Hitting the ground running

Seeing the issues of plastic all around me, still in use in the Coutny Hall, and still being justified by local mineral water suppliers I decided to table a mation to the Council AGM:

NOTICE OF MOTION – COUNCIL 26 MAY 2021
Motion received from Councillor E Fordham seconded by Councillor S Burfoot
This council notes
1. the widespread ambition to end all single use plastic in Derbyshire, the UK and globally
2. the climate change commitments this authority has made
3. that Buxton Spring can be locally sourced in recycled and recyclable bottles 

This council resolves:
1. to source locally, preferably within Derbyshire, when purchasing food, drink and all hospitality
2. to stipulate that such procurement will cease any purchase of nonrecycled plastic and to follow this up with 100% recycling of such bottles.
3. to seek to end the procurement of any plastic in this context and to cease the culture of single use plastic water bottles

This was subsequently amended and passed by the Full Council to read:

This Council resolves:

1. To continue to source locally, preferably within Derbyshire on the relatively rare occasions when food and drink is purchased for hospitality

2. To continue to avoid the purchase of non-recycled and single-use plastics

3. To carry on offering extensive recycling facilities throughout the authority’s buildings.

Meeting but not at County Hall

Because we are still in the grip of the pandemic the regulations regarding social distancing are still in place, and yet despite this the Government have ordered that in-person meetings must recommence.

Accordingly, County Hall in Matlock is the wrong space, and so we will be meeting in Casa Hotel in Chesterfield.

Check out this link for more information and comment:

https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/politics/ps4000-move-to-hold-derbyshire-county-council-meetings-at-chesterfield-four-star-hotel-slammed-as-bonkers-3242256

And so it begins

As folks know, on Thursday 6th May, I was elected as the new County Councillor for Loundsley Green and Newbold and will serve on Derbyshire County Council for 4 years.

It is very exciting for me personally as well as challenging and will continue to stretch and challenge my political experiences.  I now sit on both Chesterfield Borough Council (for the Brockwell ward) and also on the County.

This blog and page is my account for that twin-hatted political journey.

Ed