Thursday 5th June 2014

An independent assessment has praised Chesterfield Borough Council for the huge commitment to the borough by both councillors and employees.

The council's cabinet yesterday, Wednesday 4th June, received an official report of the assessment carried out last November by the Local Government Association's peer challenge team.

The team was made up of senior officers and councillors from other councils as well as the Local Government Authority's Peer Challenge Manager.

They praised the commitment to delivering the services the council provides to residents, particularly highlighting the impressive work carried out to create jobs and regenerate sites for economic development and housing.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council's Deputy Leader (left), said: "We have always known that our councillors and staff are committed to providing the best service possible for our residents - and to have this recognised by an independent assessment is great news for us and our residents.

"We have also taken on board the areas of improvement highlighted by the peer challenge and we have put steps in place to make sure they are addressed."

The peer challenge also made recommendations in its report. These included:

• Ensuring the council's financial strategy has realistic targets in
  the next five years
  
  
• Reviewing the council's corporate plan and vision, matching the
  number of priorities to the funding available
  
  
• Creating a programme to achieve the savings the council must make, making sure the steps are in place to enable it to be delivered.

Since the peer challenge, the council has produced a new corporate plan, which prioritises five key projects for the next 12 months. These are:

• To deliver the first year of the Great Place, Great Service programme which will invest in initiatives that will save £3.5 million over the next 10 years, transform the way services are delivered, improve the quality of public facilities and make them more economically viable, and improve customer service
  
  
• Begin work on building the new Queen's Park Sports Centre
  
  
• Begin the first phase of work on the Chesterfield Waterside regeneration scheme, a £340 million scheme to create 30,000 square metres of commercial space and build 1,500 homes.
  
  
• To deliver the Decent Homes Standard in all council homes, which says homes should be free of health and safety hazards, be in a reasonable state of repair, have reasonably modern kitchens, bathrooms and boilers and be reasonably insulated
  
  
• To build the Parkside Sheltered Housing Scheme in Stand Road. This will provide a home for 60 residents.

The council has developed an action plan to respond to the peer challenge's recommendations. This will be monitored by the council's senior managers and cabinet on a regular basis and it can be seen on the council's website at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/policies.

RECENT STORIES

FLAG RAISING PARADE TO MARK ARMED FORCES DAY IS CANCELLED -
A parade planned in Chesterfield to mark Armed Forces Day on 23 June has been cancelled. More...

WORK SET TO BEGIN ON HORNSBRIDGE ISLAND -
Work is set to begin on transforming a key gateway into Chesterfield town centre after planning permission has been granted. More...

DETAILS OF FORMER COUNTY COUNCIL CHIEF EXEC'S £219k PAY OFF TO BE PUBLISHED -
Derbyshire County Council's former chief executive Nick Hodgson received a £219,211 severance payment when he left the authority last year. More...

BOLSOVER COUNCIL HARNESSES THE POWER OF THE SUN AND SAVES MONEY -
Bolsover District Council is doing its bit for the environment as they prepare to install photovoltaic cells (solar panels) onto the roof of its offices in Clowne and save over £34,000 of council taxpayers' money every year. More...

COUNTY COUNCIL'S SENIOR MANAGERS' REVIEW TO SAVE £2 MILLION -
More senior managers' jobs are to go at Derbyshire County Council as part of the organisation's drive to cut £157 million from its budget by 2018. More...

GRASSMOOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT RECEIVES OUTLINE APPROVAL -
North East Derbyshire District Council has granted outline planning permission for a maximum of 165 dwellings at Windwhistle Farm in Grassmoor. More...

LOCAL RESIDENTS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE PART IN 'LEGAL HIGHS' SURVEY -
A national survey that aims to gather information about the use of 'legal highs' is being supported by Derbyshire County Council.
More & Video...

NEDDC COUNCIL APPROVES REGENERATION PLANS -
North East Derbyshire District Council has approved plans to move their main administrative headquarters from Saltergate to Mill Lane, Wingerworth in early 2015. More...

NEW FIGURES SHOW URGENCY OF CHESTERFIELD'S HOUSING CRISIS -
New figures, released to local MP Toby Perkins by the National House Building Council reveal that new house building in Chesterfield has fallen to just one third of the national average. More...

COUNTY COUNCIL'S CHILDREN IN CARE
TO PLAN BRIGHT FUTURES -
Young people will be able to consider their future at a Derbyshire County Council careers event hosted specifically for children in care and care leavers. More...

COURT UPHOLDS COUNCIL'S DECISION ON BAR CENTRO -
A town centre bar has been refused permission to re-open, after magistrates upheld the decision by Chesterfield Borough Council's licensing committee to revoke its licence. More...

OUTGOING NEDDC CHAIR - OVER 8,000 FOR CHARITY TO BE HAPPY! -
North East Derbyshire District Council's outgoing Chairman, Councillor Ken Savidge and generous residents from across the area, have helped raise thousands of pounds through an annual charity appeal. More...

'STILL PUNCHING ABOVE OUR WEIGHT!" Cllr JOHN BURROWS ON CHESTERFIELD -
In a wide ranging interview, Council Leader John Burrows talked to us on developments which have been mooted in the town, admitting that the financial climate and unforeseen issues had significantly impacted on the 'master plan' More...

PLANS FOR NEW QUEEN'S PARK SPORTS CENTRE ARE APPROVED -
Members of Chesterfield Borough Council's planning committee have approved plans for the new centre to be built on the site of Queen's Park Annexe, subject to planning conditions. More...

COURT SENTENCES APPLIANCE REPAIR MAN TO 160 HOURS UNPAID WORK -
An appliance repair man from Chesterfield has been ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work and compensate victims, after a successful prosecution by the County Council's trading standards team. More...

ENVIRONMENTALLY FIRENDLY WAY TO DISPOSE OF YOUR FOOD WASTE -
An environmentally friendly way to dispose of food waste is being introduced for residents in the Bolsover District, Chesterfield Borough and North East Derbyshire District Council areas. More...

CHILDREN'S CENTRES REVIEW AGREED BY DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL -
Derbyshire residents will be asked how they think children's centre services should be delivered in a review to begin this month. More...

POTHOLE FIXING 'JETPATCHER' MACHINES TO STAY
IN COUNTY -
Two specialist 'Jetpatcher' machines are to stay in Derbyshire until mid-July to continue work to fix potholes across the county. More...

LOCAL MP, NATASCHA ENGEL CONTINUES
TO LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST HS2 -
MP for NE Derbyshire, Natascha Engel, continues to campaign against the case for HS2 and demand that the Government gives more say to the people who will be directly affected by the project. More...

COUNCIL WARNING TO CHESTERFIELD RESIDENTS TO AVOID FLY TIPPING -
Chesterfield Borough Council is warning residents to make sure anyone they pay to dispose of their rubbish is licensed and does so legally. More...

MAJOR REFORMS OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS ARE ON THE WAY -
Families whose children have special educational needs and disabilities, can have a say in how major reforms will affect them, as part of a consultation launched by Derbyshire County Council. More...

CHESTERFIELD BOROUGH COUNCIL REMINDS RESIDENTS TO CHECK FOR ID -
Chesterfield Borough Council is reminding residents to always check for ID from staff who are carrying out work on behalf of the council.
More...

WORK TO FURTHER EXPAND MARKHAM VALE IS DUE TO START -
Work to expand Derbyshire County Council's flagship regeneration site is due to start next month, after a visit to Markham Vale by Eric Pickles confirmed Government cash is in the pipeline. More...

MAKE SURE YOU
ARE READY TO VOTE IN THE EURO ELECTIONS -
Chesterfield Borough Council is reminding residents to make sure they are registered to vote in the elections to the European Parliament. More...

CRACKDOWN ON
BLUE BADGE MISUSE CONTINUES COUNTYWIDE -
A crackdown on people who are misusing Blue Badges has seen just over 700 checks carried out in four months. More..