This week in Derbyshire:

Council Focuses on Flood Preparedness and Severe Weather

The Improvement and Scrutiny Committee - Places met to discuss Derbyshire County Council's preparedness for flooding and severe weather, a critical issue given the county's history of significant weather-related incidents. You can find the full details of the meeting here. The committee reviewed a report outlining the council's responsibilities as a Category 1 Responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, which requires the council to assess risks, create emergency plans, and share information with other responders.

Derbyshire's High Flood Risk

The report highlighted the high risk of both fluvial (river) and pluvial (surface water) flooding in Derbyshire, alongside other severe weather threats like low temperatures, heavy snow, storms, heatwaves, and drought. The council is a key stakeholder in the Derbyshire Resilience Partnership, which acts as the Local Resilience Forum and coordinates resilience efforts in the county.

Community Involvement and Emergency Response

The council has recruited Derbyshire Emergency Volunteers to support those affected by emergencies and has supported the Environment Agency in recruiting community flood wardens. The Emergency Planning Team provides a single point of contact for emergency services and other partners.

Lessons Learned from Past Incidents

The report noted that the council has responded to several significant incidents in recent years, including the major failure of a dam wall at the Todbrook Reservoir in Whaley Bridge. A review has been instructed by the Corporate Management Team to improve the council's overall organisational resilience.

Recruitment Panel Seeks Fixed Term Chief Executive

The Recruitment Panel met to conduct interviews for the position of Fixed Term Chief Executive. You can find the full details of the meeting here. The public was excluded from the interview portion of the meeting due to the confidential nature of the information to be discussed, as permitted under the Local Government Act 1972.

Upcoming Meetings

Here are the upcoming meetings in the next 7 days:

• The Improvement and Scrutiny Committee - Health are scheduled to meet on Monday 24 November 2025 to discuss intermediate care and ambulance services. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Cabinet are scheduled to meet on Thursday 27 November 2025. You can see the meeting details here.

This week in Derbyshire:

Council Backs Single Authority Plan Amidst Reorganisation Push

Derbyshire County Council has thrown its weight behind a proposal for a single unitary authority covering the entire Derby and Derbyshire area, a move that could reshape local government in the region. The decision, made at a meeting on 13 November 2025, follows months of analysis and debate, and comes as the government pushes for local government reorganisation (LGR) across England¹. You can find the full details of the meeting here.

Uniting Derbyshire: A Vision for the Future?

The council's preferred option, outlined in the Uniting Derbyshire Proposal document, argues that a single authority would streamline services, save money, and give the region a stronger voice.

Councillor Alan Graves, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, claims that:

Creating a single, unified council for Derbyshire and Derby City is the right move to secure our financial future. This isn't about erasing local identity, it's about cutting unnecessary red tape, saving millions in duplicated costs, and reinvesting those savings into the services people rely on and value the most: adult social care, children's services, roads, schools, and community safety.

The proposal estimates savings of £144 million over six years and £45 million annually thereafter.

Concerns Over Disaggregation and Local Identity

While proponents tout the benefits of a single authority, concerns remain about the potential impact on local identity and the disaggregation of existing services. A report prepared for the meeting noted that splitting the county into multiple authorities could concentrate challenges and restrict areas from having the flexibility to cope with changing circumstances and balance service pressure expenditure.

The report also warned that disaggregating major local government services like adult social care, children's social care, highways and transport, public health, and waste disposal could lead to:

• Fractured commissioning networks and service disruption in adult social care.
• Disrupted safeguarding and case management in children's services.
• Instability and loss of expertise in planning, housing, and waste services.
• Disrupted data systems and co-commissioned contracts in public health.

Cabinet to Make Final Decision

The council's decision to support the single authority proposal is a significant step, but the final decision rests with the Cabinet, which is scheduled to meet on 27 November 2025. The Cabinet will consider the views expressed by the council before submitting its proposal to the government by 28 November 2025.

Highways Programme Gets Green Light, Focus on Fence to Fence Maintenance

Derbyshire's roads are set for a £41.174 million upgrade in 2026-27, with the Cabinet approving a comprehensive highways capital programme. The plan, funded by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), prioritises essential repairs and improvements, including carriageway patching, resurfacing, and drainage. You can find the full details of the meeting here.

Fence to Fence Approach Aims to Minimise Disruption

A key change in the programme is the adoption of a Fence to Fence maintenance approach, which means that different types of work will be carried out at the same time to minimise the number of return visits. This could mean less disruption for residents and businesses, as road closures and traffic delays are reduced.

Member-Led Resurfacing Programme for Residential Roads

The Cabinet also approved a £3 million member-led minor residential roads resurfacing programme, giving local councillors more say in which roads get priority.

Homes for Ukraine Funding to Prevent Homelessness

The Cabinet has allocated up to £2.160 million to district and borough councils to support homelessness prevention for Ukrainian refugees under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. You can find the full details of the meeting here.

Supporting Ukrainian Families

Since the launch of the Homes for Ukraine scheme in March 2022, over 1,700 Ukrainian guests have arrived in Derbyshire. The funding will help Ukrainian families rebuild their lives, with strategies including dedicated refugee lead officers, property refurbishment, and rent top-ups.

Joint Ventures Under Review: Trading Committee Examines Performance

The Derbyshire County Council Trading Committee met to review the performance of its joint ventures, Concertus Derbyshire Limited, Vertas Derbyshire Limited, and Develop Renew. You can find the full details of the meeting here. The committee heard presentations from Concertus Derbyshire Limited and Vertas Derbyshire Limited, and discussed the council's role as shareholder and customer of the joint ventures.

Joint Ventures Launched During Significant Transformation

The report pack noted that the joint ventures were launched during a period of significant transformation for the council, including a deepening budget crisis and the onset of Covid restrictions. It also noted that internal resources for managing change and developing new ways of working were underestimated, which led to challenges from the outset.

Vertas Derbyshire Achieves Savings and Award

The presentation slides noted that VDL had worked in partnership with DCC to achieve savings of over £1.07 million in revenue costs through site closures, service reductions, and re-costings.

The presentation also stated that Vertas Group has been honoured with the 2025 Kings Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development².

Other Matters

• The Cabinet approved an amended Whistleblowing Policy, strengthening the link between the policy and the Anti-Fraud Anti-Corruption Strategy.
• The Cabinet approved allocations to projects outlined in Appendix 2 for Childrens Services Section 106 Allocations, totaling £164,897.12.
• The Cabinet approved additional spending of £2.012m for the Ashbourne Reborn project, extending the contract to 31 March 2026.

Upcoming Meetings

Here are the upcoming meetings in the next 7 days:

• The Improvement and Scrutiny Committee - Places are scheduled to meet on Wednesday 19 November 2025 to discuss the council's preparedness for flooding and severe weather. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Recruitment Panel are scheduled to meet on Wednesday 19 November 2025. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Improvement and Scrutiny Committee - Health are scheduled to meet on Monday 24 November 2025 to discuss intermediate care and ambulance services. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Cabinet are scheduled to meet on Thursday 27 November 2025. You can see the meeting details here.

This week in Derbyshire:

Council Faces Financial Strain as Police Budget Deficit Looms

The Derbyshire Police and Crime Panel met this week to discuss the financial challenges facing the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and Derbyshire Constabulary, alongside updates on crime reduction and the Police and Crime Plan. You can find the full details of the meeting here. With a potential budget deficit of over £10 million projected by 2028/29, tough decisions may be on the horizon for policing in the county.

Police Face Growing Budget Black Hole

The panel reviewed the financial position of the PCC and Derbyshire Constabulary, revealing a concerning trend of overspending and projected deficits.

• An overspend of £1.891 million against a budget of £231.760 million (0.82%) was covered from reserves in 2024/25.
• A projected overspend of £1.334 million against a budget of £236.352 million (0.55%) is forecast for 2025/26.
• Early projections for 2026/27 suggest a budget deficit of between £4 million and £6 million, potentially rising to over £10 million by 2028/29.

The report pack noted that a comprehensive service level review was underway to identify savings while minimizing the impact on services. The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has also concluded that the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee is unaffordable within the current funding levels. This could mean a reduction in visible policing in local communities.

Focus on Bringing Offenders to Justice

The meeting included a discussion of the PCC's strategic priority of 'Bringing Offenders to Justice'. The report pack summarised ongoing initiatives and activities, and included a detailed Public Assurance Meeting (PAM) report from Derbyshire Constabulary.

The report pack noted that in a public consultation in Autumn 2024, residents identified Bringing Offenders to Justice as their fourth highest concern. The report pack also summarised the work of the Derbyshire Criminal Justice Board (DCJB), chaired by the Police and Crime Commissioner, which provides strategic oversight and coordination across the criminal justice system.

Police and Crime Plan Under Review

The panel discussed the outcome of the statutory review of the Derbyshire Police and Crime Plan 2024-2029, as required under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. The review concluded that updates were required to the 'Finance and Resources' section of the Plan to reflect the current financial year 2025-2026.

The report pack noted that the consultation confirmed strong public support for the Plan's six strategic priorities:

• Serious Violence, including Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
• Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and Community Safety
• Neighbourhood Policing
• Bringing Offenders to Justice
• Drug Dealing and Substance Misuse
• Supporting Victims and Safeguarding

Commissioner's Maternity Plans Outlined

The report pack included an update to Panel members on the arrangements in place during the PCC's upcoming maternity period, which is expected to commence in early February 2026. The report pack stated that the PCC will remain in post and continue to make all strategic decisions throughout the maternity period, including maintaining regular meetings with the Chief Constable, receiving timely and critical briefings, and continuing to attend all Police and Crime Panel meetings.

Financial Regulations and Gifts Under Scrutiny

The Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee met to discuss revisions to financial regulations and standing orders related to contracts, and to review the register of gifts and hospitality. You can find the full details of the meeting here. No video was provided.

Revised Financial Rules and Contract Procedures

The committee discussed the revised financial regulations and standing orders related to contracts. The report pack included the document, [Revised Financial regulations and Standing orders related to contracts][Revised Financial regulations and Standing orders related to contracts.pdf], which runs to almost 140 pages.

Register of Gifts and Hospitality Reviewed

The committee also reviewed the [Register of Gifts and Hospitality 1 April 2024 31 March 2025][Register of Gifts and Hospitality 1 April 2024 31 March 2025.pdf]. This register lists any gifts or hospitality received by council employees between those dates.

Other Matters

• The Recruitment Panel met on Monday 03 November 2025. You can see the meeting details here. No video was provided.

Upcoming Meetings

Here are the upcoming meetings in the next 7 days:

• The Derbyshire County Council Trading Committee are scheduled to meet on Monday 10 November 2025 to review the performance of its joint ventures, Concertus Derbyshire Limited, Vertas Derbyshire Limited, and Develop Renew. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education are scheduled to meet on Monday 10 November 2025 to discuss feedback on the new agreed syllabus, a curriculum and assessment review, and the implications of local government reorganisation for SACREs. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Cabinet are scheduled to meet on Thursday 13 November 2025. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Council are scheduled to meet on Thursday 13 November 2025. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Recruitment Panel are scheduled to meet on Friday 14 November 2025, to conduct interviews for the position of Fixed Term Chief Executive. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Improvement and Scrutiny Committee - Places are scheduled to meet on Wednesday 19 November 2025. You can see the meeting details here.

This week in Derbyshire:

Social Care Strategy and Scrutiny Work Programme on the Agenda

The Improvement and Scrutiny Committee - People met this week to discuss the Adult Social Care and Public Health Joint Prevention Strategy and to review their work programme for the coming year. You can find the full details of the meeting here. While no decisions were made, the discussions highlight the council's priorities and the challenges it faces in providing essential services to vulnerable residents.

Prevention Strategy Aims to Reduce Social Isolation and Improve Wellbeing

The committee reviewed the Adult Social Care and Public Health Joint Prevention Strategy, which outlines a plan to improve preventative outcomes and wellbeing through collaboration between Adult Social Care and Public Health. The strategy focuses on four key areas:

• Improving understanding of need to inform service design and commissioning
• Reducing social isolation and loneliness
• Proactive prevention and early intervention
• Recognising and strengthening community assets

The strategy also identifies seven 'strategic enablers', including empowering communities, co-production, and building community resilience.

The strategy emphasizes the importance of early intervention, noting that for every £1 invested in preventative support, councils can save £3.17 in future social care costs.

Scrutiny Committee Plans Future Work

The committee discussed its work programme for 2025/26, identifying potential topics for future meetings. These included:

• Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service (DACES) – Consultation Outcome
• Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board's Annual Report 2024-2025
• Review of Residential Care Homes
• Youth Service and offending
• Placements for children in care
• Social Services staff retention
• SEND and Inclusion

The committee's focus on these issues suggests a commitment to scrutinizing key areas of council activity and holding decision-makers accountable.

Previous Meeting Minutes Confirmed

The committee confirmed the minutes of its previous meeting, held on 3 October 2025. During that meeting, the committee considered a call-in of a decision to declare five county council buildings surplus to service need and received a presentation on SEND and Inclusion.

Upcoming Meetings

Here are the upcoming meetings in the next 7 days:

• The Recruitment Panel are scheduled to meet on Monday 03 November 2025. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education are scheduled to meet on Monday 10 November 2025 to discuss feedback on the new agreed syllabus, a curriculum and assessment review, and the implications of local government reorganisation for SACREs. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Derbyshire County Council Trading Committee are scheduled to meet on Monday 10 November 2025 to review the performance of its joint ventures, Concertus Derbyshire Limited, Vertas Derbyshire Limited, and Develop Renew. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Cabinet are scheduled to meet on Thursday 13 November 2025. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Council are scheduled to meet on Thursday 13 November 2025. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee are scheduled to meet on Thursday 06 November 2025 to discuss revisions to financial regulations and standing orders related to contracts, and the register of gifts and hospitality. You can see the meeting details here.
• The Derbyshire Police and Crime Panel are scheduled to meet on Thursday 06 November 2025 to discuss the police and crime commissioner's finance update, progress on bringing offenders to justice, and a review of the Police and Crime Plan 2024-2029. You can see the meeting details here.