A Better Deal for Derby

Cuts to local council funding from national government are a fact of life that Derby City Council must deal with like other councils all across the country.

About a third of funding for Derby's services comes from Westminster and is controlled tightly, with cuts continuing. Changes to this funding can only be successful when made rationally with clear facts to back them up, and in cooperation with other Local Authorities.

However, Derby's current Labour leadership fails to work widely with other councils. Instead they focus on emotion and endlessly blaming others.

As soon as Labour took office they covered Derby in posters blaming national government for cuts while cutting far more services than they needed. They wasted money and didn't spend based on evidence but on pet projects and in favoured areas without measurable objectives.

Instead of Labour's disregard of local people, we will enable the people of Derby to take an active part in running and supporting their local communities. We believe that communities are strengthened by people working together to improve community involvement and local facilities, rather than being run solely from the Council House.

We will -

  • Provide fair and effective funding for the whole of Derby, investing money more equally across Derby and on what local residents want - not just pet projects in favoured areas
  • Listen to communities to get the best ideas on how to use the funds that are available
  • Work more effectively with national government and the Local Government Association to get the best funding possible for Derby based on an up-to-date formula that properly reflects Derby's needs
  • Consult with local communities to find out what they want rather than spending money on changes they don't want
  • Empower communities to deliver changes to benefit their areas
  • Enable charities and community organisations to help meet communities' needs.