Help for local businesses - Supporting Derbyshire through the pandemic Keeping up - Derbyshire County Council
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Spring 2021 – Issue 10
Help for
local businesses
Supporting Derbyshire through the pandemic
Keeping up Vision Covid Contact
the Derbyshire for the facts your county
Spirit future not fiction councillors
Page 6 Page 8 Page 12 Page 14
Contents
Support for you Get in touch
derbyshire.gov.uk
If you’ve been affected by the pandemic and need some help and Write to us at County Hall,
advice, check out the county council’s website where you’ll find Matlock, Derbyshire
lots of useful information and support. DE4 3AG or:
The pandemic is affecting us all in • Advice on money, utilities, benefits, Email contact.centre@
so many ways – from our health and food and employment derbyshire.gov.uk
wellbeing to jobs and finances. But derbyshire.gov.uk/covidsupport
there’s help at hand if you need it. @derbyshirecc
Boosted by the support of more than a • Support for employers, businesses facebook.com/
thousand volunteers, Derbyshire County and charities, including Kickstart, derbyshirecc
Council has been working alongside local grants and more
organisations and charities to support derbyshire.gov.uk/helpforbusinesses
Call Derbyshire on
Derbyshire residents through these 01629 533190
difficult times. • Help and advice with mental health Text us on 86555
This includes running the county’s including support in a crisis, emotional Derbyshire Now costs 11p per copy
Community Response Unit for those who health and wellbeing and young to produce and deliver to Derbyshire’s
are vulnerable and don’t have any friends people’s mental health 330,000 households. We welcome
your feedback and if you have any
or family locally to support them. derbyshire.gov.uk/mentalhealth compliments or complaints about the
The council has also given additional magazine, please get in touch using
funding to Derbyshire’s food banks and • Support if you are caring for a the contact details above.
community cafés as well as distributing loved one On request we can provide
Derbyshire Now in Braille,
more than £2m from the Government’s derbyshire.gov.uk/supportforcarers large print or recorded onto CD.
Covid-19 winter grant scheme designed
to support those most in need with the • Community Response Unit if you All details in Derbyshire Now
cost of food, energy and other essentials. don’t have friends or family to call on are correct at time of going to press.
for support For the latest information visit
A variety of help and support is available derbyshire.gov.uk/coronavirus
through the county council’s website. For: derbyshire.gov.uk/gethelp
A career in care Road repairs Coping with
On the cover: Artist Pam Smart in her Buxton studio. Pam is part of the ShopAppy scheme, see page 7.
Long Covid
9 11 13
SIGN UP TO THE DERBYSHIRE NOW
eNEWSLETTER FOR THE CHANCE TO
WIN £100 OF ShopAppy VOUCHERS
Join thousands of local residents who receive regular news direct to their inbox.
Sign up by Sunday, 4 April, and you could win £100 to spend on goods and services
offered by Derbyshire businesses which are part of the ShopAppy.com scheme. At
www.ShopAppy.com you can browse, book and buy online from your favourite Wolds Farm Brewery,
businesses in Derbyshire towns and villages. It’s a great way to support local Matlock, one of the
independent shops. Find out more in the feature on page 7 and at many local businesses
Photo: Chris Webb.
derbyshire.gov.uk/shopappy signed up to the
ShopAppy scheme
To sign up, go to derbyshire.gov.uk/derbyshirenow and click on the Sign Up button.*
COMPETITION WINNERS (from previous edition): Losehill House Hotel, spa break for two: L Fry, Dronfield;
Buxton Crescent, overnight stay with breakfast, use of pool & spa for two: S Johnson, Chesterfield.
* Existing eNewsletter subscribers will be included in the prize draw. We will never release your email address to anyone else. Usual prize draw conditions apply:
derbyshire.gov.uk/prizedraws
2
News
Have your say
There are lots of ways you can find
out more about the work of the
county council, give your views and
get involved.
Council meetings
Council meetings are currently taking
place online. You can view the meetings
live online by visiting derbyshire.
gov.uk/meetings Click on the virtual
meetings tab on the lefthand side of
the page and scroll down to select the
meeting you wish to view. You can even
Elvaston Castle re-watch previous meetings.
For more information email
Restoration plans for Elvaston democratic.services@derbyshire.
gov.uk or call 01629 538327. The next
meetings are:
More detailed plans have been revealed shops and activities for people to
enjoy. 11 March Cabinet 2pm
to restore Elvaston to its former glory.
24 March Full Council 2pm
Historic buildings will be renovated To divert traffic away from local villages
and areas currently closed to the public and take visitors into the heart of the 8 April Cabinet 2pm
reopened while the landscape and other estate more quickly, a new entrance will
be opened closer to the A6.
Council papers
onsite facilities will be upgraded. Read the agenda and minutes
The whole site will remain a country The plan is expected to create more than for all cabinet, full council and cabinet
park, free at the point of entry, with the 170 new jobs for local people. member meetings at
introduction of more catering facilities, Find out more at futureelvaston.co.uk derbyshire.gov.uk/meetings
Consultations
When the council plans to make
Don’t forget to register to vote changes to services you will have
the opportunity to give your opinion.
Residents wanting to vote in the If you have turned 18 since the last You can find out about consultations at
election or moved house you’ll need to derbyshire.gov.uk/haveyoursay
Derbyshire County Council elections
scheduled for Thursday, 6 May, 2021 register. It doesn’t happen automatically Your Councillor
are being encouraged to check they are when you move. Find out who represents you at
registered. As well as casting your vote at a polling derbyshire.gov.uk/councillors or turn
station, you can also vote by post or to page 14.
All 64 county council seats will be
by proxy but you must apply for these
available as a new council is elected for options. You can find out more about
the first time in four years. registering to vote and different ways to
If you’re not registered to vote by
Monday, 19 April, you will not be able to
vote by going to derbyshire.gov.uk/vote
Information on the date of the election
Live Life Better
cast your vote in these local elections. was correct at the time of going to press. Did you know
the county
council offers
Community groups benefit from fund a free health
and wellbeing
service that can
Community groups are set to benefit pandemic, the authority doubled the help you stop smoking, manage your
after a Derbyshire County Council fund amount councillors could give to local weight and get more active?
used by councillors to support local groups in their patch, and a further
organisations and schemes received an £1,000 each was agreed at the beginning All these services are now available
extra funding boost. of this year. online including one-to-one sessions
with a trained health improvement
Every year all 64 Derbyshire county More than 660 local community, advisor. There are also friendly
councillors receive £3,860 each to voluntary and youth groups have already Facebook groups and ongoing support.
support projects in their area from made successful applications through
the authority’s Members Community their local councillors this year. Find out more at
Leadership Scheme. livelifebetterderbyshire.org.uk or
Find out more at derbyshire.gov.uk/ call 0800 085 2299.
To help communities during the communityleadershipscheme
www.derbyshire.gov.uk 3
News
School places
The wait is nearly over for parents
who have applied for their child’s
primary, infant or junior school place for
September 2021.
Parents who provided an email address
are due to receive an email about their
child’s place on Friday, 16 April, 2021. Or
parents can use their user ID to log on
to the council’s website after 9.30am at
derbyshire.gov.uk/admissions
The county council will post out letters
on Friday, 16 April, to parents who didn’t
provide an email address.
FREE courses for adults
To support learners in these difficult
times the county council’s adult Poet and recording artist Mark Gwynne Jones has created an atmospheric
community education service is making audio journey through the Peak District
all its courses FREE of charge for the
summer term.
So it’s a great time to learn something
Voices from the Peak
new, upskill for a new career or start It’s the 70th birthday of the Peak the Peak District in word and sound
a new hobby. There’s a wide range District National Park on Saturday, with local people recounting some
of online courses and qualifications 17 April and as part of the celebrations of their experiences. An evocative
to choose from, including some free the county council is supporting a re-telling of the peak’s creation story,
outdoor courses in the High Peak and the project by Matlock Bath-born poet and chapter 3 of these poetic soundscapes,
Derbyshire Dales, as well as face-to-face recording artist Mark Gwynne Jones. ‘Kinder Scout’, will be released on the
learning at some Covid-safe community ‘Voices from the Peak’ is a series of park’s 70th birthday.
venues. audio artworks that take the listener peakdistrict.gov.uk/
Brochures for the summer term are due on an atmospheric journey through voicesfromthepeak
to go online from Monday, 22 March and
bookings can be made from that day.
For more information visit
derbyshire.gov.uk/coursesearch Five ways to Wellbeing
To help give yourself a boost, there are
some simple, everyday things you can do
to help improve your mood.
some of them into your daily routine,
Called the Five Ways to Wellbeing, they whether it’s trying a new hobby, picking
are Connect, Get Active, Keep Learning, up the phone to cheer up a friend or just
Give and Take Notice. being kinder to yourself.
You can find lots of tips on how to fit derbyshire.gov.uk/wellbeing
Free childcare
Do you have a child who is two or
Be a hero,
almost two? be a foster carer
You could be eligible for up to 15 hours
If you can give hope, help and a home
free childcare a week.
to a child who needs it, Derbyshire
Early education and childcare is great County Council would love to hear
for children as they can learn through from you. You don’t need any special
play, make new friends, try different qualifications, all you need is to be over
activities and get a good start in 21 and have a spare room. The county
education. council provides training, a wide range
It’s quick and easy to apply. Check if of benefits and financial support. Find
you’re eligible by visiting derbyshire. out everything you need to know at
gov.uk/freechildcaretwo derbyshire.gov.uk/fostering
4
The grant scheme is to encourage local
businesses to invest in green energy
Ada Belfield Centre and Belper Library. Photograph courtesy of Glancy Nicholls Green grants are go
architects
A new £2m grant scheme is being set up
Council’s newest care home by Derbyshire County Council to help
local businesses develop and invest
wins design award
in green energy and carbon reduction
schemes.
The Green Entrepreneurs Scheme
The county council’s newest care home factory in the Derwent Valley Mills includes £1.2m set aside for companies
and library has been recognised for its Unesco World Heritage Site. The looking to establish green, alternative
outstanding design and contribution to judges described Derbyshire County energy or low carbon initiatives in
the wider community. Council as an ‘enlightened’ client which Derbyshire to provide community heat
had provided ‘a decent budget for a and power schemes.
Ada Belfield Centre and Belper Library
was designed on behalf of the county building of quality, designed to last Grants of up to £20,000 will also be
council by architects Glancy Nicholls using local stone, responding to context available for new and existing businesses
to the highest dementia-friendly and re-using existing building fabric: with game-changing proposals in
standards. enshrining the notion that care for the alternative energy, clean fuel and carbon
elderly is not something to be shunted reduction. And a training fund is also
Commended by judges in the
away out of sight’. being set up to support people to retrain
MacEwen awards that celebrate the and learn new skills needed to enter the
contribution of great design to the Three years ago, another of the
field of alternative energy.
common good, it was created on the council’s care centres – Meadow View in
site of the town’s former Thornton’s Darley Dale – also won the same award. Visit derbyshire.gov.uk for further
details coming soon.
Protect yourself
against cybercrime
Are you staying safe online?
During the pandemic, everyone has been
spending more time indoors so it’s only
natural to be spending more time on your
phone, laptop or tablet.
But it’s important to stay safe when
using the internet. You can take the
council’s digital MOT to help protect
yourself from all aspects of online fraud
and cybercrime. Devised with the police
it is free and takes just five minutes to
complete.
For more information visit
Turn to page 12 to find out more Covid-19 facts
▲
saferderbyshire.gov.uk
www.derbyshire.gov.uk 5
Derbyshire Spirit
Keeping up the
Derbyshire Spirit
The council has created a £15m Covid-19
Recovery Scheme to support businesses
and save jobs, as well as calling on the
Councillor Barry Lewis, Government for more financial support
Leader, Derbyshire for the county’s hard-hit hospitality and
County Council tourism industry.
Despite the pandemic, other important
The first coronavirus case in
work has continued including the
Derbyshire was confirmed
just over a year ago and since
opening of the new £10m Ada Belfield Great team
Centre in Belper (more on pages 8&9)
then the virus has had a huge
impact on all our lives.
and the new library on the same work recognised
site.
Recognition of the council’s response
Everyone has had to adapt to a new way More than £11m improvement and to two major incidents came when the
of living, following new restrictions to maintenance work has been approved authority’s Crisis Response Team was
keep our loved ones safe, protect the for schools, a £40m investment in roads given a prestigious national award.
NHS and care workers. and pavements has been announced
The work the team did during the
Derbyshire County Council has adapted (see page 11) and vital services have
Toddbrook Reservoir incident at
quickly too and has been working hard continued despite restrictions.
Whaley Bridge in 2019 (pictured)
with its partners and communities to The council has also outlined its and during severe flooding later that
ensure continued support and help to approach to future working, unveiling year earned the team the title of Best
those who need it most. its Vision Derbyshire plan, which would Council Services Team at the MJ Local
As well as an immediate £1m emergency see even closer liaison with district and Government Achievement Awards 2020.
fund to support households and borough council partners. Supporting local businesses and
businesses, the Community Response We are doing all we can to support residents through both incidents
Unit set up to reach the most vulnerable our residents and businesses, and our required precision planning, logistics
has to date supported more than 36,000 enterprising council approach is helping and expertise. The Crisis Response
clinically extremely vulnerable people us be as agile, efficient and flexible as we Team, led by the county council’s
and delivered 3,000 food parcels. can to do this. emergency planning unit, was
As well as running the Government’s assembled, with highways engineers,
As we head into brighter times, with the
Covid winter grants scheme to support home care workers, social workers,
roll-out of the Government’s vaccination
families, £250,000 has been distributed public health specialists, transport
programme well under way, we can look
planners, flooding specialists, business
to local foodbanks and a community forward to the future. Our
advisors, communications officers,
champions scheme has been set up Derbyshire Spirit has got us
contact centre staff and others all
which helps the efforts to support and through so far and will help
working together.
reassure local residents. us through again.
6
Shopping safely from home in Derbyshire Adult
support of your local shops Community
Education steps up
There’s an innovative new way of
shopping rolling out nationally that
Derbyshire small business until Tuesday,
30 November, 2021. The sooner a
with online learning
is helping to support local shops and business signs up, the longer the period During the pandemic much of the
services during these difficult times. And of free membership they get. learning provided by tutors in the
it’s really taking off in Derbyshire. For some businesses, that don’t have county council’s adult community
ShopAppy.com is a website which an online presence, the scheme has education service had to move online
allows shops, cafés, restaurants provided a digital lifeline to help to ensure residents could continue to
and other local businesses, compete with national retailers and learn.
services and community stay afloat during the pandemic. It wasn’t always easy, but there are
organisations to sell online. The county council’s Cabinet Member many stories of success:
Shoppers can browse, book and for Clean Growth and Regeneration, Learning mentor
buy, with local shops and services Councillor Tony King, said: “There Rachel McEvoy
displayed together in a single are now more than 300 businesses works with young
town page, allowing customers across the county signed up people aged 14-19,
to buy from their favourite local to ShopAppy.com offering our many of whom suffer
shops in a single transaction. residents a safe and convenient way from anxiety and
It also allows businesses to offer different to shop while helping to strengthen low mood.
options including click and collect from our local towns and villages.
“Suddenly they were
a central location, goods delivered to the “I’d encourage people to shop this expected to do Learning mentor
door or collected from the store. way and for any businesses that are their classes on Rachel McEvoy
To support local businesses, Derbyshire interested to get in touch and get on computers rather
County Council and the eight district board.” than working face to face with us,” she
and borough councils are funding free To find out more visit derbyshire.gov. said. “But with the support of our team
unlimited use of the website for any uk/shopappy they managed to keep up their studies
and I’m so proud of what they’ve
achieved.”
Harry Carlin, 18, from Ripley, thanked
Rachel for all her support, saying she’d
gone “above and beyond” to keep him
learning. Also grateful is Harry’s mum
Karen, who added: “Thank you for
everything you are doing for my son.”
Caroline Greatorex
teaches English
Old Bolsover Yard Baumgartners Jewellers Functional Skills
and GCSE English to
Someone who is incredibly grateful for When the second national lockdown hit in
help improve adults’
the support she’s been given is Sarah November, cutting off a time of peak pre-
reading and writing
Smith, pictured above with husband Christmas sales, things looked bleak for
skills. She also
Damion, of the Old Bolsover Yard Craft small business Baumgartners Jewellers of
teaches poetry and
Courtyard and Café, who sells on behalf Swadlincote. But joining ShopAppy.com Tutor Caroline
creative writing
of local artisans and crafters. offered a real lifeline, providing the shop Greatorex
to help support,
Sarah said: “We’re thankful for the with sales within a week, explained Dawn boost and improve
support that Bolsover District Council Ramsell, the shop’s assistant manager people’s mental health.
and the county council have given us and and granddaughter of the firm’s founder,
pictured above with the family firm’s tight- Learner Helen Buick of Belper said she
it’s good to see that all across the county found Caroline’s Poetry as Therapy
businesses like ours are getting financial knit staff team.
course incredibly helpful during the
support from their local authorities to “It’s thanks to ShopAppy.com that we are last few months.
join ShopAppy.com. now able to make sales online, something
which is a very new and exciting avenue “Caroline is supportive, funny and
“Bolsover is a town of great character approachable,” she said. “I’ve had a
with many independent small for us and is supplementing our income
with sales we wouldn’t have had truly wonderful opportunity that I feel
businesses. The ShopAppy.com scheme very fortunate to have experienced.”
has been brilliant in helping to support otherwise,” said Dawn.
us during the pandemic. I hope that “Swadlincote is my home town and I am Find out more about courses near you
shoppers will continue to support their proud that ShopAppy.com is helping at derbyshire.gov.uk/
local businesses as high streets look to Swadlincote get recognised online for adulteducation
recover in future months.” what they have to offer.”
www.derbyshire.gov.uk 7
Care
Vision for the future
As one of the largest providers of local authority residential care in the country,
Derbyshire County Council is committed to ensuring older people can lead dignified
lives in accommodation that is fit for purpose. It is working with district and borough
councils, housing and care providers and developers to meet future housing needs
while also providing a much-needed boost to the county’s post-Covid economy.
Major repair and refurbishment is about care homes for older people.
to get underway at three of the county Taking in to account the public’s views,
council’s older care homes.
members of the council’s Cabinet agreed
The work will take place at Briar Close to continue with the refurbishment of
House in Borrowash, New Bassett House the three homes, but that none of the
in Shirebrook and Rowthorne Care Home seven proposed for closure would do so
in Swanwick. unless a local care home or alternative
The homes will be rewired, new fire provision was available to replace it. Work starts on new home
alarms and sprinkler systems installed Extensive work has also taken place Work on a brand new 40-bed care
and heating and lighting systems will be in the seven homes remaining open home for Derbyshire residents has
replaced. begun. Built on the site of the former
to help reduce identified risks while
Bennerley School, in Cotmanhay, it will
Residents’ bedrooms will be their longer-term future is considered
replace the county council’s Hazelwood
redecorated, all communal bathrooms as part of the authority’s ‘Housing
Home for Older People which needs
will be refurbished and offices will be and Accommodation for an Ageing significant repairs, including rewiring.
spruced up. Wifi will be installed in all Population: A Strategic Vision for Work on the new development is
three homes. Derbyshire 2035’. expected to take two years and cost
The work costing in the region of £8.5m The council is also updating its Market in the region of £13m. Designed to the
is due to be completed by July 2022. Position Strategy – a public document highest dementia-friendly standards,
Residents will be able to remain living in which helps the authority understand the two-storey home will feature
what care and support services are communal spaces and treatment
the homes as work to each wing of the
needed across the county. rooms and all bedrooms will be en-
buildings will be phased.
suite. Current Hazelwood residents will
It follows a public consultation on A copy is available here: be given the option to move in.
the future of 10 of the county council’s derbyshire.gov.uk/marketshaping
8
Marjorie Johnson cuts the cake to
celebrate being in her new home
No place like home
Working in care is very rewarding and there’s a wide range of jobs on offer Residents have been settling in to the
county council’s newest state-of-the-
Starting a career in care
art care centre.
They moved into Ada Belfield Centre in
September following its temporary use
as a Nightingale Care Home to support
There’s never been a better time to start a career in care Derbyshire people recuperating from
at Derbyshire County Council with lots of vacancies at all coronavirus.
levels. Someone who worked his way up is Simon Stevens, Part of a larger development that
the council’s director of adult care. includes a new library for Belper, the
40-bed unit replaces the ageing Ada
When Simon Stevens Simon, 53, said it was the hardest work Belfield care home on Field Lane.
left school at 16 he’d ever done, but stayed an extra three It was a huge team effort to get the
with a handful of months because it was also the most new care centre and library ready
qualifications, little satisfying and rewarding. during the pandemic, from contractors
did he know that Afterwards, he got a job as a care Robertson Construction Group and
becoming a volunteer assistant in a care home for children architects Glancy Nicholls – who
care worker could lead and in 1996 trained part time to be a have designed it to the highest
to one of the top jobs social worker, joining Derbyshire County dementia-friendly standards – to all
at Derbyshire County Council. Council from Staffordshire in 2008. the council staff supporting the project
throughout.
As director of adult social care, Simon Originally from Lichfield, Simon, who
helps manage a multi-million-pound now lives in Burton upon Trent, gained a Care home manager Penny Collinge
budget. major promotion with the county council said: “All the long-term residents living
in 2014, becoming assistant director of here are happy and settled in their
But back in 1985, with little idea of what
adult social care. In 2019 he became new home, however they are missing
he wanted to do, it was working as an
director of adult social care, deputising their loved ones a lot.
unpaid volunteer care worker helping
support a young man who’d become for the council’s executive director of “We all can’t wait for these strange
disabled in an accident that put him on adult care Helen Jones. times to be over so relatives can
the road to success. “Social care is one of the most fulfilling once more be part of the Ada Belfield
careers you can do,” said Simon. family.”
Simon said: “While this was a real
baptism of fire for someone who had “The feeling you get from knowing Set out over two floors, the brand
never been away from home – and some you have helped someone to be as new unit is built on the former
would argue could barely look after independent and in control of their lives Thornton’s factory site on Derwent
himself let alone support someone else Street. Ten beds are set aside as
as they can be, whether that is to stay
– this was the place where I both made community support beds, jointly
independently in their own home, to
a friend for life and got an insight into delivered and funded in partnership
make independent daily life choices or
with the NHS.
knowing that social care was the career just to get out and about more in their
path that I wanted to follow.” community, is second to none.”
To find out more about working in care, including a link to all social care vacancies
with the county council, visit derbyshire.gov.uk/careersincare
www.derbyshire.gov.uk 9
Budget
Keeping the vulnerable safe
and protecting services
Protecting vital services, keeping
vulnerable older people and children
safe and ensuring value for money are at Looking after 3,386 miles of roads and Supporting 16,532 older and disabled
the heart of Derbyshire County Council’s 2,796 miles of pavements and footways people to live independently at home
budgeting plans. Fixing 98,151 potholes Setting up and running a Community
Gritting 1,550 miles of roads Response Unit, linking communities
The council set its budget last month Supporting residents and businesses to offer support during the pandemic
during adverse weather with response, to 4,400 people
and as part of that it agreed to a 2.5%
recovery and a £100,000 Flood Offering support to more
increase in council tax – half the amount Hardship Fund than 36,000 clinically
permitted by the Government. Launching a £15m Covid extremely vulnerable
Recovery Scheme to Other services, people during the
The Government gave local authorities support residents, contingency, interest pandemic
and debt charges
with responsibility for adult social care businesses, jobs and £127 per person
Helping residents
permission to raise council tax by a the local economy (18%) to claim nearly
Running nine £30m in
maximum of 5%, made up of an adult
social care precept of 3% (to be spent
recycling 2021/22 benefits they
are entitled to
solely on adult social care) and 2% for
centres Economy,
Transport and Council Adult
Care
Budget
Environment £327 per
£96 per person person
general council expenditure. (13%) (46%)
)% = £572.4m* Supporting 419
Derbyshire County Council’s 2.5% rise Attracting more 2pp
*** (2
£713 per person
is made up of 1% for adult social care than 40,000 &C** £1 schools to offer
H the best education
(raising just over £3.4m) and 1.5% for virtual visits to
Buxton Museum and Children’s Providing safe,
general council expenditure. Art Gallery across all Services
£151 per person
stable homes for
its platforms (21%) almost 900 children
This means an extra 50p per week for Supporting around 8,000
Supporting more than
an average band B household and for a 800 potential scam victims via disabled children and their families
band D household the rise will be 65p per trading standards, offering advice, Funding free early years education
week. visits and referrals for around 18,000 children
Recording 72,214 visits to the Trusted Trader Dealing with more than 20,000 concerns
More money will be going into supporting section of the council’s website about child safety or wellbeing
services for adults and children, with the Seeing the library service’s digital lending rise Supporting approx 20,000 children and
by 69% (ebooks, eaudiobooks, emagazines) with young people with special educational
adult social care budget rising by £3.5m 419,914 issues April-December needs or disability to access education
and an extra £10.4m going to children’s
*includes council tax, direct Government funding and use of reserves.
services. **H&C – Health and Communities inc trading standards. ***pp – per person.
There’s also additional government
support in the shape of the Social Care following announcements of against the pandemic-related costs.
Grant which adds a further £27.6m for the funding during the pandemic including
coming year and the council has set aside To ensure the books continue to balance
£45m from the Ministry of Housing, for the years ahead a cross-council
a further £10m as a contingency to meet Communities and Local Government
further increases in social care costs. savings target of £13.3m has been set for
in emergency grant funding, an the year ahead and the savings target
Although Covid-19 has put pressure additional forecast £4.8m for lost over the next five years for the council is
on budgets across the council, costs in sales, fees and charges income and £38m approximately £72.8m.
2020-21 are currently being met of ringfenced Covid-19 specific funding
Your views make a difference
If you responded to this year’s Your Top priorities for people were services, using other ways of
Council Your Voice survey then your highways services and maintenance, delivering services such as local
views will have helped to shape the waste and recycling centres and trusts or other ‘not for profit’
council’s budget and where it will environmental policy including partnerships and thirdly putting
prioritise spending. flooding and climate change. more services online.
Just over 2,100 people gave their When it comes to ways the council As well as the survey, the council also
views in the survey, which included could save money or raise additional held six virtual focus groups with
several questions relating to the revenue, residents favoured working participants taking part from across
budget. with other councils to deliver shared the county.
10Roads
When bad
weather hits
Work is underway to repair the road damaged in heavy rain near Abney in the Hope Valley
Making Derbyshire’s roads more resilient to flooding is one of the key strands of a
£40m programme to improve the county’s roads and pavements. Derbyshire Now
checks in to see how it’s going.
As any roadworker will tell you, when it occurring more frequently
comes to road maintenance you have to and last year we had flooding Repairs underway
make hay while the sun shines. Keeping in 250 places across the Work to repair two roads damaged by
one eye on the ground and one eye on county’s road network. severe flooding is well underway as
the weather is all part of the job – which This new system will make part of the £40m road improvement
means winter is always a bit of a gamble. us much better prepared programme.
which means our roads will
This winter was no different. Storm Lea Road in Cromford and a road
be better placed to cope with heavy rain
Christoph brought about significant near Abney in the Hope Valley were
in the future and if the trial is successful,
flooding in January followed by both damaged by landslips following
we’ll look to roll it out across the county.”
heavy snow and ice, bringing planned torrential rain in November 2019.
maintenance to a halt and causing The council is also asking landowners to
check for blockages in any culverts and These complex and highly technical
considerable damage to the county’s
gullies they are responsible for and to projects, which are both due for
roads. completion this summer, have been
make sure they are draining properly to
Derbyshire County Council’s highways help minimise the risk of further flooding. scheduled to overlap so that specialist
team pulled out all the stops to fix kit hired in to do the work can be
potholes and other problems brought Other investment as part of the 18-month transferred between sites, helping
about by winter weather and get back maintenance programme includes £11.6m taxpayers’ money stretch further.
on track with their £40m maintenance to resurface roads and fix potholes, £1m
for road safety schemes such as improving Abney is costing an estimated
programme which includes a £700,000 and £1.4m has been
government-funded trial to help prevent road junctions or laying skid resistant
surfacing, £3.3m for vital maintenance earmarked to fix Lea Road.
flooding along the A6 between Matlock
to bridges and retaining walls, £2.9m The county council is still counting
and Whatstandwell as part of a £5m
to replace traffic lights nearing the the cost of flooding which has already
project.
end of their working lives and £1.1m occurred this year. Around £20m
As well as strengthening retaining walls, for hundreds of street lights on major worth of damage was caused to
sensors will be installed in gullies to alert roads that will be converted to LEDs, Derbyshire’s roads by the floods in
the team to blockages in the storm drains making them more energy efficient and 2019, much of which will be fixed by
that need clearing. supporting the council’s work to tackle this time next year.
Councillor Simon Spencer (pictured), climate change.
REPORT IT: If you spot a pothole
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet In addition to the £40m programme, the or problem, you can report it at
Member for Highways Transport and county council is also spending £12m a derbyshire.gov.uk/doitnow
Infrastructure said: “Extreme rainfall is year on routine maintenance.
www.derbyshire.gov.uk 11Coronavirus
Get Covid facts not Covid fiction
There’s lots of misleading information and fake news circulating, leading people to
wonder what’s true and what’s not about the coronavirus pandemic. Derbyshire Now
looks at the facts, not the fiction, about Covid-19 and the vaccination designed to help
us get back to the lives we love.
Our efforts to follow government rules protected from the infection?
and guidelines are making a difference.
Together we are reducing the spread of
It can take up to three weeks after you’ve
been vaccinated for your body to be able
Hands • Face • Space
coronavirus in Derbyshire but there’s still to fight the infection. Even when you
Don’t forget, the basics in the fight
work to be done. The vaccination is a have been given all of your vaccinations
against coronavirus are still so
big step forward in the fight against the you can still catch the virus, but you
important. Every action counts and
illness but everyone needs to carry on shouldn’t get as ill. You must ensure you
we all have a part to play in helping
with the basics – hands, face, space. have the two recommended doses of
stop the spread of the virus.
the vaccine to give you longer lasting
In the meantime, here are the answers protection. Even when you’ve been So remember:
to some common questions you might vaccinated, you must continue to follow • Wash your hands regularly for at
have: the rules to prevent the virus spreading least 20 seconds
to others by keeping your hands clean,
Why are you testing people with no wearing a face covering and avoiding • Wear a face covering in enclosed
symptoms? close contact with others. public spaces unless you’re exempt
A third of people with Covid-19 have no
symptoms, so community testing can Are there side effects of the Covid-19 • And keep at least a 2 metre
help find these people. They can then vaccinations? distance from others
self-isolate and avoid passing it on to All vaccines can cause side effects
including arm pain, tiredness and general • Wherever possible ensure that
other people. rooms are well ventilated.
aches. Most of these are mild and short
The Covid-19 vaccinations have been term and not everyone gets them. The vaccine rollout and community
developed very quickly – are they safe?
To help you separate the facts from testing are reasons to be positive, but
Covid-19 is a global issue so every
fiction, the county council has gathered we must all keep doing the basics to
country has worked on quickly finding a together trusted, professionally sourced protect the ones we love.
vaccination. All new vaccinations must information about some of the main
pass the same rigorous safety and quality For more information
issues you may have questions about. visit derbyshire.gov.uk/
checks as any other vaccination.
Read up on all the facts at preventingcoronavirus
Once I’ve had the Covid vaccine, am I derbyshire.gov.uk/covidfacts
12Long Covid sufferer Viv Palfreyman
Testing gives
‘peace of mind’
Community testing – checking if
people who don’t have symptoms
are carrying coronavirus – is one of
the tools being used to combat the
deadly disease in Derbyshire.
By finding out who has the virus, the
chain of transmission can be broken
which results in fewer people being
infected.
The county council is now planning
Long Covid sufferer talks
to set up a centre in each district
and borough council area across
Derbyshire. So far, centres have
about year-long ordeal
opened in Buxton, Chesterfield, Clay
Cross, Heanor, Shirebrook, South
Normanton and Swadlincote. More
centres will open shortly.
Retired Amber Valley businesswoman makes her breathless, and she’s been
Across the centres more than 21,000
Viv Palfreyman is one of an estimated referred for specialist Long Covid therapy
tests were carried out up to the end
150,000 people across the UK suffering to help her recovery.
of January. Of those tested, 304
the long-term effects of coronavirus.
“It just went on, and on and on. I people were positive for the virus.
When she started to feel unwell after a couldn’t do anything as I was just so
Among those
dream holiday to Australia in February incredibly tired and breathless all the keen to protect
2020, the 67-year-old thought it was the time,” she explained. “It also affected themselves and
after-effects of the 24-hour flight. my mental health. I put on weight as I their loved
But when she found it difficult to breathe, wasn’t moving around and I just felt a ones was
the asthma sufferer contacted her doctor complete mess.” Keith Renshaw,
who said she probably had Covid-19. At Urging people to follow the guidelines 69, who said: “It’s
that time testing wasn’t available. to protect the ones they love, Viv said: fairly simple and
straightforward. Keith
The illness left Mrs Palfreyman bedridden “It infuriates me that some people are
It’s important Renshaw
for two months, unable to wash or dress putting our doctors and nurses in this
herself or do simple everyday tasks like terrible position by ignoring the rules or to be cautious
shopping without feeling breathless. saying this terrible illness doesn’t exist. because you can catch the virus
anywhere, so getting a test gives
A year on, she still can’t tackle the basics, “I can assure you it does exist and I
you peace of mind.”
walking from the kitchen to her bedroom wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”
Rachel Castledine,
Ivy shows how it’s done 49, added: “It’s
worth it, because
it gives you the
Getting everyone vaccinated is at the relief of knowing
heart of the Government’s drive to help Ivy gets her vaccine that in the
the country get back to normal and care immediate future
home residents were among the first in you’re safe.
line. Rachel
“I work in a Castledine
Happy to be leading the way by getting school and I’m
the vaccine was 99-year-old Ivy Dawson asthmatic, so I need to know where
who received her first dose of the Oxford I stand both for myself and the
AstraZeneca vaccination in January. people I work with.”
Ivy, who lives at the county council’s Find out if community testing is
Goyt Valley House in New Mills, survived of the life-saving vaccine, Ivy said: “Being taking place in your area
Covid-19 last May and was very relieved here is the next best thing to being at derbyshire.gov.uk/
to be vaccinated. home and I hope the vaccine means we communitytesting
Encouraging others to take up the offer can soon move forward.”
If you have coronavirus symptoms, get a positive Covid test result or are alerted by Test and Trace,
you must stay at home and self-isolate. Support is available to help you through
isolation derbyshire.gov.uk/testandtrace
www.derbyshire.gov.uk 13Your councillors
How to contact your
Amber Valley Bolsover Erewash
Alport and Belper Barlborough Bolsover Bolsover Breadsall and Breaston
Derwent and Clowne North South West Hallam
David Taylor Peter Makin Anne Western Duncan McGregor Joan Dixon Carol Hart Robert Parkinson
Conservative Conservative Labour Labour Labour & Co-operative Conservative Conservative
07969 145114 07970 741599 07801 215599 07969 145785 07748 920070 07748 797957 07715 012459
Shirebrook South Tibshelf
Duffield and Greater Normanton Long Ilkeston
and Pleasley and Pinxton
Belper South Heanor Eaton East
Christine Dale Jim Coyle Clive Moesby
Chris Short Alex Stevenson Labour Labour Labour Alan Griffiths Robert Flatley
Conservative Conservative 07811 995612 07785 287193 07748 920112 Conservative Conservative
07970 741483 07850 651887 07970 337091 07970 741565
Heanor Horsley High Peak Ilkeston Petersham
Central West
Buxton North Buxton Chapel and
and East West Hope Valley
Richard Iliffe Kevin Buttery Tony King Garry Hickton
Conservative Conservative Conservative Conservative
07970 741509 07969 145479 Linda Grooby Tony Kemp Jim Perkins 07970 741754 07970 741578
Conservative Conservative Conservative
07970 741769 07969 144785 07970 741582
Ripley East Ripley West Sawley Sandiacre
and Codnor and Heage Glossop and Glossop and Whaley
Charlesworth Charlesworth Bridge
Ron Ashton Trevor Ainsworth Kewal Singh Athwal Wayne Major
Conservative Conservative George Wharmby Jean Wharmby Ruth George Conservative Conservative
07970 337196 07970 741787 Conservative Conservative Labour & Co-operative 07970 741587 07780 222575
07970 741556 07970 741717 07583 046168
Alfreton and Alfreton and Etherow New Mills Ilkeston
Somercotes Somercotes South
Steve Marshall-Clarke Paul Smith Becki Woods Beth Atkins John Frudd
Labour Labour Labour Liberal Democrat Labour
07969 144909 07713 265670 07970 741890 07748 920192 07969 144686
14county councillor
North East Derbyshire Derbyshire Dales
Dronfield Dronfield Wingerworth Clay Cross Ashbourne Bakewell Derwent
West and
East Walton and Shirland North Valley
Alex Dale Angelique Foster Barry Lewis Brian Wright Steve Bull Judith Twigg Jason Atkin
Conservative Conservative Conservative Labour Conservative Conservative Conservative
07515 261786 07970 741781 07920 484207 07969 145251 07890 569611 07712 490703 07970 337175
Clay Cross Eckington and Eckington and Sutton Dovedale Wirksworth Matlock
South Killamarsh Killamarsh
Kevin Gillott Diane Charles Brian Ridgway Nigel Barker Simon Spencer Irene Ratcliffe Sue Burfoot
Labour Labour Labour Labour Conservative Labour Liberal Democrat
07786 702230 07969 145625 07789 947335 07970 337211 07780 222564 07969 145007 sue.burfoot@derbyshire.gov.uk
Chesterfield South Derbyshire
Walton and Birdholme Brimington Aston Etwall and Hilton Linton
West Repton
John Boult Dave Allen Stuart Brittain Neil Atkin Martyn Ford Julie Patten Pat Murray
Conservative Labour Labour Conservative Conservative Conservative Conservative
07970 741725 07802 780361 07969 145461 07583 111239 07748 920132 07780 222568 07970 741862
Boythorpe Loundsley St Mary’s Melbourne Swadlincote Swadlincote Swadlincote
and Brampton Green and
South Newbold Central South North
Ron Mihaly Mick Wall Jean Innes Linda Chilton Gary Musson Stuart Swann Sean Bambrick
Labour Labour Labour & Co-operative Conservative Conservative Conservative Labour
07969 144929 07970 305679 07969 145748 07969 145632 07590 277060 07970 741687 07969 145362
Spire Staveley Staveley
North and
Whittington
For more information and to find out
your councillor's email address visit
derbyshire.gov.uk/councillors
Sharon Blank Barry Bingham Seat currently vacant
Labour Liberal Democrat Enquiries to Mick Wall
07748 920152 01246 453095 07970 305679
www.derbyshire.gov.uk 15Derbyshire Now is published by Derbyshire County Council, County Hall, Matlock DE4 3AG
You can also read
