This council: flagship · Adult Social Care · Asylum and Migration · Children's services and safeguarding · Climate · Council Spending and Efficiency · Devolution and local government reorganisation · Heritage · Housing, planning and local plans · Outsourcing of public services · Renaming and rebranding · Roads, highways and potholes · SEND and home-to-school transport · Support for (or hostility to) women · Waste, recycling and bins
Reform UK has led Derbyshire County Council since May 2025 (source).
Reform UK took control of Derbyshire County Council at its annual meeting on 21 May 2025, under Leader Councillor A Graves.[1] At that first meeting the new administration moved to abolish the council's dedicated climate scrutiny committee.[1] The Leader has declared that meeting net-zero targets is not a priority for his administration.[2] The council's net-zero climate strategy is being replaced by a new strategy that sets no net-zero emissions target.[3] The administration created a new Cabinet portfolio for council efficiency, branded "DOGE".[4] It reduced the flags flown from council buildings to national, civic and ceremonial flags only, dropping the Pride flag.[5] In February 2026 the council resolved to press for an end to the use of asylum hotels in Derbyshire.[6]
At its first meeting under Reform, on 21 May 2025, the council resolved to abolish its dedicated Improvement and Scrutiny Committee for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Carbon Reduction, folding its functions into the Places scrutiny committee.[1] A public question recorded the abolished body as the committee responsible for monitoring the council's climate goals.[1] Deletion of posts within the council's Climate Change Team was included in its budget-saving proposals, and the team was folded into a wider Climate Change and Environment Sub-Division.[7]
The Leader declared that meeting net-zero targets was not a priority for his administration.[2] The council's Climate Change Strategy: Achieving Net Zero (2021-2025) is being replaced on expiry by a new Environmental Sustainability Strategy (2026-2030) rather than renewed.[8] The new strategy is built around eight thematic priorities and carries no net-zero emissions target.[3] The Cabinet Member for Net Zero and Environment confirmed the successor strategy would contain no explicit measures to reduce greenhouse gases.[2] At the 8 October 2025 Full Council the Cabinet Member confirmed the council was not pursuing carbon reduction in line with national net-zero policy.[9]
On 8 October 2025 the council carried a motion, moved by Councillor Graves, recording its opposition in principle to large-scale solar farms and battery energy storage systems on greenfield sites in Derbyshire.[10] The motion's stated rationale framed this as protecting productive farmland and food security against net-zero-driven development.[11] At the following meeting on 10 December 2025 the Cabinet Member clarified that the decision was not a blanket ban, and noted the county council is not the local planning authority.[12]
In March 2026 the Chair of the Pension Fund Committee rejected blanket divestment from fossil-fuel assets, citing the fund's fiduciary duty and the risk to investment returns.[13] Pressed to follow other LGPS funds that had committed to full fossil-fuel disinvestment, he declined, saying decisions would be based purely on financial returns.[14]
The administration established a Cabinet portfolio for Council Efficiency, branded "DOGE", held by Councillor John Lawson.[4] The council engaged PwC to review its operating model and third-party spend, feeding a Transformation and Efficiency Programme.[15] PwC estimated that between £11.2m and £22m could be saved through better management of third-party spend.[15] On 13 November 2025 Cabinet approved procuring an external Design and Implementation Partner to deliver the operating-model redesign, agreeing in principle to fund an estimated £5m through capital receipts.[16] The council revised its procurement standing orders and planned a Consultancy Spend Board to reduce third-party spend.[17]
The inherited 2025-26 revenue budget carried a savings target of £37.5m; the Reform Cabinet Member for Finance reported £35.1m, or 93.7%, delivered by the end of Quarter 3.[18] On 11 February 2026 Full Council adopted the 2026-27 revenue budget, moved by the Cabinet Member for Finance, netting £55.3m of budget reductions.[19] A Conservative amendment to reduce the council tax rise and part-fund the gap from reserves was defeated on a recorded vote.[19]
Asked in May 2025 to explain a new flag policy, the Leader said the council did not have one.[20] By July 2025 the cabinet confirmed it had already reduced the flags flown from council buildings to national, civic and ceremonial flags only.[21] The council did not fly the Pride flag to mark IDAHOBIT in May 2025, a practice it had followed every year since 2014.[5] By December 2025 it was formally reviewing its Flag Flying Protocol to prioritise national, civic and council symbols, with exceptions considered only against community-benefit criteria.[21] A resident question that month described the flying of Pride and Ukrainian flags as banned by the council; the cabinet member's reply did not dispute the characterisation and restated the reduction.[22] On flags attached by residents to lampposts and roundabouts, such as Union Jack and St George's Cross flags, the council said it did not intend to remove them unless they posed a safety hazard.[23]
On 11 February 2026 the council debated a motion on asylum hotels in Derbyshire, whose background paper cited 565 asylum-seeking men housed in hotels across Chesterfield, Derby and Erewash.[24] The motion was carried on a recorded vote of 38 to 5.[6] It resolved that the Leader write to Derbyshire's MPs seeking a clear public timeline for when all asylum hotels will no longer be used.[6] It also asked the county's borough and district councils to go no further than their minimum statutory duties in housing people leaving asylum hotels, including not placing them in Houses in Multiple Occupation where there is no local connection.[6]
For 2026/27 the council set an Adult Social Care precept of £8.8m, adding £32 to a Band D bill, within an overall 4.9% council tax rise.[25] An amendment to cut the increase to 3.90%, which would have trimmed the adult social care precept, was defeated by 19 votes to 32.[26] The council then carried the full 4.9% rise, including its Adult Social Care Precept, by 32 votes to 17.[26]
In March 2026 Cabinet approved the 2026/27 care home fee proposals, raising independent sector residential and nursing home rates by 3.8% per week.[27] The council increased its own in-house day care and residential care rates by a lower 3.4% per week.[27] The same meeting approved the home care and day care fee review, an inflationary rise of about 3.7% applied equally to independent sector and in-house home care and extra care from 1 April 2026.[28]
The council changed its Adult Social Care and Health charging policy as part of a wider efficiency drive.[29] By March 2026 that charging change was booked as a saving and flagged in Quarter 3 budget monitoring as at risk of not being fully delivered.[30]
In July 2025 the Cabinet Member for Adult Care confirmed the council is ceasing to operate the council-run Ada Belfield care home and seeking to transfer it to another provider as a going concern.[31] The move is part of a redesign that keeps four specialist dementia homes and three homes for Community Support Beds in direct council provision.[31] The council framed this as reducing its direct provision of residential care for older adults while increasing direct provision of dementia care.[29]
Derbyshire's Cabinet considered a Best Start in Life Local Plan with additional funding for Best Start Family Hubs implementation on 9 April 2026, establishing hubs in Chesterfield and Cotmanhay before identifying further spoke sites.[32]
On 4 December 2025 Derbyshire's Cabinet approved a public consultation on changes to the Home to School Transport Policy for compulsory-school-age children and the post-16 transport policy statement, as part of a Children's Services Home to School Transport Policy Redesign.[33] The redesign, presented to the People Scrutiny Committee on 6 February 2026, included charges revised to align with benchmarks, pick-up points to reduce door-to-door transport, and personal travel budgets and independent travel training for SEND pupils; members raised concerns at the spare-seats charge rising from £480 to £570 a year.[34] On 21 May 2026 Cabinet approved the amended School Travel Policy and the amended Post 16 Travel Support Policy Statement for implementation from September 2027, and approved an increase in parental contribution amounts in the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement from September 2026 in line with inflation.[35]
Derbyshire's Cabinet Member for Potholes, Highways and Transport contested the size of the inherited backlog, putting it at 17,000 potholes rather than the higher figure quoted by opposition members, and reported having since filled 45,000 potholes, 10,000 more than the year before.[36] The Cabinet Member also rebutted a circulated figure of a 100,000 pothole backlog, saying that number was actually potholes filled in a year, not the backlog.[37] Derbyshire reported its highways maintenance backlog in numeric detail at full council, giving monthly outstanding pothole and reactive-maintenance job counts against the same month in 2025 and crediting the fall to backlog-clearing work since May 2025.[38]
Cabinet approved the 2026-27 Highways Capital Programme and, within it, introduced a new £3.0m Member-led Minor Residential Roads Resurfacing Programme, an additional dedicated resurfacing budget on top of the existing capital programme.[39] The council reallocated in-year efficiency savings from its highways contract tendering into additional pothole and road funding, feeding the new programme.[40] The Cabinet Member for Potholes, Highways and Transport said the council had delivered nearly £52m of the capital programme in year, including A and B roads, plus a further £3m of additional funding found through Reform savings and put into residential roads.[41]
Derbyshire County Council is not a waste collection authority and runs no garden waste collection of its own, but on 10 December 2025 Full Council carried a motion, moved by Councillor Major and framed as a Derbyshire Conservatives position, opposing district and borough garden waste charges as effectively a 'bin tax', and resolved to promote a minimum standard for district and borough councils during local government reorganisation guaranteeing free fortnightly garden waste collections.[42]
Derbyshire County Council is a constituent authority of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), established under a previously approved Devolution Deal and the East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024; Councillor Alan Graves holds the council's portfolio for EMCCA and is its strategic lead for devolution.[43] Cabinet resolved on 16 October 2025 to transfer Derbyshire's strategic and public transport functions to EMCCA, agreeing that the council would cease to exercise those functions itself by 1 April 2026 at the latest, while officers told the Place Scrutiny Committee that EMCCA remained a partnership body and Derbyshire County Council 'would still exist in its own right', not being the highway or local planning authority.[44]
Scheduled county council elections went ahead as normal on 21 May 2025, with the Annual Council meeting that day welcoming a new intake of councillors and appointing a Leader for a full four-year term (2025-2029) even as Local Government Reorganisation work was already under way.[45] On 9 July 2025 Full Council, on the motion of Leader Councillor A Graves, resolved by a recorded vote (39 for, 15 against, 4 abstentions) to support in principle a two-unitary north/south model as Derbyshire's preferred option for Local Government Reorganisation, and authorised four weeks of stakeholder engagement to develop a proposal on that basis.[46] The council's preferred option then changed: at Full Council on 13 November 2025, on the motion of Councillor N Gourlay, a recorded vote (35 for, 17 against, 2 abstentions) resolved to support a single unitary council for the whole Derby and Derbyshire area as the option to submit to Government, superseding the July two-unitary position; Cabinet formally agreed this on 27 November 2025 and approved the 'Uniting Derbyshire' proposal document for submission to Government by 28 November 2025.[47]
Derbyshire County Council's Cabinet, on the motion of Councillor A Graves, resolved on 29 January 2026 to agree the Council Plan and Departmental Plans for 2026-29 on condition that reference to the Civil Engineering Term Maintenance Contract was removed from the Place Commercial pipeline for 2026-29.[48] Cabinet, on the motion of Councillor S Reed, resolved on 9 April 2026 to approve the use of £0.95m in capital funds to procure a cloud implementation partner and to approve procurement of its existing hosting partner, Microsoft Azure Cloud, for cloud hosting services, migrating remaining council applications and data from its physical datacentre at County Hall into the cloud.[49]
Derbyshire County Council's Cabinet, as recorded in the minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2026, comprised the Leader (Councillor A Graves, in the Chair) and nine other members: Councillors J Barnes, C Hill, J Lawson, S Mabbott, P Maginnis, P Parkin, D Price, S Reed and C Wood.[50] The minutes record Councillor C Hill, Cabinet Member for Potholes, Highways and Transport, and Councillor C Wood, Cabinet Member for Net Zero and Environment, as women.[51][52] The minutes record Leader Councillor A Graves and Cabinet Members Councillor J Lawson, Councillor S Mabbott (Cabinet Member for SEND and Education) and Councillor S Reed (Cabinet Member for Business Services) as men.[53][54][55][56] Derbyshire's corpus records a Police and Crime Panel update on the Police and Crime Commissioner's strategic priority on Violence Against Women and Girls, which the panel resolved only to note; no decision to cut, expand or recommission a community-based domestic-abuse or sexual-violence service is recorded.[57]
Derbyshire's Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee resolved on 10 July 2025 to amalgamate the roles of Chairman of the Council and Civic Chairman and replace every reference to 'Vice Civic Chairman' with 'Vice Chairman' in the Constitution; Full Council adopted the change on 8 October 2025 on a report introduced by Councillor L Whitbread.[58] Derbyshire's Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee, chaired by Councillor A Graves, resolved on 6 October 2025 to change the job title of Managing Director to Chief Executive; Full Council ratified this on 8 October 2025, effective 27 October 2025.[59] At the Full Council annual meeting on 21 May 2025, on the motion of Councillor A Graves (Leader), Derbyshire resolved to retitle its Improvement and Scrutiny Committees as Scrutiny Committees.[60] Derbyshire's Place Scrutiny Committee was told on 25 February 2026 that the outgoing 'Climate Change Strategy: Achieving Net Zero (2021-2025)' was being succeeded by a new 'Environmental Sustainability Strategy (2026-2030)', built on the old strategy's learning but framed around wider environmental, economic and social aims rather than climate/net-zero language alone; a Full Council member question on 8 October 2025 had already confirmed a replacement strategy was in development because the Climate Change Strategy was expiring.[61] At its 16 September 2025 meeting, Derbyshire County Council's Audit Committee was told the council's strategic risk register would be refreshed and renamed the 'Corporate Risk Register'.[62] A corporate risk previously titled 'Ineffective organisational change management' was retitled 'Cultural change does not keep pace with transformation' in 2025-26 Quarter 3, reported to Audit Committee on 27 January 2026.[63]
“Remove the Improvement and Scrutiny Committee – Climate Change, Biodiversity and Carbon Reduction from the committee structure and incorporate its functions into the Improvement and Scrutiny Committee – Places;” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“abolish the Climate Change, Biodiversity and Carbon Reduction committee which was responsible for monitoring the council's climate goals” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“On the motion of Councillor A Graves, duly seconded it was RESOLVED to:” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“we will not be putting in any strategies explicit measures to reduce greenhouse gases” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“The Leader of the Council has declared that meeting Net Zero targets is not a priority for his administration” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“A new strategy is being developed to replace the current Derbyshire County Council Climate Change Strategy: Achieving Net Zero (2021- 2025).” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“once approved, it would replace the current Climate Change Strategy” Minutes, 25 February 2026 ↗
“a new Environmental Sustainability Strategy (2026-2030) was being developed” Minutes, 25 February 2026 ↗
“Cabinet Member for Business Services and Cabinet Member for Council Efficiency (DOGE), to award the contract” Decisions, 13 November 2025 ↗
“due to his role as the Cabinet Member for Council Efficiency (DOGE)” Minutes, 3 December 2025 ↗
“The new administration has reduced the number of flags it will fly from County Council buildings to those focused on national, civic and ceremonial flags only.” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“This day has been marked by DCC by flying the pride flag since 2014.” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“That this Council resolves to request that the Council Leader writes to: - Our Members of Parliament for Derbyshire, asking them to request from the Home Office a clear and public timeline for when all Asylum Hotels will no longer be used to house asylum seekers; and - All borough and district councils in Derbyshire requesting they only meet the minimum duties set out in legislation in relation to housing any individuals leaving asylum hotels, and that it will not go beyond these statutory requirements. This includes not being placed in Houses in Multiple Occupation when there is no local connection.” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“For the motion: Councillors Adams, Benfield, Bent, Bromley, Brown, Bull, Chambers, Cliff, Dale, Elsdon, Ford, Furness, Graves, Grooby, Hallett, Hart, Harvey, Hatfield, Hill, Hodgson, Isherwood, Lawson, Mabbott, Mathews, Maginnis, Millward, Muizelaar, Oxberry, Price, R Reaney, S Reaney, Redfern, Reed, M Smith, R Smith, Wharmby, Whitbread and Wood. Against the motion: Councillors Clarke, Hatchett, Kinsella, Pizzey and Snowdon.” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“The motion was declared WON and CARRIED, it was therefore RESOLVED that the Council Leader writes to:” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“The deletion of some posts within the Climate Change Team is included within the Council’s current budget saving proposals.” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“recently approved proposals for a restructure of the wider Climate Change and Environment Sub-Division” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“the abolition of the Climate Change team and the subsequent reduction in resources to deliver the net-zero targets” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“A new strategy is being developed to replace the current Derbyshire County Council Climate Change Strategy: Achieving Net Zero (2021-2025) which expires at the end of this year” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“we are not adhering to legislative national agendas to do things like that” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“Work has commenced to develop the new Environmental Sustainability Strategy for the Council.” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“This amendment was accepted and agreed. A vote was taken on the substantive motion, which was declared WON and CARRIED, it was therefore, RESOLVED:” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“To record its opposition, in principle, to the development of large- scale solar farms and battery energy storage systems on greenfield sites in Derbyshire.” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“Motion One Opposition to Large-Scale Solar and Battery Storage Developments in South Derbyshire Councillor Graves proposed a motion that was duly seconded” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“The government obsession with Net Zero should never be delivered in a way that disrespects local communities, negatively impacts productive farmland, and over industrialises the countryside; Agricultural land serves one purpose only; and that is for farmers to produce food and enhance Britain's food security” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“The Council did not support a blanket ban on solar farms – the decision was to record the Council’s opposition, in principle, to the development of large-scale solar farms and battery energy storage systems on greenfield sites.” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗
“We will not support blanket divestment from entire sectors if doing so risks weakening returns or increasing the burden on taxpayers.” Minutes, 25 March 2026 ↗
“As Chair of the Pension Fund Committee, my overriding responsibility is our fiduciary duty to pension fund members and to Derbyshire taxpayers” Minutes, 25 March 2026 ↗
“We look at all investments. What other councils do is up to those, but we look purely on the financial returns” Minutes, 25 March 2026 ↗
“Work is ongoing to assess the PwC findings against the Council’s Change Portfolio and to identify a plan to implement the recommendations identified by PwC in the form of a Transformation and Efficiency Programme for the Council.” Minutes, 11 September 2025 ↗
“Thereafter PWC indicated that estimated savings between 11.2 and 22m could be achieved through better management of third party spend.” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗
“sought approval to conduct a procurement for the selection of a Design and Implementation Partner to deliver these changes. RESOLVED to:” Minutes, 13 November 2025 ↗
“agree in principle to fund the estimated £5million cost of the Design and Implementation stages through the flexible use of capital receipts” Minutes, 4 December 2025 ↗
“establishing a Consultancy Spend Board, a Third” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗
“It is correct the Council has reviewed its standing orders that details how the Council procures services. The revised standing orders are included on today’s agenda.” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗
“The 2025-26 Revenue Budget includes savings targets totalling £37.499m.” Minutes, 12 March 2026 ↗
“As at the end of Quarter 3 total savings forecast to be delivered are £35.146m (93.7%).” Minutes, 12 March 2026 ↗
“Councillor J Lawson introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, that sought approval for the proposed Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2026-27.” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“Approves the level and allocation of budget savings as outlined in Section 9 and Appendix 7 to the report” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“Less Budget Reductions -55,331,478” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“The amendment was declared to be lost.” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“Could you explain the Council’s new flag policy?” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“The Council does not have a new flag policy.” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“The new administration has reduced the number of flags it will fly from County Council buildings to those focused on national, civic and ceremonial flags only.” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“Work is currently being undertaken to review the Council’s Flag Flying Protocol to prioritise national, civic, or council symbols, with exceptions considered under agreed criteria aligned to community benefit.” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗
“This at a time when the flying of other flags, such as Pride and Ukrainian flags, has been banned by DCC.” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗
“The Council has stated it does not intend to remove Union Jack or St George’s Cross flags from lampposts or roundabouts unless they pose a safety hazard.” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗
“Motion 3 – Asylum hotels in Derbyshire Councillor Maginnis proposed a motion that was duly seconded, in the following terms:” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“There are 565 asylum seeking men in hotels throughout Derbyshire: Chesterfield – 75 Derby – 329 Erewash – 161;” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“All Derbyshire MPs pledged to end the use of asylum hotels but no progress has been made;” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“Plus Adult Social Care Precept 8,817,684” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“D 1,629. 16 1,708.9 9 47.83 32.00 79.83 44,440” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“The Chairman declared the motion carried.” Minutes, 25 March 2026 ↗
“An amendment, duly seconded, was moved by Councillor Dale in the following terms: That: Recommendation c is amended as follows: Approves the precepts as outlined in Appendix 5, amended accordingly to reflect a Council tax increase of 3.90%, funded by the use of £2.6million additional funding from the final Local Government settlement and £1.85million drawn down from the contingency balance in corporate budgets.” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“The amendment was declared to be lost.” Minutes, 25 March 2026 ↗
“RESOLVED to approve: 1) To increase the rate paid to independent sector residential care homes for the financial year 2026-27 by 3.8% per week; 2) To increase the rate paid to independent sector nursing homes for the financial year 2026-27 by 3.8% per week;” Minutes, 12 March 2026 ↗
“6) To increase the rates for in-house day care and residential care by 3.4% per week.” Minutes, 12 March 2026 ↗
“1) Make inflationary increases on fee rates for 2026-27 from 1st April 2026; 2) Increase independent sector home care fee rates by an average of 3.7%; 3) Increase the fee rate for in-house home care by 3.7% and extra care provision by 3.7%; and 4) Increase the fee up to 3.7% for specialist home care where evidence is provided by them of inflationary pressures.” Minutes, 12 March 2026 ↗
“changes to the Council’s Charging Policy in ASCH, a redesign of adult social care to reduce direct council provision of residential care for older adults and an increase in direct provision for dementia care.” Minutes, 11 September 2025 ↗
“There are some ‘Red’ rated savings which are unlikely to be delivered, but there have been alternative savings identified so that savings yet to be delivered are £2.353m. The savings requiring review are detailed in Appendix 11 of the report. These are mainly relating to:- - Residential care and day care for older people; and - The charging policy for people receiving adult social care support in the community.” Minutes, 12 March 2026 ↗
“Since the Council already operates Florence Shipley, a dementia specialist home in Amber Valley, and Ada Belfield was not selected as one of the CSB sites, we’ve made the decision to cease operating Ada Belfield. This decision is part of the wider redesign, and our aim is to transfer the running of Ada Belfield to another care provider.” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“If a new provider takes on Ada Belfield as a going concern, it will continue to operate as a residential care home.” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“Best Start in Life Local Plan and Additional Funding for Best Start Family Hubs Implementation” Minutes, 9 April 2026 ↗
“Establishing Chesterfield and Cotmanhay Hubs then identifying suitable spoke sites” Minutes, 9 April 2026 ↗
“To approve a public consultation on potential changes to the Home to School Transport Policy for compulsory school age children and the post 16 transport policy statement” Minutes, 4 December 2025 ↗
“Concerns were raised by committee members due to the price increase in the spare seats policy as it would be increased from £480 to £570 annually” Minutes, 6 February 2026 ↗
“These included but were not limited to; charges revised to align with benchmarks; pick-up points introduced to reduce door-to-door transport; and the introduction of personal travel budgets and enhanced independent travel training for SEND pupils” Minutes, 6 February 2026 ↗
“Approve the amended School Travel Policy for children of Compulsory School Age as set out in Appendix 4, for implementation from September 2027” Minutes, 21 May 2026 ↗
“Approve an increase in parental contribution amounts in the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for implementation from September 2026 in line with inflation” Minutes, 21 May 2026 ↗
“It's actually a backlog of 17,000 potholes. We've now filled in 45,000 potholes, which is 10,000 potholes more than the previous year-on-year comparison.” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“Labour members seem to extensively be quoting a 100,000 pothole backlog in their election literature. That is factually incorrect and, as I can only presume it’s based on the RAC report from 2021, I’m happy to highlight in that instance too, that 100,000 is the number of potholes we’d filled that year – not the backlog.” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“Total number of outstanding jobs recorded on our asset management system were: 1st January 2026 – 820 v 2339 1st January 2025 1st February 2026 – 1662 v 2926 1st February 2025 1st March 2026 – 2442 v 3579 1st March 2025” Minutes, 25 March 2026 ↗
“the work the highways service did from May 2025, to clear the backlog, has been vital at reducing these numbers” Minutes, 25 March 2026 ↗
“Approve the schemes outlined in Appendix 2 forming the 2026-27 Highways Capital Programme” Decisions, 13 November 2025 ↗
“Approve the introduction of the £3.000m Member-led Minor Residential Roads Resurfacing Programme and delegates to the Highways Director, as Chair of Highways Capital Programme Board, and the Cabinet Member for Potholes, Roads and Transport the approval to amend or extend this Programme” Minutes, 13 November 2025 ↗
“This has resulted in works coming in underestimate and then reinvested - such as in our new £3m member led program. I am confident that these efficiencies have been achieved in this financial year, under this administration.” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“We've already delivered nearly £52m this year of that capital program and that does include A and B roads. We've also delivered £3m additional funding made through reform savings to residential roads as well.” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“A vote was taken on the motion, which was declared WON and CARRIED” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗
“These include the introduction, or sharp increases, in charges for garden waste collection – effectively a “bin tax” that punishes residents who want to do the right thing for the environment.” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗
“3) Free fortnightly garden waste collections” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗
“Councillor Alan Graves who was the portfolio holder with responsibility for EMCCA and strategic lead for devolution” Minutes, 19 November 2025 ↗
“in line with the previously approved Devolution Deal and East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024” Minutes, 16 October 2025 ↗
“regarding the proposed transfer of the Transport function from Derbyshire County Council to the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA)” Minutes, 16 October 2025 ↗
“Agree that EMCCA will take responsibility for the exercise of strategic and public transport functions and that Derbyshire County Council will no longer exercise those functions on a date to be agreed, and from 1 April 2026 at the latest” Minutes, 16 October 2025 ↗
“EMCCA was not the highway authority and was not currently the local planning authority. It was a partnership but Derbyshire County Council would still exist in its own right.” Minutes, 19 November 2025 ↗
“RESOLVED: That Councillor A Graves be appointed Leader of the Council for 2025-29.” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“The Chairman welcomed the newly elected members to the Annual General meeting” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“PUBLIC MINUTES of a meeting of COUNCIL held on Wednesday, 21 May 2025 at Council Chamber, County Hall, Matlock.” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“Agree in principle, the preferred option(s) of a two unitary authority model for the area on a north/south configuration” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“The report also sought support, in principle, for the preferred option of a two-unitary (north/south) model configuration” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“On the motion of Councillor A Graves, duly seconded and in accordance with Standing Order number 18.1, a recorded vote was requested” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“On the motion of Councillor N Gourlay, duly seconded and in accordance with Standing Order number 18.1, a recorded vote was requested and taken as follows:” Minutes, 13 November 2025 ↗
“Approve the Uniting Derbyshire Proposal document attached at Appendix 2 to the report for submission to Government by 28 November 2025.” Decisions, 27 November 2025 ↗
“Support the recommendation to Cabinet that the preferred option to be submitted to Government should be a single unitary council for the whole Derby and Derbyshire area” Minutes, 13 November 2025 ↗
“Agree that the preferred option to be submitted to Government be a single unitary council for the whole of Derby and Derbyshire area” Decisions, 27 November 2025 ↗
“removing reference to the Civil Engineering Term Maintenance Contract from the Place Commercial pipeline for 2026-29” Minutes, 29 January 2026 ↗
“Councillor A Graves introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting that sought agreement of the authority’s Council Plan for 2026-29 and Departmental Plans for 2026-29 for referral to Council for approval.” Minutes, 29 January 2026 ↗
“sought approval to use capital funds to procure a cloud implementation partner (Microsoft Azure Cloud) to the conclusion, implementation and migration stage.” Minutes, 9 April 2026 ↗
“Approve the Procurement of our existing Hosting Partner for the cloud hosting services (Microsoft Azure Cloud)” Minutes, 9 April 2026 ↗
“PRESENT Councillor A Graves (in the Chair) Councillors J Barnes, C Hill, J Lawson, S Mabbott, P Maginnis, P Parkin, D Price, S Reed and C Wood.” Minutes, 21 May 2026 ↗
“can Councillor Hill confirm that she does know who's dealing with this particular problem within her department? Does she not know or does she just not care?” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“The policy is there which is now under Charlotte [Hill].” Minutes, 10 December 2025 ↗
“Will she therefore set an example and show leadership by including in the new climate change strategy or environment strategy what plans the Council has to dramatically reduce its own damaging emissions.” Councillor Wood responded as follows:” Minutes, 11 February 2026 ↗
“Councillor Graves had declared a personal interest as he knew three of the candidates being interviewed.” Minutes, 19 November 2025 ↗
“Councillor Lawson recently stated publicly that he's concerned about low staff morale” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“Does the Cabinet Member agree that this presents a very concerning position for the sustainability of local SEND provision, and what specific steps will he take to challenge and lobby the Department for Education” Minutes, 12 March 2026 ↗
“Does the Cabinet Member share that view and, if he does, does he intend to implement such a policy in Derbyshire and require more staff to come into the office?” Minutes, 9 July 2025 ↗
“RESOLVED to note the update in relation to progress against the strategic priority, Serious Violence including Violence against Women and Girls.” Minutes, 17 July 2025 ↗
“The Police and Crime Commissioner updated members about the progress made concerning the Police and Crime Commissioner's (PCC) strategic priority on 'Serious Violence, including Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG)'.” Minutes, 17 July 2025 ↗
“Approve all relevant parts of the Constitution (Article Six and Appendices 6, 13 and 15) be amended to reflect that the roles of the Chairman of the Council and the Civic Chairman are amalgamated” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“That all references to “Vice Civic Chairman” are removed and replaced with “Vice Chairman” in all parts of the Constitution” Minutes, 10 July 2025 ↗
“Councillor L Whitbread introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, that sought approval for revisions to the Constitution and Members Allowances Scheme with regard to the Chairman of the Council role.” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“The Committee was asked to consider the proposal to change the Managing Director job title to Chief Executive, for a performance related pay element to be added to the remuneration package for the role of Chief Executive” Minutes, 6 October 2025 ↗
“Agree the change in job title from Managing Director to Chief Executive, with effect from 27 October 2025.” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“RESOLVED that the Committee: a) Approves the change of job title from Managing Director to Chief Executive” Minutes, 6 October 2025 ↗
“Retitle Improvement and Scrutiny Committees to Scrutiny Committees” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“On the motion of Councillor A Graves, duly seconded it was RESOLVED to:” Minutes, 21 May 2025 ↗
“Building on the learning from the ‘Climate Change Strategy: Achieving Net Zero (2021-2025)’ and recognising the breadth of the Council’s statutory and non-statutory environmental responsibilities, a new Environmental Sustainability Strategy (2026-2030) was being developed.” Minutes, 25 February 2026 ↗
“A new strategy is being developed to replace the current Derbyshire County Council Climate Change Strategy: Achieving Net Zero (2021-2025) which expires at the end of this year” Minutes, 8 October 2025 ↗
“A full refresh of the strategic risk register (to be known as the Corporate Risk Register) and departmental risk registers to align with strategic and departmental objectives and core tasks” Minutes, 2 December 2025 ↗
“MINUTES of a meeting of the AUDIT COMMITTEE held on Tuesday, 16 September 2025 in Committee Room 1, County Hall, Matlock.” Minutes, 2 December 2025 ↗
“Cultural change does not keep pace with transformation (retitled from ‘Ineffective organisational change management’ in 2025-26 Q3).” Minutes, 17 March 2026 ↗