?
The Derby Telegraph posted an article on 22 April seemingly as a response to my piece entitled “JET Derby (Jobs,Education, & Training) – Who really benefited from the £118,000 Derby City Council […]
Derby City Council Voluntary sector Grants – no cuts now for 2015/16
Updating my previous article Derby City Council Voluntary Sector Grant Aid: Reports of cuts “have been greatly exaggerated” the Cabinet will ratify on the 18th March that all Grants will be extended […]
Derby City Council Budget: Short on detail to explain £69m cuts.
Although the Council has issued a comprehensive 95 page report entitled “Derby’s 15 Year Vision and Budget Consultation 2015 to 2018” there seems to be some misunderstanding and mis-directed skepticism with the […]
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