From Derbyshire’s Millie Bright leading the Lionesses to World Cup Victory and the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, to the cost-of-living crisis and Storm Babet – Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis looks back over some of the highlights from 2023 as well as some of the challenges we have faced.

Watch his Christmas message to residents in full online.

Cllr Lewis has also spoken out recently to call on the government to provide more money for children's care.

You can see what he had to say about the need for urgent action to provide extra funding to deal with the rising costs of children's care services, including the increased demand for support and the spiralling costs of private placements increasing the pressure on councils.

Here are some ideas for how you can cut food waste at Christmas. More ideas on cutting all types of waste here

• Clear space in your freezer now so you can freeze your Christmas leftovers
• Check your fridge is set to the right temperature - it should be 5 degrees Celsius or less. It’s worth double checking at Christmas as fridges are likely to be fuller and having to work harder to stay at the right temperature. If you are unsure how to adjust your fridge then use this fridge tool
• Plan your meals and make a list to prevent overbuying. Love Food Hate Waste has a portion control calculator or you can download the free app.
• Think back to last year and try to remember what foods went unused. Can you avoid them this year?
• Watch for use-by and best before dates. ‘Use-by’ means food must be eaten by this date, or frozen to keep things for longer. ‘Best before’ is for quality only so food is still safe to eat after this date.
• Take a look at our 50 ways campaign and Love Food Hate Waste for food and money saving ideas for throughout the year
• Don’t throw food away! Derbyshire’s food banks will welcome any surplus seasonal goodies, tins, packets and long dated items in January when the need is great. 

You only have a few days left to tell us what you think about proposals for the way our household waste recycling centres are run in the future. 

We currently run nine recycling centres across the county for use by Derbyshire residents only. The centres, which accept household waste only, are all open seven days a week from 8.30am-6pm, except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. 

The public consultation aims to find out what you think about:

• reducing the number of hours or days the centres are open.
• charging residents to dispose of tyres and asbestos at the recycling centres
• supporting local businesses and sole traders by allowing them to dispose of commercial waste at a limited number of the recycling centres for a reasonable charge. Trade waste is currently not accepted at any of the sites
• changing the rules on DIY and construction waste.

It closes on 26 December.

Ever needed a tool or piece of equipment to do a job around the house or garden but don't want to buy something you'll never use again?

Our library in Buxton is lending a helping hand to Transition Buxton by hosting a 'Library of Things' which will be officially launched at 11am on Tuesday 30 January.

There are more than 70 Library of Things across the country and the idea is that you borrow things that you only need occasionally rather than buying them. Items like carpet cleaners, hedge trimmers, drills, tents, pressure washers etc. It's a great way to save money and resources. 

Transition Buxton has been busy gathering items and recruiting volunteers. Items so far collected include electric jigsaws and drills, garden equipment, a projector, cat carrying box and a work bench. Maybe you have something to donate, you want to volunteer to help or you’d like to come along to the launch and see what’s on offer? You’d be welcome to get involved.

There will be a charge of £5 for membership to the Library of Things, £2.50 for the unwaged. Donations to borrow items will be welcome. 

If you’re looking for discount days out in Derbyshire this festive season and beyond, check out the latest edition of our Derbyshire Now residents’ magazine where you’ll find money-off vouchers for three fab attractions.

• Enjoy 20% off premium or general admission to the Buxton Crescent Experience and take a trip back in time to discover the secrets of its world-renowned spa.
• Kids go for £5 with every full-paying adult at Conkers – a world of adventure at the heart of the National Forest.
• 20% discount on cave tours at Creswell Crags where you can walk in the footsteps of Ice Age hunters and woolly mammoths. There’s 20% off visits to the museum too – children under 16 go free. Open weekends from 6 January 2024.

You’ll find the discount vouchers on page 15 of the winter edition of Derbyshire Now, which can be found online.