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We’ve drafted a new Council Plan and we’re asking for your help to shape the future direction of the council.
 Every four years we develop a new Council Plan, which sets out our direction and aims to reflect the needs of Derbyshire residents. The plan is then refreshed each year.
The new Council Plan for 2025-29 is now in draft form and we've launched a six-week consultation to give you, our partners, employees and stakeholders the chance to give their views and help to shape the plan before it's finalised early next year.
We're asking for feedback on our draft vision, objectives, operating principles, values and customer promises.
Please take the time to read the draft plan and share your feedback before the consultation closes on 3 November.
Do you have any water beads in your home? An urgent safety alert aimed at parents and carers has been issued to warn of the risks water beads can pose to children and vulnerable people.
Water beads, sold under a variety of names including jelly balls, water balls, sensory beads and water crystals, are used for a variety of purposes including children’s toys, in crafting, as home decor, or in floristry.
Many people buying them don't realise that they can expand to up to 400 times their original size when exposed to liquid, and if swallowed can block the gastrointestinal passage which can be serious and require surgery. They are often difficult to detect and don't show up on an x-ray.
The beads can also cause choking and have harmed children in the UK, with reports linking them to deaths overseas.
Our trading standards team has backed the nationwide safety alert released by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) as the government body works to remove unsafe products from the market.
Our trading standards team is advising people to follow the OPSS warning and ensure water beads are kept away from young children, and only used with older children or vulnerable adults under close supervision.
If you suspect that a water bead has been swallowed, seek medical help immediately.
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We've secured a significant cash award from Arts Council England to support a major new programme of countywide cultural activity.
This new three-year Derbyshire Makes programme will celebrate making in all its forms and shine a spotlight on the county’s extraordinary creative and cultural industries.
More details will be announced later in the year, including how you can get involved.
Inspired by the county’s significant making and manufacturing heritage, unique landscape and the artists, craftspeople, designers and manufacturers who call Derbyshire their home, Derbyshire Makes will explore innovation, creativity, design, craft, skills and manufacturing, all through the lens of making.
The £780,000 will provide hands-on making opportunities for residents, creative projects for local school children and volunteering opportunities, as well as paid opportunities for local artists and creative businesses.
It also aims to nurture people’s creative potential and build new skills across the county for the future. Activities will include walks, talks, exhibitions, events, markets, hands-on workshops, a major digital commission, an annual festival and so much more. Touring activity will take place on the Makory mobile bus belonging to Derby's Museum of Making.
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Thanks to everyone who took part in our workshops to help shape plans to protect and prioritise nature.
And if you didn’t get a chance to take part, don’t worry – you can still have your say by completing a survey online.
The survey is a chance to give your thoughts on nature, share your experiences, offer your views on the causes and effects of nature’s decline, and the potential actions to improve and enhance nature.
All of the comments will be used to help produce our local nature recovery strategy, helping to make a real difference to the region's environment, people, communities and businesses.
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Did you know you can help support Derbyshire Wildlife Trust by visiting our re-use shop at our Bolsover household waste recycling centre?
It's great news that the re-use shop at our Bolsover Household Waste Recycling Centre is rehoming lots of your pre-loved items and generating profits to support the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust at the same time.
So the environment benefits twice. Firstly, reuse is even better for the environment than recycling, as it means items can be put to good use without having to use energy to re-process them and turn them into something new. And secondly, it benefits through the wildlife trust’s work around nature recovery and protecting our local wildlife.
Since opening in March, the shop has sold 11,000 items and raised £41,000. Proceeds from these sales go towards the running costs of the shop and profits go to charity. The shop is stocked with items from furniture and homeware to garden equipment, books, CDs and vinyl that have been collected at eight of the nine recycling centres. It is run by contractors H W Martin who operate these eight recycling centres on our behalf.
The results at Bolsover have shown us that opening further re-use shops at other recycling centres across the county will be popular with our residents. We're hoping to open another one in Ashbourne next year.
Pictured are: Louise Bradley, Derbyshire County Council; Stacey Parry, HW Martin Waste Ltd; Craig Capper, HW Martin; Kerry Price, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust; Councillor Carolyn Renwick, our Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment; Mark Heaven, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
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Time is running out to have your say on options for the future delivery of design services for people in receipt of Disabled Facilities Grants.
You have until midnight on tonight (September 27) to give your views on our proposals.
The government provides grants to district and borough councils known as DFGs to fund adaptations from stairlifts and level access showers to more complex adaptations like extensions so eligible children and adults with disabilities can live independently in their own home.
The grants should cover the cost of all of the works, however, we’ve historically supplemented the grants by funding and managing the design and procurement work – using our in-house disability design team.
Like many other councils across the country, we're facing financial pressures outside our control. These include rising demand, higher than expected inflation and a rise in the cost of energy and materials. This means we're having to look at all areas of spending, particularly services we don't legally have to deliver – known as discretionary spending – so we can continue to enable those who need to draw on our support most.
We're consulting on three future options.
As the nights draw in and temperatures drop, get some free advice on saving energy and money.
Community and environmental groups across Derbyshire are organising three online Eco Home events in October to help you reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint.
The events will feature presentations by experts and homeowners who will describe their experiences of making home improvements and installing various eco technologies. So, if you’re thinking of doing some eco improvements but aren’t sure where to start or have questions do join these events.
These are the events with a link for more information and to book your free place:
The owners will talk about their improvements, systems and experiences, including cost and savings, ease of installation, and the pros and cons. At each event the expert speakers and the homeowners will be available for a Q&A session at the end.
These events are organised by Wirksworth Community Land Trust, Hope Valley Climate Action's Energy Group and Transition Chesterfield and supported by Derbyshire Climate Coalition, Climate Action Northeast Derbyshire, Derby Climate Coalition, Marches Energy Agency (MEA) and the Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT).
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A reminder that if you use our household waste recycling centres, please be aware that we're introducing a few changes.
From 1 October, there'll be a slight change in daily opening times from 8.30am-6pm to 9.30am-5pm at eight of the council's nine centres. Hours will remain the same at the Waterswallows site in Buxton due to different contractual arrangements at that centre.
A new trade waste service is also due to be introduced at the Stonegravels (Chesterfield) and Ashbourne household waste recycling centres in the coming weeks.
Once the new service is introduced, if you run a small business or you're an independent trader in Derbyshire, you'll be able to use the two sites between 08.30am and 9.30am and 5pm to 6pm daily when the facilities will be closed to the public.
Traders will be charged to dispose of their waste according to the type of waste and its weight.
Arrangements are also being put in place for a registration scheme for residents to ensure those using the household waste recycling centres are entitled to do so.
A date for the introduction of the trade waste and registration schemes is yet to be confirmed
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It’s Falls Prevention Week and we’re shining the spotlight on how you can reduce your risk of falling – as well as highlighting the help and support available to help keep you safe.
As we age, the risk of falling increases due to several factors, including balance issues and muscle weakness; vision impairment and long-term health conditions such as heart disease, dementia or low blood pressure.
However, there’s lots you can do to reduce the risk of falling, including:
- using non-slip mats in the bathroom
- quickly mopping up spills to prevent slippery floors
- ensuring all rooms, hallways and staircases are well lit
- removing clutter from the floor and stairs
- wearing fitted footwear and looking after your feet and toenails.
Our Live Stronger for Longer falls prevention service offers advice on how to prevent falls as well as exercise classes to help keep you strong.
There’s also a new free Strong and Steady programme designed for people aged over 65 who are at a higher risk of falls.
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