Lib Dem plan for Derbyshire

 We believe there is a better way

The Liberal Democrats are offering genuine local government that listens to residents, hears what they have to say and fights for local services that reflects your needs and those of your family.

By voting Liberal Democrat you get activist local councillors who keep in touch, who report back to you and who are working hard with their local community.

1.        Road repairs need to be fixed first time - and no more botched patching where the potholes just re-occur.
2.        Investing in Social Care so there is a real support network there when we all have an urgent need and turn to the County Council for help.
3.        Tackling the terrible situation in SEND provision for those children most in need and supporting their parents.
4.        Making sure the County’s finances actually balance and avoid bankrupcy.
5.        Investing in good reliable bus services that don’t leave you waiting for a bus that never arrives or is always late.
6.        Making the green environment at the core of all we do – tackling climate change, planting trees, doing everything we can to make the local community and all of Derbyshire sustainable and greener for the future.

Six steps that we will fix immediately. Making Derbyshire County Council something you can be proud of again - a place to live, work and play - for you and your family.



It’s time for the Tories to go - they have ruined Derbyshire’s finances…

1.        The roads and potholes are in a terrible state and failing residents
2.        Finances at the County are in free-fall crisis with bankruptcy a feature of virtually every discussion
3.        The SEND report about children in need was damning about the Council
4.        They have sold off assets and are closing front-line services to try and pay the bills - it’s a terrible situation and has to end.
5.        The Council cannot afford another year with Care Homes closures, Day Centres shut and road laying unrepaired – it really is time to throw the Tories out.



Everyone agrees - this is not the positive hopeful Labour Government people wanted.

Labour really are a total disappointment. Kier Starmer is letting people down again and again

1.        WASPI women betrayed are all the pre-election promises and photo opps
2.        Winter Fuel Allowance cut from thousands of pensioners who needed it
3.        Deep & damaging Welfare Cuts to some of the most vulnerable in society
4.        Scrapping the local Councils and creating a huge distant mega-Council
5.        On virtually every vote on the Council’s finances over the last four years the Labour Group have abstained – effectively supporting the Tories at every stage.

This election is your chance to send Labour a clear message they cannot ignore.  Support the Liberal Democrats in Derbyshire on Thursday 1st May 2025.

Derbyshire Times and the new market

 https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/no-other-town-boasts-a-market-like-this-chesterfield-market-reopens-and-traders-return-as-first-phase-of-multi-million-pound-revitalisation-completed-5044885?fbclid=IwY2xjawJKO3JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHf1AJVG5Io42TcSpQZqZQA1kBOdpTIuPbUTbEszJVd335FyBbNc7pTr2Pw_aem_QUAyl40aTIrEWeflbmygKg#uacpdapbz2qxvbhxqcwjeh0l6v0toyce

Brand new market stalls are just great

After months of discussion and waiting and hard work the first phase of the new market has gone live and is open for business.

New stalls, new canopies, guttering, lighting, new paving as well as levelled cobbles - it looks stunning.

Of course there are those who will moan and grumble, but they are wrong. The new market is a huge enhancement to the town and we should be pleased with the outcome.

Next Thursday my own Brockwell Books will occupy its stall opposite the cardfactory and Primark and I can’t wait.

What are the benefits: 

* The stalls are new and the coverings fresh

* The lighting is not intrusive and can be varied

* The stall is stronger than before and has a huge scope for innovation by traders

* The large overhang and guttering means no more dripping down your neck as a customer

* New benches and a cleaner public space

* And the space is generous and open showing off the pump, the market hall and the square itself.

So what else does it need? In short, just one thing: you, the customers. Please if you do nothing else in Chesterfield this summer bring your friends and family - jigsaws, pet food, guitars, duvets and throws, jewellery, and more besides.

This is a new market we can all get behind - traders have worked closely and long with the Council and discussion has been heated. But now, it’s open with phase one complete - please can you do your bit and come down and support the market. No other town boasts a market like this every Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Every day has different stalls and every market day has a varied atmosphere - come and use it.

One last thing - if you are a new trader or haven’t stood on Chesterfield Market before then get in touch. I started 8 years ago and have loved it - hopefully with years more to come.

Questions to next council

 To ask what progress the Council has made in changing forever the patching of road failures, pothole and poor surfaces and moving to a scheme of fixed first time and long lasting road re-surfacing capable of facing the wet and wild weather we experience each year?

Can I welcome the opening of the Spire Lodge for children with significant disabilities and complex learning needs. Such a facility is needed. But to ask how the public can trust the County Council over the opening of new facilities when we are in process of closing down superb facilities and care homes such as Ada Belfield Centre. Aren’t we being seen as quite literally giving with one hand whilst taking away with the other? 

The Derbyshire Makes Festival runs from 28th March to 27th April 2025, and is a three year programme of cultural activity across 6 distinct hubs. How confident is the Council that it has truly harnessed the creative and artistic traditions of Derbyshire and what lessons have been documented and learnt thus far that might enhance future years of a festival such as this?

I have repeatedly raised the issue of suicide and attempted suicide in this chamber on a number of occasions over the last four years. This is the last meeting of this full Council of this elected quadrennium. What progress has been made to make pedestrian bridges in Chesterfield safer and less open as black spots for such terrible occasions and locations of trauma?

Questions asked at Council

“Can the Cabinet Member update members on the flood schemes and whether the Council is content that the Environment Agency are progressing schemes fast enough and will the Council changes its stance to remove the pedestrian bridges from Spital towards town.  Too often due to flooding Spital has been cut off from Chesterfield Town creating serious issues for accessing residents, for those seeking to get home from the rail and coach stations and indeed to access the hospital atop Hady Hill. Is it not the case that the Council should be pushing for greater urgency on flooding measures, on improving all road and pedestrian bridges over the rivers and waterways and that the Council should not be going along with the proposal to remove pedestrian bridges, thereby risking residents being isolated and trapped in the inevitable situation of a flood in the near future?” 

 

Response:

 

“Thank you to Cllr Fordham for his questions. To start with the specific point around Spital and the footbridges, as you note, it is proposed to remove these as it is considered that both bridges can trap debris from the river during high flow conditions, which can cause a backing up effect upstream and so increase the flood risk. Given the benefit removing these is therefore professionally assessed to have to reducing upstream flood risk, and as during high flows and storm conditions both footbridges become overwhelmed by floodwater (and the bridges can be around 0.5m under water), it is therefore also of concern about these rights of way being impassable, unsafe and isolated in themselves during flooding too – not just the bridges, but the footpath up to them. 

 

In terms of the wider point around flood schemes and progressing these, to focus on the Chesterfield area, I understand there is an EA scheme bring progressed in relation to the River Hipper and Holymoorside. Whilst I of course share what I think would be all members’ views around progressing flood mitigation schemes as quickly as possible, this is likely to be a major scheme, and so takes time to both develop and confirm the significant funding in turn needed. But,we will continue to work with the EA, as well as pushing government, to provide support for this and other schemes (and other challenging areas such as Hornsbridge) both at an officer and political level.”

 

“As I’m sure many councillors are aware, there is a parliamentary inquiry underway into flood resilience led by the Environment Audit Committee.  What submission has been made by Derbyshire County Council by the deadline of 13th January?” 

 

Response:

 

“Having discussed this with officers, I understand we weren’t aware of a formal request or invite to respond to this inquiry, so it isn’t one that has been focused on – officers prioritise replying to requests where we’ve been invited to reply or have a duty to. We have also been in direct discussions with Government, as part of the DEFRA flood resilience grant scheme administration and analysis but also as part of various other official visits and conversations, around flood resilience and mitigation in the county, which we will continue to do. If we are asked to feed into the select committee inquiry though, we would of course be happy to do so.”

  

January Report Back from DCC

 DCC January Report from your Lib Dem Group 

UNITARY STATUS

There has been much noise about the Labour Governments declared plan to have unitaries with directly elected mayors across all of England. And they have invited Councils to step forwards with their plans and submissions.

The Conservatives at Derbyshire County Council have, with no meaningful consultation, with no consensus, and with no mandate, asked the Labour Government to imposed a Unitary Council for Derbyshire excluding the City of Derby.

This will have the effect of removing all District Councils, all Borough Council and chesterfield instead of having 48 Borough councillors and 8 County Councillors would, under these plans have just 7 Unitary Councillors and nothing else.

It would entirely sweep away all notion of local democracy.

You will be unsurprised to hear that we are opposing the way this is being done, the proposals itself and also lobbying for more time to work out what might be a better way forward.

Despite all of this, we expect the elections in May to go ahead.

As the Group Leader at the County Council I wrote to the appropriate Minister. Here is my letter in full.

Minister of State

(Local Government and Devolution)

Ministry of Housing, Communities,

and Local Government

2 Marsham Street

Westminster

London, SW1P 4DF

Cc. Emma Alexander, Chief Executive, Derbyshire County Council

Dear Minister,

I write regarding the policy paper English Devolution White Paper published 16th December 2024, which invites expressions of interest from local authorities by 10th January 2025.

Since your announcement there has been no formal discussion within the elected councillors in Derbyshire on the Governments proposals. However, I understand that the Leader of the Conservative Group may have written to you on this matter.

As councillors we felt it was important to make you aware that there has been no consultation within the Council. Previously when we created Vision Derbyshire (joint working with Boroughs and Districts) there was active dialogue with all Districts and Boroughs, when this progressed to a request for an East Midlands Mayoral Devolution Deal and to create EMMCCA (East Midlands Mayoral Combined County Authority) we had a sustained debate and discussion within Council and a resolution was agreed. This time? Nothing.

Further, the Mayor was only elected last year and with that devolution deal came a pledge from your own Department that it would not be followed by a local government re-organisation. This is not the time for you to renege on that pledge and to cancel our scheduled elections this May.

If a submission has been sent in that asks, calls or intimates that elections should be cancelled, that submission has not been agreed or authorised by Derbyshire County Council

In short, no consensus has been achieved by the Leader - he has acted alone and without support or agreement from the Council.

Please allow the Mayoral Devolution Deal to settle and achieve its goals and do not cancel the 2025 elections in Derbyshire.  Cancellation is a cheap attempt by a failing and unpopular Conservative Administration at County Hall to undermine and subvert the role of the newly elected Labour Mayor of the East Midlands. Indeed when the Conservative Leader was not elected to a role in the Mayoral accountability structures, he immediately withdrew Derbyshire’s funding. At every stage the Conservative Leader of Derbyshire has sought to undermine and stymie the Mayoral Devolution Deal after he failed to secure his party’s nomination for the very role of Mayor.

Please, if Unitary status is to happen then enable Derbyshire to go through the due process and not be propelled into a fast track which it does not need. That fast track approach has not agreed and is only sought by a Conservative Leader wanting to cling onto power for another year by cancelling the elections.

I ask that you allow Derbyshire to vote in May 2025. Democracy delayed is democracy denied.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Ed Fordham

County Council, Smedley Street, Matlock, Derbyshire

MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL

There are few meetings now as the elections approach. The forthcoming dates are:

12th February (2 meetings due to Freeman Ceremony)

26th March

If anyone wishes to attend to get a further insight to the workings of the Council please do feel able to do so.

BUDGETARY DILEMMA

Somewhat stung by our criticisms amongst others the Leader of the Council announced the creation of a Budget Commission. This would be a deep dive into the issues facing the Council.

Accordingly a meeting was arranged - most of the senior officers attended - a presentation on adult care and care homes in particular. 

The problem however, was that I was the only opposition councillor and Labour refused to attend or it suited them to be absent.

No further meetings of the Budget Commission have been scheduled and it would seem it has been revealed to be a stunt with no purpose.

The budget crisis facing the County Council under the Conservatives continues.

Democracy delayed is democracy denied

 Jim McMahon OBE MP

Minister of State (Local Government and Devolution)

Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government

2 Marsham Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 4DF

Cc. Emma Alexander, Chief Executive, Derbyshire County Council

Dear Minister,

I write regarding the policy paper English Devolution White Paper published 16th December 2024, which invites expressions of interest from local authorities by 10th January 2025.

Since your announcement there has been no formal discussion within the elected councillors in Derbyshire on the Governments proposals. However, I understand that the Leader of the Conservative Group may have written to you on this matter.

As councillors we felt it was important to make you aware that there has been no consultation within the Council. Previously when we created Vision Derbyshire (joint working with Boroughs and Districts) there was active dialogue with all Districts and Boroughs, when this progressed to a request for an East Midlands Mayoral Devolution Deal and to create EMMCCA (East Midlands Mayoral Combined County Authority) we had a sustained debate and discussion within Council and a resolution was agreed. This time? Nothing. 

Further, the Mayor was only elected last year and with that devolution deal came a pledge from your own Department that it would not be followed by a local government re-organisation. This is not the time for you to renege on that pledge and to cancel our scheduled elections this May.

If a submission has been sent in that asks, calls or intimates that elections should be cancelled, that submission has not been agreed or authorised by Derbyshire County Council. 

In short, no consensus has been achieved by the Leader - he has acted alone and without support or agreement from the Council.

Please allow the Mayoral Devolution Deal to settle and achieve its goals and do not cancel the 2025 elections in Derbyshire.  Cancellation is a cheap attempt by a failing and unpopular Conservative Administration at County Hall to undermine and subvert the role of the newly elected Labour Mayor of the East Midlands. Indeed when the Conservative Leader was not elected to a role in the Mayoral accountability structures, he immediately withdrew Derbyshire’s funding. At every stage the Conservative Leader of Derbyshire has sought to undermine and stymie the Mayoral Devolution Deal after he failed to secure his party’s nomination for the very role of Mayor. 

Please, if Unitary status is to happen then enable Derbyshire to go through the due process and not be propelled into a fast track which it does not need. That fast track approach has not agreed and is only sought by a Conservative Leader wanting to cling onto power for another year by cancelling the elections.

I ask that you allow Derbyshire to vote in May 2025. Democracy delayed is democracy denied. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely 

Cllr Ed Fordham 

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Derbyshire County Council

Derbyshire County Council, Smedley Street, Matlock, Derbyshire.

Let Derbyshire vote in 2025

Statement from Cllr Ed Fordham and the Liberal Democrats: Let Derbyshire Vote in 2025

I am both angry and disappointed in equal measure at the actions of Cllr Lewis.

By calling for a cancellation of the elections his action are entirely self serving. The people of Derbyshire deserve the right to vote on the last 8 years of Tory cuts.  For the elections to be cancelled would be a disgrace and I would say illegitimate.

I can confirm that I will also be submitting a letter to the Secretary of State urging that  the elections go ahead. Cllr Lewis has no mandate from the Council, no public support. His request is ‘not in our name’.

Knowing he will be ejected by the voters he is seeking to cling to office for another year. Cllr Lewis is running scared.

He claimed Vision Derbyshire was all of us working together, it was Council that voted for a Mayoral Devolution Deal. That consensus is now being smashed.

Cllr Lewis lacks courage and can no longer be trusted. I am utterly appalled at this high handed action. We will oppose his actions even if the Labour Government are giving him a free pass - the people of Derbyshire deserve better.

My message to the Government is quite simple: Let Derbyshire Vote in 2025.

Democracy delayed is democracy denied.

Cllr Ed Fordham

Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Derbyshire County Council

Former Cllr and Leader of Richmond, Serge Lourie

 Farewell Serge Lourie, Liberal Democrat, friend, councillor, leader, work colleague, runner, walker, housing champion, fundraiser, community champion, terrible humorist, but a model of how each and every one of us can strive to be a force for good. 

It was 1994 I think, I was President of the Students Union at the University of Nottingham and the new president elect was Madeleine Durie. I was in London and we met up at her house and she said I should meet the neighbour: Liberal Democrat Cllr Serge Lourie.

And so started a long acquaintance with Serge. He was probably most excited when he found I had been born at Kingston Hospital and birthday after birthday I would get greeting along with appeals for donations to the Hospital.

When I found myself on the Management Committee of ALDC (The campaigning local government arm of the Lib Dems) Serge was a significant voice for devolution, for fair votes in local elections, for land value taxation - determined, but always very good humoured. 

When I found myself at the Liberal Democrat office at the LGA Serge was a wise and friendly voice for advice on issues facing Boroughs and in particular in the battle to have realistic and achievable plans that built more affordable housing.

As my parents moved back to South West London after 50 years in Lincolnshire, Serge was one of the folks with whom I was able to touch base on news and moral amongst the Lib Dem’s as we sought to recover from the terrible national elections of 2014.

No longer a councillor, he had stepped back from front line politics, but his judgement, his instinct and his counsel, if sought, was offered freely, thoughtfully and with good humour. He was, I think, a little bemused when I sought his advice: “surely there are others more in touch” he would say.

He was gently put out and also amused when I described him as a equivalent & polar opposite of the professional grumpiness of Lord Tony Greaves, but he also appreciated that I respected his experience and accordingly his judgement.

He has gone too soon, but today, Madeleine’s father, Serge’s neighbour rose to pay tribute to his friend. It was emotional, funny, wide ranging and heartfelt - Sir David reflected our own sorrow for the hundreds of us there when his voice broke as he spoke of the energy and the love that Serge brought to the causes he championed.

As I sat in the sun at the reception afterwards chatting to runners, walkers, Liberal Democrat councillors, MPs, Lords, charity volunteers, people from Bushy Park, Kingston Hospital, from local housing associations and from friendships spanning decades - I gave thanks that I knew him, that I had the good fortune to sit alongside him in a work context, and grateful for his interest in me.  

Enjoy the next race, you have run your personal best in this world, and I was pleased that I came down from Derbyshire to Kew to be there and to see you over the finishing line. Thank you, Ed

ANIMALS AND REMEMBRANCE

LAUNCHING CHESTERFIELD’s ARMISTICE AND REMEMBRANCE OF THE SERVICE OF ANIMALS IN WAR and ARMED CONFLICT

Two dates:

Friday 1st November 11am at Shentall Gardebs, at the front of Chesterfield Town Hall (set up will be from 10am).

Sunday 3rd November 5pm at Dog Lead-Free Area, Holmebrook Valley Park (set up from 4pm).

All welcome, including dogs, horses etc… dress up warm.

Autum Report

 AUTUMN 2024 REPORT 

From the Liberal Democrat Group on Derbyshire County Council.  This report is circulated for the four Liberal Democrat Derbyshire County Councillors.

WELCOME TO AUTUMN AND FINANCIAL CRISIS

Last year, at almost exactly this time I wrote:

”The County Council managed to achieve a £26million over-spend in the first four months of the year. This level of budget variance places the Council on course for bankruptcy and so emergency measures have been put in place to seek to avoid these.”

Now, a year later, the Council is reporting a budget overspend in the first quarter of £20million.

If repeated through the year this would multiply to £80million. That won’t happen, but it does mean that the Council is making deep and savage cuts to try and balance its books.

Perhaps the most worrying feature of the reporting we are getting is that the anticipated savings are coming in under-budget. In other words, it is unlikely that in- year savings will meet the short fall, but services will be ceased, closed or cut instead. The other factor is the raiding of reserves. In the last two years the County Council has burned through £100million of reserves already and there is a pro-active selling of property and assets to try and find the cash.

The grim reality is that the Council does not have the money to deliver the services it would like, and that successive Governments of all political persuasions have underfunded local government to the point of crisis.

Will this new Labour Government reverse the under-funding and give local government more money – it might – but I fear not to the extent that is actually needed.

As a Liberal Democrat Group we have constantly and consistently pushed for better scrutiny of the Council’s finances by councillors – this has been partially successful and for the first time, this years budget went before one of the Council’s scrutiny committee. Secondly, we have objected to the way the Council spends its money and are the only party that has voted AGAINST the Conservative budget each year (labour always abstain), and third we have warned that the selling of asset and the raiding of reserves is foolish and ultimately in the long term – self harming.

WRITTEN QUESTIONSTO THE COUNCIL

As you will be aware, councillors can table and ask written questions, the relevant Conservative Portfolio reads out an answer and we then get a follow-up question. Since I have been asking more questions of the Conservative Administration, they have moved questions to being virtually the last item on the agenda in an attempt to silence us.

Here are the four questions I tabled at the meeting this week – 9 October 2024

1. Question from Councillor E Fordham to Councillor C Cupit, Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport “What dialogue has taken place regarding the Chesterfield footbridges over the A61 between the Highways department and Chesterfield Borough Council regarding making the bridges less accessible for attempted suicide?”

2. Question from Councillor E Fordham to Councillor A Dale, Cabinet Member for Education “What measures are in place in schools in Derbyshire to aid, support and assist staff and pupils in the face of attempted suicide by young people?”

3. Question from Councillor E Fordham to Councillor C Hart, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities “What measures have been taken since the last council meeting by social services regarding the further attempts at suicide in Chesterfield amongst both adults and children?

4. Question from Councillor E Fordham to Councillor J Patten, Cabinet Member for Children and Families “What is the policy for the timing of responses to parents for children services, upon receipt of a concern about child protection, and how many days should the parent wait before getting a call back from Children Services?” 

The debate around the issues I have raised about suicide were quite constructive and I felt I made some progress on this difficult topic, in persuading councillors to take the matter more seriously. Rather than try and summate the discussion I will circulate the verbatim account when it come out from the Minutes Officer and Democratic Services. As a group we have taken the view that it is the role of a Liberal Democrat to tackle difficult subjects and have the courage to take a stand when others won’t. I hope you agree.

 

WINTER FUEL ALLOWANCE

With the change of Government the Conservative Group have decided to go onto the attack against the Labour Group and accordingly there was a motion criticising the cut in Winter Fuel Allowance.

The motion was unduly partisan, and the Labour Group sought to amend it to no-avail. The truth of the matter is that both were playing party politics.

As Leader, I’m able to say that we voted for the Labour amendment (which was defeated) and for the Conservative motion unamended.

If asked we can report that, when given the opportunity, the Liberal Democrats on Derbyshire County Council voted to condemn the Labour Government on cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance. 

As ever, if there are issues you wish to be raised by me or any of the Liberal Democrat Group, please do get in touch ed.fordham@gmail.com

 

With all best wishes,

 

County Councillor Ed Fordham

(representing Loundsley Green and Newbold)

For and on behalf the Liberal Democrat Councillors

on Derbyshire County Council.

Rise in attempted suicide

I have tabled the following questions to Full Council:

To ask what dialogue have taken place regarding the Chesterfield footbridges over the A61 between highways and Chesterfield Borough Council regarding making the bridges less accessible for attempted suicide?

To ask what measures are in place in schools in Derbyshire to aid, support and assist staff and pupils in the face of attempted suicide by young people?

To ask what measures have been taken since the last council meeting by social services regarding the further attempts at suicide in Chesterfield amongst both adults and children?

Mental health intervention needed in town

Local County Councillor Ed Fordham, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Derbyshire County Council, will raise the death of Chesterfield character Danny Parkes and also the spate of recent public suicides in the town at the next meeting of the Council.

Ed says “I have consistently raised issues around suicide, attempted suicide, mental health and public risk and sought to get both the Borough Council and the County Council to do more. Prevention is the real game here and I believe that the County Council is often too reactive and fails to intervene early enough in situations that require expert mental health care. Any family or individual who has been touched by a death in their family or friends through failed mental health strain knows that early intervention is crucial.

“Danny Parkes was a difficult but loveable rogue, but in truth he was also a deeply troubled guy who needed and deserved our help. The truth is, we as a society were unable to help him early enough and the collapse of his life become inevitable and visible for many of us. I strongly believe the Councils could and should have done much much more.

“Further, the recent spate of attempted and sadly successful suicides has highlighted that Chesterfield has a problem. I have constantly called for all footbridges to be made suicide proof - and this has been turned down. Indeed, in the proposed multimillion revamp of the Railway Station and Town Centre the footbridge over the A61 will remained unchanged and a constant and ongoing risk for people. 

“My solution to all of this, is that the County Council take the initiative and set up a highly visible mental health support shop in of the empty units in the Town Centre. This should be a partnership with the Borough Council, the Police, but also with the Hospital and staff from the specialist Hartington Unit. This ‘shop’ would enable the intentions to be supportive, much earlier in the life cycle of trouble and also would seek to tackle the problems rather than just arrest or move individuals out of the Town Centre. I strongly believe that we can and should do better to help those who are vulnerable for whom life has become unduly complex and burdensome. 

“I am desperately keen that we do everything possible to end the tragedy of early death through life collapse and attempted suicide from bridges around the town. Danny Parkes and others deserve that at least.”

The questions I have tabled:

1. 27th March 2024.  The issues relating to anti-social behaviour in Chesterfield have yet again bounced up the agenda of the Borough Council and the Police, and the Crime Commissioner - with more exclusion orders and actions underway to move people out of the immediate town centre. The ramifications for nearby residential areas is increasingly acute and negative. Is the County Council assured that the mental health and adult well-being teams are being included early enough in these decisions and actions to enable that meaningful life changing and positive interventions are made, rather than just moving problems out of immediate sight and into residential areas of the town?
2. To ask the Council if it would consider developing a partnership front-line service of DCC staff in adult care and trained with an understanding of mental health to work in Chesterfield in connection with the Hospital, CBC and Police to enable an earlier intervention and a more nuanced constructive engagement with what are often difficult situations in the Market Squares? Can consideration be given to a highly visible 1-stop shop open at the hours needed to secure effective engagement for those people who find themselves in need of help and advice, so we can provide pro-active assistance before someone’s life enters a downward spiral.

 PROPOSED CLOSURE OF CARE HOMES

This next round of Care Home closures is a betrayal and a disgrace and flies in the face of all the words and speeches and guarantees given previously. The Conservative administration at County Hall is literally putting the Council on a course that is entirely negative, closes homes, puts pressure on the NHS and will harm residents and patients.

The people who have put their trust in the Council in old age and at their hour of greatest need are being betrayed, sold off and literally evicted. I could not be more angry, more upset and more worried. This literally places the lives of those who live in care homes on the line. The stress and the worry will, as it did before, lead to people dying early. It is sickening. 

This is a brutal approach, it is the approach of a Council that has failed and it is wrong.

The Council can blame who they like - but the raw truth is this is the direct result of the policies of the Conservative Party locally and nationally and the guilt lies firmly at their door.

The moment of truth will come when councillors vote in the Chamber and we will see who is voting to harm residents of Derbyshire. It will isolate those who live in our homes in trust, and we will see who is voting to evict them.

The Liberal Democrat Group stands firmly

In favour of the residents, retaining the care homes and against closure.

Cllr Ed Fordham, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Derbyshire County Council.

The 5th Edward Carpenter Equality Walk

 

Open letter: WILL YOU WALK WITH US?

As you may be aware there is a growing appreciation and revival of the work of Edward Carpenter (1844-1929). Edward was a radical, an author, poet, philosopher and an advocate and activist for lgbt+ equality.

For 40 years of his life, he lived and worked in Chesterfield and Milthorpe in North Derbyshire. Indeed, he lived here openly as a gay man with his life partner George Merrill (1891-1928).

For the last four years a group of us in Chesterfield have organised The Edward Carpenter Equality Walk from Chesterfield town centre to the village of Millthorpe. It is some 6 miles or there abouts (pub to pub!) and raises money for the charity Derbyshire LGBT+ which support the lgbt+ community, young and old and campaigns for the equality.

The first year of our walk we were joined by Peter Tatchell which made the event very special indeed. Next year will be the fifth walk and this letter is to ask if you would consider joining us.

The walk will take place on Sunday 1st September 2024 – we start at 11am in Chesterfield and arrive at Millthorpe at about 1/1.30pm. it is a lovely event and a stunning cross country walk and if you could join us it would be our pleasure.

Please do let me know if this is possible.

Best wishes.

Ed Fordham amd Sparky the Husky 

Recalling the animals

I placed this in the Facebook page Dog Friendly Chesterfield last week, and we successfully have the display at Chesterfield Town Hall, a wreath at the Holmebrook Valley Park lead free area, at Newbold Parish War Memorial and in a growing number of chapels and churches. 

REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND - recalling animal gallantry.

This morning, before dawn, myself a few other animal and dog lovers set up the animal Armistice Tribute on Shentall Gardens in front of the Town Hall at Chesterfield.

The purple poppies have become the symbol of service animals. The ribbons represent the colours of the Dickin Medal for animals which was instituted during WW2.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickin_Medal

It is too little known that many of the military animals have service ranks, service numbers, bravery medals and yes pensions. They should be recognised alongside everyone else.

Yesterday I, as a Group Leader on Derbyshire County Council, laid both a red and a purple poppy wreath at Matlock County Hall for the third year running.  The reception there from staff, fellow councillors and dignitaries has been overwhelmingly supportive.

Please do take time to go and see the memorial in front of Chesterfield Town Hall. Each of the stakes has a hand knitted poppy and the respresent each of the animal recipients of The Dickin Medal for Gallantry. 

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/animal-awards-programme/pdsa-dickin-medal

This is the third year we have done this - the first year was at Holmebrook Valley Park (2021), subsequently at the RSPCA (2022) and this year 2023 at Shentall Gardens. We would welcome offers to host the memorial next year for the duration of November.

If anyone wishes to obtain a purple poppy stake to add to the display at the Town Hall or to have at home, in their garden perhaps, can come to my book stall on Chesterfield Market or TwelfthCraft in the Shambles in exchange for a donation to animal charities. There are purple poppies also for sale at the RSPCA shop on the side of the Chesterfield Markets and Market Hall.

Best wishes, Ed, Convenor, Dog Friendly Chesterfield

Footnote: there is still some resistance and reluctance to this from some sections of the Royal British Legion. I urge anyone who objects to speak to any of the dog handler veterans. Those Dog Handlers are strong and active and passionate advocates of the purple poppy - they know of the loyalty and service of animals that has, for too long, been overlooked.

Questions to the County Council

As you will be aware, councillors can table and ask written questions, the relevant Conservative Portfolio reads out an answer and we then get a follow. Since I have been asking more questions of the Conservative Administration they have moved questions to being virtually the last item on the agenda in an attempt to silence us.

Here are the four questions I have tabled for the next meeting.

1. With the cancellation of the midlands leg of HS2, to ask the Council if it will stand by all of its financial obligations of support to reconnect and complete the Chesterfield Canal restoration in the same timeframe
2. To ask what monitoring the Council undertakes of badger deaths in and across Derbyshire and particularly how many dead badgers have been found and removed on roads, footpaths, and highways by DCC for each year since 2017?
3. To ask if the Council will take new and additional measures to monitor and support schools in the face of reported increases in incidents of homophobia, transphobia and associated hate actions towards members of the LGBT+ communities in Derbyshire?#
4. To ask if the Leader regrets reporting ‘nothing’ to the last meeting of Council under the verbal ‘Report from the Leader and questions from councillors?

As ever, if there are issues you wish to be raised by me or any of the Liberal Democrat Group please do get in touch ed.fordham@gmail.com

Lack of accountability

 This letter should be fairly self evident in the context of the £46million overspend in the first quarter of the budget year at Derbyshire County Council.

To: ​Cllr Barry Lewis, Leader of the Council 

From: ​Cllr Ed Fordham, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group

 

cc.​Emma Alexander, Managing Director

 

Friday, 23rd August 2023

 

Dear Barry,

There is a fixed item on the agenda of each and everyCouncil meeting “Report of the Leader of the Council and member questions”. However, with questions only being allowed to be asked on subjects brought up in your report you have slipped into a habit of declaring that “I have nothing to report.”

On each occasion when you have said ‘nothing to report’ you know that this was disingenuous - that many things have occurred that you could choose to report to Council - but you have chosen not to. Either you consider them below the threshold of being worthwhile, or more simply you are seeking to avoid being held to account.

You know that your conduct in this regard is unworthy of you and your office. You would be critical of any other Leader of any Party who so frequently reported ‘nothing’. You know that this avoids being asked any questions from fellow councillors.

This situation would be an issue, in and of itself, but at the last Council you directly and consciously misled councillors. When you stood up in the Chamber and from the Leaders seat declared “I have nothing to report” we now all know that the opposite was true. Whilst you made out to councillors that there was nothing out of the ordinary in the business of the council the precise opposite was true. Indeed, we now know that the Managing Director of the Council was herself taking urgent steps as the Head of Service to inform all staff the following day of the crisis overspend of £46million. The same responsibility fell to you as Leader of the Council to communicate the scale of the problem to fellow councillors but you failed to do so and failed in your role.

It is now known that the papers for the Cabinet meeting had been signed off, the email was going to all staff at 9am, MPs, partner organisation and the media were all being personally briefed by senior staff on the scale of the financial crisis facing the Authority. Further, formal measures were being put in place ahead of Cabinet to limit spending, recruitment and thereby to directly affect service delivery in many areas of the Councils work.

All of this was going on whilst you glibly, blithely and indeed misleadingly told councillors that there was ‘nothing to report’.

You must surely reflect on the extent to which you have failed to understand the role of the Leader and failed to take questions from councillors in Full Council. On this occasion you have been found not just lacking, but you have deliberately and dangerous mislead all councillors. You had the formal opportunity to say something and you chose silence. Whilst the Managing Director has chosen a strategy of openness with staff - you chose silence in front of fellow councillors and peers.

It is appropriate that you should to apologise to all councillors at the next meeting of Council, or to enable others to fulfil the role of Leader in keeping with the constitution and the basic and core tenets of accountability.

Yours sincerely 

Cllr Ed Fordham
Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Derbyshire County Council

Football Pride

Anyone who knows me will be amused to learn that I'm sitting here in a plenary session at Football Pride.

But for the last three years I have been in a dialogue with Chesterfield Football Club (CFC) about lgbtq+ equality. As a councillor and as an lgbtq+ campaigner

I feel that football has a reputation as a home for homophobia - and I was keen that CFC were active in calling out that perception.

So today, at Football Pride, I’m not alone from Chesterfield - there are three of us here - myself and the tow fans who are the drivers of establishing Rainbow Spireites…

It’s great progress, and I’m proud of being a tiny part of this side of equality activism.

Sir Raymond Unwin - signed!

I’m out canvassing chatting to the voters and I comment that the house of the people I’m speaking to was built by local architect William Martin Ashmore. 

The resident enquires who William Ashmore is and I explain that he develops and builds most of lower Newbold, that he was close personal friends with Edward Carpenter and a direct contemporary and associate of Raymond Unwin.

Yes, Sir Raymond Unwin - who lived at Cross Street, Chesterfield and when he lived here was a budding architect and new on the block. I explain that with Barry Parker they go on to be giants of the architectural world.

The chap I’m speaking to says “in that case look at this” and there on the wall, on a brick at the front of the house the young Raymond Unwin has scratched his name into the wall.

Yes, really, here in Chesterfield, never seen before, the father of the Garden Suburb movement has etched his name into the wall of a house built by his best mate William Ashmore...

And as far as we can tell, this is totally unknown and has never been seen before by those interested in architecture, the history of Chesterfield or Unwin and Parker themselves.

I am excited and frankly flabbergasted!!