Derbyshire County Council met on 10 December 2025, and approved the appointment of a new Chief Executive, Neil Crittenden, as well as changes to committee memberships and contract standing orders. Councillors also discussed a range of public and member questions, and voted on several notices of motion, including one opposing a digital ID scheme and another regarding the protection of green spaces from pylon development.

• Appointment of Chief Executive
• Local Government Reorganisation
• Waste and Recycling Services
• School Funding
• Pylon Development
• Digital ID Scheme
• Council Budget
• Public Questions
• Flag Flying Policy

Appointment of Chief Executive

The council approved the appointment of Neil Crittenden as Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service on a fixed-term contract until 31 March 2028. Councillor Graves, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, said that Mr Crittenden would bring a new dimension to the council . The council also approved the appointment of Chris Henning as interim Head of Paid Service from 22 December 2025 until Mr Crittenden's commencement.

A performance related pay policy for the Chief Executive was also approved, which Councillor Gez Kinsella, Leader of the Green Group, criticised as lacking detail and transparency. Councillor Stephen Reed, Cabinet Member for Business Services, responded that the policy had been written by officers and that the goals and key performance indicators would be determined once Mr Crittenden was in post.

Several councillors, including Councillor Alex Dale, Leader of the Conservative Group, and Councillor Ruth George, Leader of the Derbyshire Independent Group, raised concerns about declarations of interest during the interview process. Councillor Reed responded that the best candidate had been appointed and that he felt that the council was lucky to have Mr Crittenden.

Local Government Reorganisation

Councillor Wayne Major proposed a motion to protect waste and recycling services during the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process¹. The motion called for a minimum standard for district and borough councils, including a minimum bin size of 240 litres and free fortnightly garden waste collections. Councillor Ed Fordham, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, criticised the motion as not being a coordinated approach and said that it had not been checked or looked at what the cost consequences are. Councillor Graves said that he broadly accepted the motion and that it was about trying to have a consistent approach as the council moves into the final bits of the LGR. The motion was approved.

School Funding

Councillor Dale introduced a motion concerning delays to the approval of funding for new free schools in Derbyshire, including The Avenue CE Primary in Wingerworth, Bolsover 6th Form (North Derbyshire University Academy) in Bolsover, Infinity Park Spencer Academy near Sinfin, and New House Farm CE Primary near Mickleover. He stated that the government was placing ideology over education and called on it to make a decision. Councillor Steve Smith said that the housing developments in his area already had school buildings, but no new school, which was putting pressure on existing schools. The motion was approved.

Pylon Development

Councillor Bromley introduced a motion opposing National Grid's plan to erect 50-70 metre pylons across Derbyshire. He stated that the pylons would decimate the countryside and threaten communities. Councillor Major proposed an amendment to promote underground cabling, but this was rejected. Councillor Carol Hart said that she was supporting the Stop the Pylons group, which was started in Morley. Councillor Amy Wheelton said that the cooling towers at Willington Power Station were 91 metres tall and that the pylons would be a similar size. Councillor Rachel Hatchett said that the government and National Grid had said that residents who were most affected would receive some benefit from the scheme. The motion was approved.

Digital ID Scheme

Councillor Dan Price introduced a motion opposing the central government's digital ID scheme. He argued that the scheme was un-English and would lead to internal digital and financial slavery. Councillor Major said that he supported the motion because he feared that it would bring around state control. The motion was approved.

Council Budget

Councillor Lawson introduced the Finance Performance Monitoring Report for Quarter 2, which showed a projected overspend of £1.4 million. He stated that children's services were still looking at a significant overspend of £26.1 million, which was offset by a considerable underspend in corporate. Councillor Major raised concerns about a £1 million unspent highways budget, while Councillor Hatchett said that vacancies were contributing to underspends in several departments. Councillor Hill responded that the council had filled in 28,000 potholes, 17,000 of which were left by the previous Conservative administration. The report was approved.

Public Questions

Members of the public posed questions to the council, including:

• Mr Jones asked about community support beds at the Ada Belfield Centre in Belper. Councillor Barnes responded that the council had transformed onto a one system of care and that people were staying less and returning home sooner.
• Ms Kath Hardman, chair of Stop the Pylons at Derbyshire, asked the council to write to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and to all Derbyshire MPs urging them for a call for a pause for a full Green Book review of the pylon route. Councillor Wood responded that the council would continue to use all available avenues to make sure that Derbyshire was not impacted.
• Mr Barrow asked about solar farms. Councillor Wood responded that it was about the right scheme in the right place on the right type of land to bring the right type of benefits.
• Ms Hoxenson asked about natural flood management. Councillor Wood responded that the council had picked up a bit of a black hole from previous administrations and was not currently in a position to set on lots of officers to do lots of things.
• Mr Lock asked about agrivoltaics². Councillor Wood responded that she would turn it back to him to ask the developers of these large scale solar farms if they would consider making them agrivoltaics.
• Ms Brown asked about the impact flags have on community health and well-being. Councillor Hill responded that the flags the council flies on the building are relative to the fact that it is a government building.
• Ms S Brown asked the council to reconsider its decision to fly the Flag of St George among permitted flags on government buildings. Councillor Reed responded that the flag represents the nation of England and that focusing on diversity to its extremities causes division.
• Mr Wright asked if the council would support legislation to change the de facto moratorium on fracking into a complete ban. Councillor Wood responded that a local authority is not in the position of supporting or not supporting national laws.
• Mr Ingham asked how confident the council was in achieving a balanced budget. Councillor Lawson responded that the council was very close to target of achieving a balanced budget this current financial year.

Flag Flying Policy

During public questions, Ms J Brown asked about the council's flag flying policy, and why flags that show support for oppressed and diverse communities have been banned by Derbyshire County Council. Councillor Hill responded that the flags the council flies on the building are relative to the fact that it is a government building.