Schools in Derby are set to lose £811,250 in funding for the most disadvantaged pupils in the city following the government's decision to alter the method of calculating Pupil Premium funding.

The pupil premium, which aims to close the attainment gap by providing extra money to pupils eligible for free school meals, was a flagship reform introduced by the Liberal Democrats in government in 2011.

We the undersigned oppose the proposal to build on the green belt near Acorn Way on the following grounds: The destruction of our local countryside; It reduces the separation of Derby City from the surrounding area contrary to the purposes of the green belt; The additional traffic on the already busy roads around Oakwood will cause increased traffic chaos on Acorn Way; The increased pressure on the already inadequate resources and amenities, such as schools, surgeries, and shops in the area; inadequate access/egress onto the proposed estate. This area should be kept as designated green belt.

Over the past several weeks the tensions within Derby Conservatives have boiled over. Their councillors group is tearing itself apart.
The latest argument centres on the Arena which is being used as the main vaccination centre for the Derby area.

WhatsApp conversations between Conservative councillors have been released to the media. They paint a picture of ferrets fighting in a sack. Some councillors show their frustrations with their group leadership, one of whom, Mick Barker (Oakwood), digs in his heels and arrogantly dismisses the concerns of colleagues. He resolutely asserts that the Arena will be used for the election counts, and that the NHS would have to stop vaccinations there for two days.

Fortunately for Derby's residents, Lib Dem and other councillors have intervened since the time of the WhatsApp conversation (18th February). The Conservative-run council has had to back down. The election counts will be at an alternative place. Vaccinations at the Arena will continue uninterrupted.

But in a final twist, the Conservative Leader Chris Poulter would have us all believe that the issue of where to have the count had been sorted out well before this WhatsApp conversation happened! Strange then, that his Deputy, Matt Holmes (Mickleover) had no idea on 18th February that the issue had been sorted out. They obviously don't work well together as a leadership team.

The Mayor of Derby Cllr Frank Harwood has joined the Liberal Democrat Group on Derby City Council. He will be standing as the Lib Dem candidate for Oakwood at the local elections in May.

In 2008 he was first elected to the Council as a Liberal Democrat in Oakwood. Later, as Conservative, Frank saw first hand the divisions within the local Conservatives as well as their dictatorial style. As a hard-working councillor who prioritises putting local residents above party politics Frank could no longer abide staying in the Conservative Party, being whipped on every vote and not being able to accurately represent the people of Oakwood or undertake his politically neutral responsibilities as Mayor.

The Mayor of Derby Cllr Frank Harwood has joined the Liberal Democrat Group on Derby City Council. He will be standing as the Lib Dem candidate for Oakwood at the local elections in May.

In 2008 he was first elected to the Council as a Liberal Democrat in Oakwood. Later, as Conservative, Frank saw first hand the divisions within the local Conservatives as well as their dictatorial style. As a hard-working councillor who prioritises putting local residents above party politics Frank could no longer abide staying in the Conservative Party, being whipped on every vote and not being able to accurately represent the people of Oakwood or undertake his politically neutral responsibilities as Mayor.

Local residents ask Aldi to keep ancient hedge and build a separate path

Local people have signed a petition calling for Aldi and Derby City Council to save a hedge on Rykneld Road. The planning approval for the new store is likely to be given any day, and it includes the removal of the ancient hedge to allow the pavement to be widened. Petitioners are arguing that it would be better for a new path to be built behind the hedge.

"We, the undersigned, being local government electors for the area of Derby City Council, seek a referendum on Council's governance arrangements, to consider whether the Council should be run on the following basis:

a) by a Leader (who is an elected councillor chosen by a vote of other elected councillors) and Cabinet (elected councillors appointed by the Leader), as it is currently;
b) by one or more Committees comprising of elected Councillors, constituted in proportion to the political balance of the full Council"

On 25th November Lib Dem councillors put forward a motion at the Full Council meeting supporting the Child Food Poverty Taskforce's call for Free School Meals to be expanded to cover all children whose families are in receipt of Universal Credit or on a low income, and that food vouchers be made available for school holidays and lockdowns.

At Council Cabinet on 13th January, a report was presented which was supposed to deal with all that the November Council motion asked for. Unfortunately it only covered children who are eligible for Free School Meals, rather than all children in poverty. At the meeting Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Ruth Skelton asked why this was, and what would be done for low income families not entitled to Free School Meals. "I got an answer that was rather like waffle," said Cllr Skelton. "It seems Derby's Tory leaders are expecting schools to identify these children."

The motion to Council also required that letters be sent to the Secretary of State for Education, the Secretary of State for Health and the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking them to implement the recommendations of the Child Food Poverty Taskforce. Ruth asked if they had been sent and asked for copies of the letters. The answer was no they had not been sent, but would be imminently.

Lib Dem campaigner Farhatullah Khan, who helped organise lunches for children over the autumn half term holiday, said, "I'm appalled that the Tories would choose not to give help to all children living in poverty. The fact they haven't sent the letters to government ministers shows that children in poverty are of no importance to them."