This week in Derbyshire:

Council Faces Critical Decisions on School Transport and Financial Regulations

Derbyshire County Council's Council meeting on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, is set to tackle crucial issues that will impact residents across the county, from how young people travel to school to the fundamental rules governing council finances. The meeting will also address significant policy changes and hear from elected members on pressing local concerns.

Overhauling School Transport: New Policies for Fairness and Independence

A major focus of the meeting will be the proposed revisions to the Council's Procedure Rules, which form part of its Constitution. These changes aim to streamline council meetings and ensure greater efficiency. Key amendments include clarifying the business for various types of council meetings, setting a minimum number of Ordinary Council meetings, and refining procedures for public and member questions. These updates are designed to make council proceedings more transparent and accessible.

The Council will also consider the report and recommendations from its Independent Remuneration Panel regarding the Members' Allowances Scheme for 2026/27. This will determine how councillors are compensated for their work, a decision that directly impacts public trust and the ability of diverse individuals to serve.

Furthermore, the Council will review updated Financial Regulations. These regulations are the bedrock of responsible financial management, ensuring that public money is spent wisely and ethically. The proposed amendments aim to clarify responsibilities, particularly regarding budget control and severance payments, and will be crucial for maintaining public confidence in the council's stewardship of funds.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

Planning Reforms and Road Safety: Councillors Debate Local Control and Public Well-being

The Council meeting on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, will also feature debates on two significant Notices of Motion. The first, proposed by Councillor Alan Graves, addresses the government's planning reforms. This motion expresses strong opposition to reforms that could diminish the role of elected councillors in planning decisions, arguing for the restoration of local democratic oversight. It calls for the council to protect community interests in its minerals and waste planning responsibilities and to report on how these reforms will affect these functions. This debate is vital for ensuring that local communities have a meaningful say in development that shapes their neighbourhoods.

The second Notice of Motion, proposed by Councillor Gez Kinsella, focuses on reducing road casualties across Derbyshire. It calls for the prioritised rollout of 20mph speed limits in areas identified by road safety and public health benefits, with input from local communities. The motion also proposes a communications and engagement strategy to encourage behaviour change and requests that the matter be referred to the Cabinet for further consideration. This initiative directly impacts the safety and well-being of all residents, particularly children and vulnerable road users.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

Other Matters

Safeguarding Children and Creative Industries

Two other Notices of Motion are scheduled for discussion. One, proposed by Councillor Paul Maginnis, raises concerns about an NHS-linked puberty blocker trial, particularly regarding the recruitment of young children. It calls for assurances on safeguarding and informed consent, and for a potential pause on recruitment. The second motion, proposed by Councillor Sarah Reaney, aims to establish Derbyshire as a screen and creative industries destination, requesting the development of a plan to support this growing sector and explore delivery models for creative ventures.

Audit Committee Reviews Financial Health and Risk Management

The Audit Committee met on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, to scrutinise the council's financial health and risk management strategies. A key focus was the Place department's risk management, with discussions on challenges like adapting to extreme weather and maintaining highways assets. The committee also reviewed the council's performance and budget outturn for the 2025-26 financial year, noting a net underspend but highlighting significant pressures in Children's Services and Adult Social Care. The cumulative deficit on the Dedicated Schools Grant also remains a concern. Updates on the counter fraud strategy and the National Fraud Initiative were also presented, alongside the Internal Audit Annual Report, which maintained a Limited overall assurance opinion, indicating ongoing control issues.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

Health and Wellbeing Board Tackles Integrated Care and Population Health

The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Thursday, 9 July 2026, to discuss critical aspects of health and social care for Derbyshire residents. Key agenda items included the Derbyshire Better Care Fund Plan for 2026/27, which aims to integrate health and social care services. The Board also discussed the development of a Neighbourhood Health Plan, a key component of the national 10-Year Health Plan, and received an update on the NHS Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire ICB Population Health Strategy. Reports on the Child Death Overview Panel and the Derbyshire Connect to Work programme were also presented, offering insights into child safety and employment support.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

Resources Scrutiny Committee Reviews Financial Performance and LGR

The Resources Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday, 9 July 2026, to review the council's financial and performance outturn for the 2025-26 financial year. The committee noted a net underspend of £2.009 million, but also significant overspends in Children's Services and Adult Social Care. The cumulative deficit on the Dedicated Schools Grant was also discussed. An update on the ongoing Local Government Reorganisation process was provided, and the committee reviewed its proposed work programme for the upcoming year.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education Discusses School Support and Data Collection

The Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education (SACRE) met on Monday, 6 July 2026. The committee discussed support for schools from external organisations, the potential collection of Religious Education (RE) data from schools with GDPR considerations, and national curriculum developments. The aim is to enhance RE provision and ensure data protection compliance.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

This week in Derbyshire:

Council Faces Significant Financial Pressures Despite Budget Outturn

Derbyshire County Council's Cabinet met on Thursday, 2 July 2026, to review the council's financial performance for the 2025-26 financial year. While the council achieved a net underspend of £2.009 million against its total revenue budget of £794.018 million, this positive headline figure masks significant overspends in critical areas: Children's Services and Safeguarding and Education, which reported an overspend of £27.490 million. Adult Social Care also reported an overspend of £8.818 million.

What This Means for Residents

These substantial overspends in children's and adult social care services raise serious concerns about the future provision of vital support for the county's most vulnerable residents. For families relying on these services, this could translate into longer waiting times for assessments, reduced availability of support packages, and potential strain on the dedicated staff working within these departments. The significant cumulative deficit on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), which reached £93.308 million by 31 March 2026, primarily driven by increased demand and costs within the High Needs Block supporting children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), also poses a risk to the resources available for schools, potentially impacting educational provision for all children in Derbyshire.

The Cabinet noted the Council Plan performance and revenue outturn position, the cumulative deficit on the DSG, and the position on General and Earmarked Reserves. They also approved two budget carry-forwards totalling £1.1 million for the Tour de France Femmes planning and property and facilities management. Furthermore, approval was sought from full Council to carry forward £25.195 million in Flexible Capital Receipts to fund efficiency and transformation projects, including £5 million for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) transformation costs.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

Regional Fostering Hubs: A New Approach to Supporting Vulnerable Children

In an effort to address the ongoing shortage of foster carers, Derbyshire County Council is progressing with the End-to-End Fostering Hubs programme, a Department for Education (DfE) initiative aimed at improving the recruitment and retention of foster carers across the East Midlands. Derbyshire County Council, along with Derby City, Nottingham City, and Nottinghamshire County Councils, are collaborating as Foster for East Midlands Councils (FfEMC).

How This Could Impact Children in Care

This collaborative approach aims to centralise recruitment, create a regional front door for enquiries, provide robust pre- and post-approval support, implement a regional performance framework, and align with Regional Care Cooperatives (RCCs). This initiative is expected to increase the number of foster carers, improve placement stability for children, and reduce reliance on expensive residential care. Key decisions included approving the delegation of Derbyshire County Council's Agency Decision Maker and panel administrator functions to Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, and Derby City Council. Derbyshire will also undertake these functions on behalf of the other authorities when required. The council approved the acceptance of a grant of £0.951 million from the DfE to support the programme. Authority was delegated to the Executive Director, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children's Services, to establish and operate the regional end-to-end fostering arrangements.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

Other Matters

School Repairs and Policy Updates

The Cabinet approved the allocation of additional funding from the Children's Services Capital budget to address structural repairs at Hadfield St. Andrews Junior School and to replace the pitched roof at Chinley Primary School. At Hadfield St. Andrews Junior School, an additional £590,000 is required for structural repairs to the floor and roof structures of two wings, bringing the total project cost to £900,000. Chinley Primary School requires an additional £50,000 for its pitched roof replacement project, bringing the total to £280,000.

The Cabinet also approved the revised Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) and Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) Policy. This updated policy reflects current legislation, introduces clearer safeguards and governance, and strengthens transparency and oversight of investigatory powers. The policy was reviewed positively by the Audit Committee.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

This week in Derbyshire:

Council Faces Significant Financial Pressures Despite Budget Outturn

Derbyshire County Council's Cabinet is set to confront substantial financial challenges when they meet on Thursday, 2 July 2026. While the council's overall financial performance for the 2025-26 financial year shows a net underspend of £2.009 million, this positive headline figure masks significant overspends in critical areas: Children's Services and Adult Social Care and Health. These departments are facing pressures totalling £27.490 million and £8.818 million respectively. Compounding these issues, the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) carries a cumulative deficit of £93.308 million as of 31 March 2026.

What This Means for Residents

These substantial overspends in children's and adult social care services raise serious concerns about the future provision of vital support for the county's most vulnerable residents. For families relying on these services, this could translate into longer waiting times for assessments, reduced availability of support packages, and potential strain on the dedicated staff working within these departments. The significant deficit in the Dedicated Schools Grant also poses a risk to the resources available for schools, potentially impacting educational provision for all children in Derbyshire.

The Cabinet will review the council's progress against its 25 strategic objectives, with 20 showing good progress. However, the report highlights achievements in areas such as supporting families and expanding fostering capacity, which are commendable but overshadowed by the financial strain in other essential services.

The meeting will also seek approval for two budget carry-forwards totalling £1.100 million and the use of Flexible Capital Receipts. These measures, while necessary for financial management, underscore the tightrope the council is walking to balance its budget.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

Regional Fostering Hubs: A New Approach to Supporting Vulnerable Children

In an effort to address the ongoing shortage of foster carers, Derbyshire County Council is proposing to join a regional initiative to reform the fostering system. The Foster for East Midlands (FfEM) programme, supported by the Department for Education, aims to create a more efficient and effective system for recruiting, assessing, approving, and supporting foster carers.

How This Could Impact Children in Care

This collaborative approach, detailed in the Public reports pack Thursday 02-Jul-2026 12.00 Cabinet.pdf, seeks to increase the number of foster carers and improve retention rates. By centralising functions, the aim is to reduce reliance on independent fostering agencies and costly residential care, potentially leading to better outcomes and more stable placements for children in care. Derbyshire County Council is considering delegating its statutory functions for foster carer approval to Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, and Derby City Council as part of this hub arrangement. The council is also seeking approval to accept a grant of £0.951M from the DfE to support this programme.

The Cabinet will also discuss proposals for a Housing Support Grant aimed at improving outcomes for those facing housing or homelessness issues, and a proposal to work with the East Midlands Chamber to deliver business support services.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

Other Matters

RIPA Policy Update and Children's Services Capital Projects

The Cabinet will also review an update to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) and Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) policy. The current policy, last updated in 2012, requires revision to reflect legislative changes and technological advancements. The proposed updated policy aims to introduce tighter controls and clearer legal thresholds. Additionally, proposals for additional funding from the Children's Services Capital budget for essential repairs at Hadfield St. Andrews Junior School and Chinley Primary School will be considered.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

This week in Derbyshire:

Pension Fund Surges Ahead: Surplus Grows to £1.7 Billion Amidst Investment Strategy Review

The Derbyshire Pension Fund has seen a significant improvement in its financial standing, with its latest actuarial valuation revealing a surplus of £1.7 billion. This positive development, detailed in the Pensions and Investments Committee meeting on Wednesday 3 June 2026, marks a substantial increase from the previous valuation and means employer contribution rates are set to decrease for most.

A Healthier Fund for Future Retirees

The triennial actuarial valuation, conducted as of 31 March 2025, showed the fund's assets now cover 135% of its liabilities, a leap from 100% in 2022. This surplus is largely attributed to higher assumed future investment returns. The report from Hymans Robertson LLP¹ indicates that employer contribution rates will be reduced for the period between April 2026 and March 2029. This is welcome news for employers contributing to the fund, potentially freeing up resources.

The committee also reviewed the fund's investment report, which detailed a total investment asset value of £7,530 million as of 30 April 2026. While the fund has performed in line with its benchmark over ten years, there was noted underperformance in Global Sustainable Equities and Private Equity over shorter periods. The report suggested adjustments to the asset allocation, including a proposed reduction in Growth Assets and an increase in Income Assets, Protection Assets, and Cash.

Adapting to 'Fit for the Future' Reforms

The meeting also addressed the implementation of the 'Fit for the Future' reforms impacting the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), stemming from the Pension Schemes Act 2026². These reforms require administering authorities to delegate investment strategy implementation to their asset pool, LGPS Central Limited (LGPSC)³. Derbyshire Pension Fund has entered into a Fiduciary Management Agreement with LGPSC, and the committee considered updated terms of reference for the Pensions and Investments Committee to reflect these policy changes.

The committee also reviewed the fund's Risk Register, highlighting key risks such as systems failure, cybercrime, LGPSC underperformance, and insufficient cyber-liability insurance. A Climate Risk Management Report, prepared by LGPSC, was also presented, detailing the fund's approach to climate-related risks and opportunities, including a commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

Gambling Harms: Council Tackles Hidden Public Health Crisis

Derbyshire County Council is stepping up its efforts to combat the growing issue of gambling-related harms, a significant public health concern that disproportionately affects vulnerable communities. The Health Scrutiny Committee, meeting on Tuesday 2 June 2026, discussed the council's strategy for prevention, screening, and treatment, alongside the allocation of new funding for these vital services.

The Hidden Cost of Gambling

Gambling-related harm is defined as the adverse impacts from gambling on individuals, families, communities, and society. The report highlighted that the most socio-economically deprived groups in England experience the highest levels of harmful gambling, with the total cost to society estimated to be up to £1.77 billion. This issue is often hidden and stigmatised, with individuals experiencing gambling harms frequently facing co-occurring mental health issues, alcohol, or substance use problems. The rise of online gambling has exacerbated these harms, with online gambling increasing by 38% in recent weeks compared to 28% for in-person gambling.

A Multi-Layered Approach to Support

Derbyshire is implementing a three-layered approach to tackle these harms:

• Training Frontline Professionals: Offering accredited training to frontline health professionals to identify and support those affected.
• Screening and Brief Intervention: Clarifying processes for screening and providing brief interventions in non-specialist settings.
• Referral Pathways: Establishing clear pathways for individuals to access specialist support, including the specialist NHS Gambling Harms Clinic in Derby.

The council has secured approximately £159,000 for the 2026-27 year from the UK Statutory Gambling Levy for prevention activities. This funding, which is not from industry sources, will be used in accordance with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID)⁴ objectives, focusing on building local capacity, strengthening partnerships, embedding prevention within local policy, and increasing awareness.

Planning for the Future

The committee also reviewed its work programme for 2026/27, which includes discussions on child death overview panels, palliative care, wheelchair services, healthy lifestyle initiatives, dementia strategy, stroke rehabilitation, and the implementation of the Food Plan for Derbyshire.

You can find more details about this meeting here.

Other Matters

Audit Committee and Regulatory - Planning Committee Cancelled

Please note that the Audit Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday 16 June 2026 and the Regulatory - Planning Committee meeting scheduled for Monday 15 June 2026 have both been cancelled.