Latest news with #DerbyshireCountyCouncil
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Parents fined nearly £1m over school absences
Derbyshire County Council has generated nearly £1m from fines issued for unauthorised school absences, a Freedom of Information Act request has revealed. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) obtained figures which show the authority issued 20,487 penalties since 2021, totalling £961,320, over the three academic years since 2021-22. The county council said the fines had been issued at the request of head teachers and according to the law. However, mother-of-two Natalie, from Marehay near Ripley, has started a national campaign, called Fight School Fines, to get the law changed. She has started a petition, so far signed by 161,000 people, calling for parents to be entitled to 10 days of term-time leave without a fine. "A lot of these fines that are being issued and prosecutions for unauthorised absences aren't due to just going on holiday because they want to get it cheaper, which is the media narrative," Natalie said. "They are marking things down that should fall under exceptional circumstances. "For example, we are seeing loads of stories from parents where they have asked for authorised leave to visit family members who are poorly, or they have gone to a funeral overseas and they are not marking it as authorised, they are refusing it." The number of fines issued in Derbyshire in 2021 was 3,175 and that rose to 10,505 in 2023-24. Fine amounts stand at £160 per parent, per child, with this fee reducing to £80 if paid within 21 days. The council said 16,064 fines were for first-time offenders and 1,567 for second offences, with parents only able to accrue two penalties in a three-year rolling period before being prosecuted in court. Council figures show 1,016 Derbyshire parents have been prosecuted in the past three complete academic years , with six cases being withdrawn. Court fines do qualify as a criminal conviction and are attached to a criminal record, which would need to be added to a DBS check, the LDRS said. "I am not surprised to see it going up," Natalie said. "They say it will act as a deterrent, but clearly it is not doing because people still need to take leave during term-time. "Even if it is a cost thing, they are doing it to save money, we don't know the reason why they can't afford to go in the holidays. "It is not so black and white as people make out. Some people work seasonal jobs or run their own businesses, they can't just shut up shop. "It doesn't act as a deterrent. "It is criminalising parents. "Many parents don't know that what comes with that court fine is a criminal record. "Most of the time, parents are doing it because it is the best decision for them and their children. They are our children, they are not the state's. "Having a criminal record for this is one step too far. "I know families need to access term-time absence and that will never stop. "This isn't just about being on holiday and getting a cheaper holiday." The LDRS said it asked the county council if it felt the penalties were serving as a deterrent, if they could respond to the perception that the penalties were criminalising parents, and if parents were saying they were willing to accept the fines to gain term-time holiday savings. A council spokesperson said: "Headteachers ask us to issue the fines, so this is one for schools and not the council. "We respond to headteacher requests, we do not make the policies that schools make that lead to fines being issued. "The government sets the penalty fines amounts. "This is the law and not the council's decision," the spokesperson added. The Department for Education, responding to Natalie's petition in December, said: "We sympathise with parents who, for a variety of reasons, face barriers to securing their children's school attendance. "This government is taking a new approach to tackling absence based on responsibility, partnership and belonging." It said that involved working with schools and councils to remove barriers to attendance. The spokesperson said: "The government takes seriously its responsibility to ensure that schools are equipped to meet children's needs and help them succeed, but that is matched by parents' legal responsibility to send their children to school every day that they can. The department said it acknowledged some children had long-term physical or mental health conditions or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) which affected attendance. The spokesperson added: "However, all of these children have the same need and right to a full-time education as any other pupil." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. 'Paying £240 holiday school fine was a no-brainer' School holiday fines at a record high Derbyshire County Council Department for Education Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
New independent group for Derbyshire County Council announced
Two independent councillors have formed an independent group on Derbyshire County Council, with the leader decided by coin George, the former Labour MP for High Peak who was elected as an independent councillor for Whaley Bridge in May's local elections, will lead the Wheelton, a South Derbyshire District councillor who was elected to the Linton ward at the county council, will take up the position of deputy were the only two councillors elected as independents in Derbyshire in the elections and will be the smallest grouping on the council, named the Derbyshire Independent Group. They fall just behind Labour and the Liberal Democrats, which each have three the group would enable them to participate in more council structures and "better scrutinise how the council's decisions impact their areas and residents" they forming the group, they have been offered three seats on three committees. In addition, they will also be entitled to submit questions to the council's cabinet members and participate in briefings from officers. Both say they will maintain "the independent position on which they were elected", noting the two represent opposite ends of the said that whilst they have different backgrounds, "our skills and experience complement each other"."As with any group of people we won't agree on everything but we will always agree to do our best for the areas and people we represent, and that will always be the priority." Wheelton, who runs a farm near Walton-on-Trent, added: "Very oddly, I flipped the coin, Ruth called it right - tails - she's the leader, I'm the deputy leader and whip. "But as far as we're concerned we're two people on the same level working together."I'm really hoping we can work with all want the best for residents."Wheelton also hopes to represent the views of farmers amid what she described as an "assault on farming" at government level. George was barred from standing for the Labour Party in the local elections after allegations of antisemitism, which she denies. Wheelton was a Conservative district councillor in South Derbyshire for the Seales ward until she was suspended from the party in 2020 for seeking election as an independent county councillor. She has sat as an independent and been re-elected as an independent on the council since. The county council will have its first full meeting since the local elections this week, where the new Reform UK leadership will be formally signed off.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Plans being drawn up to tackle 'selfish' Peak District parking
Plans to tackle problem parking in parts of Derbyshire's Peak District are being finalised, with a consultation due to begin in the closed multiple roads in January, including Winnats Pass and Rushup Edge near Castleton, due to "selfish parking".The closures followed reports of "about 200" parked cars blocking gritting lorries and emergency services trying to respond to an injured walker near Edale.A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council said: "We are aware of the issues with parking in Castleton and have been working on a package of parking restrictions with Castleton Parish Council." "We are currently consulting other stakeholders to refine these proposals before we undertake a public consultation in the summer," the spokesperson added. Speaking in February, Peter O'Brien, who represents Hathersage on Derbyshire Dales District Council, said the Peak District attracted between 13 and 24 million visitors each year but the infrastructure was "not designed for this level of demand"."With multiple landowners, interest groups and councils each acting in isolation, there is no joined-up strategy to take on the challenge posed by the growth in visitor numbers since Covid-19," he after the parking issues in Castleton were highlighted a Peak District National Park Authority spokesperson said it recognised "the strength of feeling" shared by many communities affected by increased visitor added members of the authority's senior team were engaging with all relevant agencies and landowners to arrange discussions to understand what might be possible as a "strategic, partnership approach to tackling the issues".
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reform takes control of Derbyshire County Council
Reform UK has taken control of Derbyshire County Council from the Conservatives. The party needed 33 of county's 64 seats to claim overall majority, which it surpassed, winning 42 in total. The Conservatives lost 33 seats, leaving them with 12, while Labour are down to three. The Derbyshire leaders of both parties - Conservative Barry Lewis and Labour's Joan Dixon, lost their seats to Reform. Stephen Reed, Derbyshire's Reform spokesman, said: "People keep saying it's a protest vote, I think there's no doubt people are protesting at how politics currently runs." Reed, who won the Clay Cross and Tupton division with 1,353 votes, added: "There is an element that people want change so it's a message to other parties to say, look, we're not happy with the way things are going." Responding to the Conservatives' loss, outgoing group leader Lewis said: "It's something of a wipe-out for us, I think - nationally and locally." He put it down difficulties over numerous years "a fractured party" and the party's poor result after holding a general election in 2024. "We need to rebuild trust with our residents and voters who've lost faith with us," he added. Live: Follow latest on local elections Who won the local election in my area? What's happened so far and what's still to come? Labour's Dixon said leading the Derbyshire group had been "a massive privilege" adding that it "fought tooth and nail" this election. She said: "I will continue to be a champion for children with SEND as the stories of parents who have struggled to get the best outcomes for their children has left a profound impression on me. "Thank you to every resident who has supported me over the years. It has been an honour to serve you and serve our beautiful county." By Georgia Roberts, BBC Derby political reporter Reform UK have now officially got a majority on Derbyshire County Council. The casualties they've inflicted include Labour's leader in Derbyshire and potentially (there's a recount it's that close), the current Conservative leader of the council Barry Lewis. There's a feeling here that Reform have managed to mobilised people that don't normally turn out to vote in Derbyshire, and this has helped them along to victory - turnout was higher than expectations. But Conservatives here also say they don't feel they could've fought against the strong sentiment for Reform and sympathy for their national policies. Labour and the Conservative are equally hurting, but for Labour this is a particular blow. A year ago they were expecting to take this council , riding high off the back of recent victories in district and borough councils and a clean sweep of Labour MPs in the general election . One Labour figure here tells me the party now need to do some serious soul searching as to how things have gone "so wrong, so rapidly". Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Derbyshire County Council
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Four key takeaways from BBC Radio Derby election debate
Six leaders standing for election to Derbyshire County Council outlined their views on a range of topics during a care, the state of the county's roads, tourism and trust in politicians were among the issues discussed during the event hosted by BBC Radio candidates were also asked who they would be willing to do a potential deal with in the event no one party gets a clear majority on the leader of an independent party was also included, reflecting the wide range of independent candidates standing across Derbyshire. Those who took part were:Joan Dixon, Derbyshire Labour leaderEd Fordham, Derbyshire Liberal Democrats leaderGez Kinsella, Derbyshire Greens leader Barry Lewis, Derbyshire Conservatives leader (and current leader of Derbyshire County Council)Stephen Reed, Derbyshire Reform UK candidate Philip Rose, Amber Valley Independents leaderHere are four key takeaways from the debate. Clashes on social care Numerous council-run care homes and day centres have closed in recent years in is an issue that has sparked fierce campaigning among families whose elderly relatives have been left facing disruptive moves or paying for expensive private asked about the future of social care in the county, divisions Liberal Democrats' Ed Fordham called on the Conservatives' Barry Lewis to apologise, calling the handling of the issue "shameful". Lewis insisted he was proud of his record on social care and said his party had done "the best we can" given pressures on the authority's Fordham said the Conservatives had "starved our care homes of money", leading to closures. "We spend money badly and he knows it," he Green's Gez Kinsella agreed with the criticisms and accused Lewis of refusing to take the views of local people into account when deciding to close care UK's Stephen Reed described the situation as a "crap sandwich" and held it up as a key area where the party would deploy its anti-waste Joan Dixon conceded there was no money pledged from central government to improve the local picture, amid calls from Independent Philip Rose for Whitehall to boost added that Labour wanted to look at alternative "cooperative or not-for-profit" models of care. Deal or no deal While some national leaders have been keen to rule out the prospect of their party entering into formal coalitions, Derbyshire's leaders indicated they may be open to some form of deal in the event no party wins an outright majority on the council. Stephen Reed, for Reform UK, dismissed a formal coalition but suggested something more informal would be acceptable."We'll work with any party to do the right thing. We won't form a coalition, but we'll work with all the parties," he Lewis, for the Conservatives, did not rule anything out, saying the party would be open to anything in the spirit of "getting things done".Joan Dixon, for Labour, added: "Let the dice roll where they will and then I will think about that depending on what happens on 2 May." The Liberal Democrats, however, said the party would refuse to work with Reform UK, whilst the Greens said they would look at it "issue by issue". Trust in politicians Trust in politics and politicians was another topic raised during the Greens' Gez Kinsella said he had been struck "more than ever before" by the number of people he had come across during the campaign who are "turned off" by politics and and drawn to parties like Reform UK, who he claimed would pose "risks" to the county if they gained UK's Stephen Reed was challenged about a Reform candidate in Derbyshire who it is understood is under investigation for posting a racial slur refused to comment but insisted support for Reform was "enthusiastic". Independent Philip Rose, who was among several local activists to have recently left Reform UK, was challenged on the fact he had been suspended by the Conservatives in 2022 for social media posts that were accused of being anti-semitic. He denied any wrongdoing, stating it was "difficult to support Israel when they're killing so many Palestinians". Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas have been at war since early October after Hamas fighters launched an attack, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. This triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in also dismissed Reform UK leader Nigel Farage referring to him and other former party members in Amber Valley as "bad apples", claiming Farage had "gone to the left". Plans to tackle potholes The current leader of the council, Barry Lewis, conceded that Derbyshire's roads had got worse in recent years, as set out in government data, but denied the county was the "pothole capital" of the UK, as opponents have often he would not pledge the roads would improve if the Conservatives held on to power on the council, blaming a "flatlining" of investment from central government."We actually spent £50m last year trying to get our roads in order," he told the panel, and said "first time fixes" had Green's Gez Kinsella said more focus needed to go on planned maintenance rather than reactive "slapping concrete into a hole".Labour's Joan Dixon said driving through Derbyshire "felt more like an episode of Top Gear, you're rally crossing around potholes".Whilst she would not pledge the roads would improve if Labour regained control, she said the government was boosting funding. You can find a full list of candidates standing in your local area here, or on Derbyshire County Council's website.
