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The Derbyshire LGR decision map. Image from One Derbyshire Two Councils.

Plans to replace 10 Derbyshire councils with 2 new larger ones, to be paused for a “rapid review”

A major Government decision to scrap Derbyshire’s 10 councils and replace them with two new, larger councils from 2028 is to be paused for a “rapid review”. Sources have confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the decision to pause follows judicial reviews brought over the four council reshuffles agreed by the Government earlier this year. The 14 decisions made in July, including the reshuffle for Derby and Derbyshire’s 10 councils, will now be paused for a review, the […]

7 September 2026 7

Borough Wide

Local Government Reorganisation plans paused for Derby and Derbyshire and neighbouring counties

After the Government launched a review of local government reorganisation, it has been revealed that plans in Derby and Derbyshire are amongst a list of areas where plans are to be paused. In some areas of the country, plans have been withdrawn completely. Communities Secretary, Angela Rayner was expected to announce the plans in Parliament later on Monday 7th September, although Ms Rayner has already been quoted as saying that she wants to be satisfied that the right process is […]

7 September 2026 11

Borough Wide

A decade of monitoring shows Farmer Clusters are key to national nature restoration

Recently published reports on two farmer-led conservation groups, supported by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), are a rare, evidence-based success story for nature recovery. The results of 10 years of wildlife monitoring clearly demonstrate how coordinated action across whole landscapes can reverse the long-term decline of some of England’s most threatened farmland birds. Reports from two neighbouring self-funded Farmer Clusters in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire, show that by working together and with expert advice, farmers can reverse dramatic […]

4 September 2026 16

Borough Wide

New funding to help schools welcome and support people with disabilities

A major investment of £1m from Derbyshire County Council is set to help schools across the county create more inclusive learning environments for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The funding proposal being discussed by Cabinet on Thursday 10 September would support essential adaptations to mainstream schools to ensure they meet the needs of current and new pupils who need additional support to thrive. If agreed, the cash would be used to make improvements so schools continue to […]

4 September 2026 18

Borough Wide

Extra £1m to deliver local support for Derbyshire SEND families

Derbyshire County Council is set to invest an additional £1m to increase the number of people available to assess and review the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Cabinet, which meets on Thursday 10th September 2026, will be asked to agree the funding towards the cost of employing more staff to support families through the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process. It follows changes which will see staff working to support families […]

3 September 2026 15

Derbyshire County Council headquarters at County Hall, Matlock. Photo by Eddie Bisknell.

Borough Wide

£16m to be set aside by Derbyshire councils for the initial costs of local government reorganisation

Derbyshire councils are to set aside more than £16 million for the initial costs of closing down their own organisations and creating new ones – including laying off many staff. A new report details the expected cost of abolishing Derbyshire’s 10 councils, including the county, city and eight districts and boroughs, and creating two new larger north and south replacements, will be £66 million. In a worst-case scenario – or “stretch case” – this could reach more than £81 million, […]

3 September 2026 26

Borough Wide

Mid-Derbyshire MP Jonathan Davies gives an update on work representing rural communities and local banking

As Parliament returns from the Summer recess, Mid-Derbyshire MP, Jonathan Davies, whose constituency covers the west and south-west of Erewash as well as other parts of Derby and Derbyshire, has given an update on work carried out over the course of the Summer months. Following a busy summer meeting with a range of local groups, including charities, businesses, farmers, and community leaders, a statement issued on social media said that he had heard about the urgent support needed by farmers […]

2 September 2026 10

AI-generated image by geralt from Pixabay

Borough Wide

Derbyshire dementia hotspot delays

Derbyshire is a regional hotspot for dementia, with some residents facing significantly longer delays for support than others. A Derbyshire County Council meeting this week heard how there are 9,850 people in the county and city diagnosed with dementia with a suspected further 5,000 people undiagnosed – totalling 15,000. The meeting was also told of a significant disparity between waiting lists for first contacts for dementia support and eventual diagnosis. In the northern half of the county, the average wait […]

2 September 2026 15

Borough Wide

Ilkeston man jailed for sexual abuse of children

An Ilkeston man has been jailed for more than two decades for sexually abusing three children. Ralph Fletcher, 35, of Barclay Court, was found guilty of 14 sexual offences against the children during a trial in May this year. The offences included rape, assault by penetration, and sexual touching. Ronald Fletcher, 37, of Welwyndale Road, Sutton Coldfield was also found guilty of two counts of sexual touching against one of the children, during the same trial A third defendant, Zoe […]

2 September 2026 12

Borough Wide

Plans to replace 10 Derbyshire councils with 2 new larger ones, to be paused for a “rapid review”

Local Government Reorganisation plans paused for Derby and Derbyshire and neighbouring counties

A decade of monitoring shows Farmer Clusters are key to national nature restoration

New funding to help schools welcome and support people with disabilities

Extra £1m to deliver local support for Derbyshire SEND families

£16m to be set aside by Derbyshire councils for the initial costs of local government reorganisation

Mid-Derbyshire MP Jonathan Davies gives an update on work representing rural communities and local banking

Derbyshire dementia hotspot delays

Ilkeston man jailed for sexual abuse of children

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