Dear Resident,

Here is my latest update on things at Derbyshire County Council.

First of all I would like to acknowledge how sad it was that Brian Lyttle passed away unexpectedly just before Christmas.  I worked very closely with him over a number of years as well as socialising with him, in particular with the darts and dominos league playing together at the New Inn on Birchwood Lane and the Old English Gentleman on Somercotes Hill.  On a couple of occasions I joined in with him at the Crown on Sleetmoor Lane but he soon realised I wasn’t that good so he didn’t bother asking me again!  We will miss him not only as a friend and colleague but also his dry sense of humour.  I’d like to thank everyone for their kind comments regarding Brian. In his honour a memorial bench has been installed at Pennytown Ponds where he spent many happier times walking his loyal dog, Sadie.

The Derbyshire County Council tax bill will go up by 2% this financial year and will appear on your bill as Adult Social Care precept.  Even though the Conservative administration have been saying for the last two years that they would deliver a zero council tax increase.

There is also a consultation ongoing with a proposal to close seven of the County Council’s residential care homes over the next two years; they are arguing the homes are not fit for purpose and there will be no need for them in the future.  But most of the current residents residing in the homes proposed for closure will be accommodated by the private sector!!

All the Youth Work buildings have now ceased to provide facilities for young people and most of the youth workers have been made redundant.  All the buildings are being declared as surplus to requirements and will be disposed of, so young people will have less on offer to them throughout Derbyshire.  The future of the Somercotes Youth Club building is something I am asking questions about.

I have been reporting potholes throughout the area and the condition of the roads which came out in a residents’ satisfaction survey as being poor and the state of Derbyshire roads being of the most concern to residents.  This is after the Conservative administration have said there is a 80% improvement in pothole filling under their administration.  Look at the gulley opposite Archway Interiors which I reported 3 months ago.

The LED lighting programme is coming to this area this financial year but in the meantime because the Council have not got any night light patrollers they rely on you and me to report the lights out, which I am constantly doing but it is now taking up to 2 months for a repair.

Can I inform you that we are in the hands of Western Power in regards to the bank of street lights out at Lower Somercotes?  They have attended to the lights, put in a larger fuse which worked for 48 hours and they now have to re-cable the columns.  Whilst they are doing this I have asked Derbyshire County Council to renew all the lighting heads with LED which they have agreed to do.  I am told the work will be carried out at the end of February – I can then file all my emails I have sent on the subject!

Best wishes and thank you.

Councillor Paul Smith