Derby political news: Concerns over 'shocking' council staff sickness rates

By Local Democracy Reporter Nigel Slater

More than 100 “fed up” residents have said they do not feel safe living in a new £100million Derby city centre housing estate.

The petition they have signed calls for major safety improvements at the city’s new Castleward housing development – between the Derbion shopping centre and the railway station – following ongoing problems.

One resident said drug dealing at the site “occurs daily” and others complained they are constantly ringing the police about problems in relation to violence and anti-social behaviour which are making lives in their new homes a misery.

Last month, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported that safety issues were still a concern amid an announcement from Derby City Council that the development was set to expand, with a new phase of construction for 112 new homes soon to start.

The Castleward regeneration site is regarded as one of Derby City Council’s biggest projects and is considered “critical” to achieving future housing targets for the city.

Compulsory purchase orders have been taking place to make the development a reality.

However, since the publication of the LDRS article, more “serious incidents” have happened which have “warranted residents launching a petition to raise alarm”.

The petition, which launched at the end of May, calls for immediate action to resolve problems at the new flagship development.

It blames “a lack of action” from authorities for the escalating trouble in the area and calls for action to be taken to ensure residents feel safe.

You can see the petition here – https://www.change.org/p/bringing-community-safety-to-castleward

It starts by saying: “We, the residents of Castleward, the newest community in Derby, are fed up with the lack of action in tackling community safety in the area. Currently, we see no action in tackling ongoing anti-social behaviour and continuous crime. We want to see more engagement with the police, police responding to crime and actually making us feel safe in our community and homes.”

Problems on the estate have been so serious that Derby City Council’s own public protection officers have stepped in to patrol the area. 

In a statement, Derby City Council advised people to call the police if serious problems continued to occur.

Fatima Eltinay, who has lived in the estate for seven years, said her children were “crying excessively” following a recent incident of disorder close to their home which involved the police.

She said: “We have meeting after meeting but if it feels like nobody is listening to us. It feels like our concerns are falling on deaf ears. The residents have had enough. They are all professionals, they go to work and have paid a lot of money for these homes. We raise these issues repeatedly and nothing has happened.

“Drug dealing occurs every day. It seems the incidents are happening more frequently as more people come to live here. We are worried this is becoming a place where you can do what you like and it will turn into a hub for something we are not keen for it to be. We don’t feel safe.

“We are worried that as the estate gets bigger this will lead to more trouble, more crime. The authorities need to sort this out because they are bringing more people into this equation. It is not the right message to be sending.”

Ms Eltinay explained some of the “scary” incidents which have led to the petition starting up.

She added: “There was some kind of celebration and there were young people there. All of a sudden it got very rowdy to the point there was lots of screaming and shouting. It became disruptive, everybody was looking out of their windows and the police were called. A girl was hit quite badly. This was right on our doorstep.

“Another incident we saw was a man jumping into one of our neighbour’s gardens and assaulting another man. There was blood involved.”

In response to the petition on the change.org website, a spokesperson for Derby City Council said: “We welcome a petition from our residents, which will be processed in accordance with the council’s published Petitions Scheme. We are already working closely with colleagues and partners across the city to address the issues raised and how we can best support our communities.”

Previously the council said a number of community-engagement meetings had taken place about problems in the area.

Derbyshire police said they were not aware of an increase in crime in the area.

Sergeant Jamie Millard, of the local policing team said: “Over the past three years, which includes a period of the Covid-19 lockdown, we have not seen any increase in reports of crime or anti-social behaviour in the area and until this time we were not aware of heightened concerns or this petition.

“That being said, it is important that people feel safe in their neighbourhood, and we take concerns and reports of anti-social behaviour and crime seriously. We would encourage people to report incidents and any concerns to us so that we can take any appropriate or necessary action, and work with partner agencies to target any issues raised. You can do this through our digital online methods, by calling or in person at our engagement events which we hold regularly in the area, and which are advertised on our neighbourhood social media accounts.”

By Local Democracy Reporter Nigel Slater

A children’s home in Derby has been allowed to expand despite fears it would lead to more youngsters living there.

Mackworth and New Zealand councillor John Whitby spoke out at a planning meeting against the plans to build a new outbuilding at a property in Enfield Road.

At the end of 2022, planning permission was granted for the semi-detached property to become a children’s home under the leadership and ownership of care firm Star Bright Living.

The planning permission allows two children to live in the property at one time while cared for by staff on shifts.

In April - around five months after planning permission was granted - Star Bright Living then sought permission for the erection of a detached annexe building to the west of the house.

Planning documents said an existing garage would be removed to facilitate the development.

The supporting statement submitted with the application gives the proposed uses of the annexe as therapeutic and sensory space, staff handovers, education, storage and general office functions for the use of the site as a residential children’s care home approved in 2022, although not yet implemented.

Councillor Whitby said he believed his initial concerns that the house was not appropriate for a children’s house had been confirmed to be true based on the requirement for an annexe to be installed.

He said: “Although I accept by adding this facility will make their operations as a children’s home more viable, it also opens the door to more children being placed, more noise, more parking etc.

“As for increasing the number of children, the company has said ‘I can confirm that Star Bright Living has no plans to even consider increasing the number of children it can accommodate’ - so they are not saying they won’t increase the number of residents but are just saying they have no plans to do so.”

But planning officers told the committee at the meeting that the original approved application had a condition imposed which said only two children could live at the premises.

However, to alleviate any concerns it was suggested and approved that a condition would be placed on the granted permission for the annexe to be used “for purposes of staff accommodation”.

Cllr Sara Bolton described the extra condition as a “very sensible way forward” when giving her thoughts on the plans.

The plans were approved after five councillors voted for it and one against.

By Local Democracy Reporter Nigel Slater

Councillor Baggy Shanker has said he does not intend to be both the leader of Derby City Council and an MP at the same time.

Labour’s frontman in Derby was elected the city’s new council leader last week following the local elections which saw his group become the biggest political party in the city – but not by an overall majority.

Last year Cllr Shanker was voted as Labour’s chosen candidate to stand to be the next Derby South MP. This comes after the constituent’s current MP Dame Margaret Beckett announced she would stand down from duty at the next general election after more than 40 years serving as the Derby South MP.

The next general election is not due until January 2025 after the Conservatives won the last one in December 2019 under the leadership of Boris Johnson. But the next general election could happen before January 2025.

The Derby South constituency has been a Labour seat for decades – since its creation in 1950 to be precise with Dame Margaret being the MP since 1983. So, it is fair to say Cllr Shanker is likely to stand a good chance of becoming an MP when the next general election comes.

It means that Cllr Shanker at some point may have to decide if he can juggle both being an MP and a council leader or sticking to one role.

But speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Shanker said his priority was to be a good leader for Derby City Council. Asked if he could be both an MP and a council leader in the future, he replied “that’s not my intention”.

Cllr Shanker said: “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I am the parliamentary candidate for Derby South. I have now been elected the new leader of Derby City Council. That is my priority. I will work tirelessly to make sure Derby City Council delivers for the people of Derby.

“When it comes to the general election, I will fight a campaign based on what I believe in for Derby South. There are other councillors and council leaders who are MPs. That is not my intention. I shall review it at the time if successful as the elected MP for Derby South.”

Just a few miles away, Conservative Ben Bradley is the serving MP for Mansfield, as well as the leader of Nottinghamshire County Council.

By Local Democracy Reporter Nigel Slater

Derby’s new council leaders are seeking confirmation from the Government that the new Great British Railways (GBR) HQ will be based in the city after being “alarmed” by reports suggesting the project is doomed.

But the former leader of the city council has warned its new administration “not to add fuel to a non-existent fire” when approaching the Government about it.

Last month it was announced Derby had beaten stiff competition to be the host city of the new GBR body which plans to oversee a restructured railway, replacing Network Rail and looking after the infrastructure as well as tickets and timetabling.

However, recent reports in the media have cast doubt over the plans and have worried political leaders across the city. The reports, first published by The Times, said that the Government had “quietly scrapped” plans for GBR and that it won’t feature in the upcoming King’s Speech.

But these reports have been played down by the Department of Transport. A statement issued last week said: “The Government remains fully committed to reforming our railways and will introduce legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows, having already taken numerous steps towards reform.”

However, despite this reassurance, the city council has in recent days taken action to ensure the plans go ahead and Derby does not lose out.

At Derby City Council’s annual general meeting on May 24, an unscheduled and “urgent” motion was declared by new Labour leader Baggy Shanker about the “alarming” developments.

The motion called on the council to write “to the Secretary of State for Transport to urge that progress on this important initiative isn’t delayed and firmly request that it is legislated for by being included in the King’s Speech to Parliament due shortly”.

The motion added: “The council notes with concern the recent national media coverage suggesting uncertainty around the relative priority of the rail reforms in the Government’s future agenda. Like many residents and businesses in Derby and millions of rail users across the country, the council is alarmed to hear that the required legislation may not be in the King’s Speech for the forthcoming Parliamentary session.”

The King’s Speech setting out the Government’s next programme of legislation is due to be made in the autumn.

In addition to this, the Labour group in Derby has launched a petition on its website which calls “to stop (the) Tories taking Great British Rail from Derby”. Both Labour MP Parliamentary candidates for Derby North and Derby South – Catherine Atkinson and Baggy Shanker respectively – have promoted the petition in a video.

People can submit their details on the website and sign the petition at https://www.derbylabourparty.co.uk/labour-listens

But Councillor Chris Poulter – the former Conservative leader of the city council – urged caution to Derby’s new Labour-run administration, saying there is no need to “add fuel to a non-existent fire”.

He said: “In my view this is no more than newspaper speculation and story-making by the media. Since it was published in the paper, council officers here have excellent relationships with the transition team and have been given reassurances.

“There have been statements by the Government in relation to the commitment to the process and to Derby being its headquarters. I talked to Michael Gove last Thursday and he had no concerns. We the Conservatives will continue to lobby the Government. In fact, MP Pauline Latham had an audience with the Prime Minister to press home the importance of it to Derby.

“(Let’s) just have that little bit of caution. Don’t let us add fuel to a fire that is non-existent. I think we’ll be alright. We all know the Government’s timetable is stacked - they will have to make priorities but I’m confident we will make it a priority and deliver Great British Railways in Derby.”

Cllr Shanker reassured Cllr Poulter the council would not be adding fuel to the fire. He said: “The campaign must remain strong, we must get the legislation that’s needed to allow this project to move forward. And move forward at pace. No fire, no fuel – just working collectively together to make sure GBR happens and happens as soon as it can.”

By Local Democracy Reporter Nigel Slater

A decision to refuse planning permission for the demolition of a derelict and crumbling former restaurant in Derby for new homes has been escalated to national Government level.

In January, councillors controversially voted down plans for the city’s former La Gondola hotel and restaurant to be bulldozed and transformed into two new apartment blocks comprising 42 flats.

Councillors on Derby City Council’s planning control committee turned down the plans despite their own officers recommending the proposals to be approved prior to the meeting held on January 19.

Now, Derby-based developer Elgie Properties has submitted an official appeal to the planning decision. That now means that the Planning Inspectorate – a Government agency – will decide the future fate of the once-popular Osmaston Road building in the months to come. According to planning documents, confirmation to the council that the Planning Inspectorate had received appeal forms was submitted last week.

A dramatic planning meeting in January saw councillors in Derby go against the advice from council planning officers as they feared the new homes would have insufficient parking spaces, resulting in surrounding areas being filled with vehicles to the detriment of residents. Councillors also turned down similar plans for the same site last year.

In its heyday, the hotel and restaurant was regarded as one of Derby’s best with the venue regularly packed out. But over the years the business declined and struggled. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay tried to turn it around as part of his famous Kitchen Nightmares TV series but the business eventually went into liquidation in 2009.

The hotel has stood empty for years and attracted anti-social behaviour including repeated fires. The building was described as “dangerous” following a recent episode of collapse. Warning notices from emergency services are on display advising people to stay away.

However, councillors said the plans for the new homes were not appropriate for the area, despite the declining condition of the building. Councillors heard that the building is so dangerous that fire crews have refused to go inside on safety grounds.

Councillors refused the plans, stating major concerns that the proposed 11 parking spaces provided were not enough for a housing development of that size. The then chair of the planning committee, Councillor Shiraz Khan, said: “To have 42 apartments and say 11 parking spaces is enough – it just beggars belief.”

Mickleover councillor Matthew Homes told Cllr Khan: “I don’t think you need to defer it. You’ve spoken very passionately about the need for more parking. There has to be a realistic level of parking in these schemes and this doesn’t meet that in my view.”

But Elgie Properties disputed the councillors’ fears over parking and believe the planning application should not have been refused. The appeal states: “When the proposals were initially submitted 11 car parking spaces were proposed. Despite the highway authority being satisfied with this level of provision, amendments were made during the application process, increasing this to 21 spaces.”

An appeal letter written by the developer’s agent JMI Planning adds: “Given the sustainable location of the appeal site, the level of car parking provision is entirely appropriate, as corroborated by the lack of objection to the proposals by the highway authority. It is clear from this response that the proposals would not prejudice the safe or efficient use of the highway network, and would certainly not cross the high bar of ‘severe’ impact required to warrant the refusal on network capacity grounds as set out in Paragraph 111 of the NPPF.

“The refusal reason identifies a particular issue with increased pressure for on-street parking within residents-only parking zones. However, the site does not lie within a residents-only parking zone and permits to park in these areas are only issued to people that live within them. The nearest residents-only parking zone to the appeal site is at Arboretum Square, which involves a drive of over 0.5 kilometres. In the unlikely event that a future occupant of the development illegally parked within a residents-only zone this would be a matter for parking enforcement to resolve. The proposals would not therefore result in increased competition for on-street parking within residents-only parking zones.”

The appeal has been declared as “valid” and a planning inspector will take on the case when available. That could include them visiting the site at some stage.

What are your views on this?

By Local Democracy Reporter Nigel Slater

New Derby mayor Alan Graves has hit back after fuming Labour councillors walked out in protest as he was about to officially enter his role.

In what was a surprise move, the Reform Derby councillor won by a single vote against Labour councillor Balbir Sandhu to don the mayoral robes for the coming 12 months.

The Alvaston North councillor said he was honoured to be chosen as mayor and would be “fully representative of the city and exert an air of fairness in the (council) chamber”.

Councillor Graves becomes the first Reform councillor to become a mayor nationwide, which is, it is fair to say, where some of the controversy lies.

But Labour claimed there was an agreement in place last year that Cllr Sandhu would serve as mayor after deputising under Cllr Robin Wood’s term as mayor.

However, this proved not to be the case as Cllr Graves won by 24 votes to 23.

This then prompted a dramatic walkout by the Labour group during the first part of Derby City Council’s annual general meeting on Wednesday.

Speaking after being declared mayor, Cllr Graves said he was not surprised by Labour’s walkout but insists it is the party that has the problem - and not him.

He said: “I knew it was going to be a close vote but I’m pleased with the outcome. Labour’s walkout was staged – they knew what was happening.

“I’m not divisive. I’ve walked out of meetings when I felt there was unfairness in the council chamber. But they walked out because they didn’t win and I can’t help that. “

The mayor was then asked if the Labour group had a problem with his election to the ceremonial role.

Cllr Graves replied “Yes, they do. They have a problem with me. They don’t accept the fact that I’m an ex-Labour councillor and I’m beating them at their own game.

“Most people won’t be interested in what’s happening in the council chamber. What does interest people is what’s happening outside and what happens in their communities and that’s the important thing and we will portray that properly.

“In the council chamber I will be fair. I will allow people to speak including Labour who have a lot of new faces. I will not allow people to abuse each other. Having been the subject of serious abuse, that is one of my strong priorities – I don’t want to see any abuse of individual members.

“It’s a shame (Labour’s) leader has made them (the new councillors) leave the chamber in their very first meeting. What does that tell you about their leadership?”

The city council’s new Labour leader Baggy Shanker was asked what the public would make of the walkout after cries of “childish” were heard in the public gallery.

He said: “I don’t believe that Reform have had a breakthrough. This has been the Local Conservatives, as they are called, politicising the mayor-making. They’ve combined with UKIP, the Brexit Party and Reform before and this shows their implicit support for Reform and what they stand for.

“I think the public will see (in the walkout) that the Labour party stands with them. The 24 votes that Alan Graves got are not reflective of Derby’s public. We’re ashamed of Alan Graves being the Mayor of Derby and I think the vast majority of the public will be – he has a very divisive nature. He makes statements that divide people.”