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TORY CABINET MEMBER BARRY LEWIS PROMISED A FULL, OPEN AND TRANSPARENT CONSULTATION ON HIS PROPOSALS TO SHUT DOWN THE DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL YOUTH SERVICE - BUT
THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLES SERVICES HAS SAID YOU MUST PRE REGISTER FOR EACH EVENT FOR HEALTH & SAFETY REASONS
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CHESTERFIELD WINDING WHEEL
CAPACITY 200 - JANUARY 30
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BUXTON DOME
CAPACITY 250 - FEBRUARY 16
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The Director has stated that if you have not pre-registered then you will not be allowed in. Is this the Tories definition of 'Open and transparent'? We will wait and see if Tory Cabinet Member Cllr Barry Lewis will authorise refusing entry to the consultation event of any young person 'stakeholder' who has arrived without registering.
We believe there is much 'spin' coming from both the Authority and the Tories about how just open this process is; it seems to us that it is being conducted in an extremely controlled way. We are hearing stories every day from young people who are only learning about the possible closure of their Youth Centre through our web site and mailings, including young people (stakeholders) with disabilities.
If you would like to pre-register please email Caroline McClean on
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or telephone 01629 536549 stating which event you wish to attend. In the true spirit of an 'open and transparent' consultation you may also be asked what questions you wish to ask!! We suggest you decline because you would like to listen to Tory Cabinet Member Barry Lewis explain his rationale for shutting down the Youth Service first!
People who have registered have been told that the meetings will finish at 7.30pm prompt.
To ensure the discussion can continue Chesterfield Borough Council Labour Group have booked the Ballroom after 7.30pm to ensure EVERYBODY can have their say. If the Tory Cabinet Member Barry Lewis and the Strategic Director choose to leave - well that is their prerogative!
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FOLLOWING PRESSURE FROM THE LABOUR GROUP THE TORIES HAVE NOW ANNOUNCED THE DATES FOR THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THEIR PLANS TO CLOSE DOWN THE DCC PROVIDED YOUTH SERVICES.
Each meeting will open with refreshments at 5.30 pm, with the meeting beginning at 6.00 pm and (optimistically) closing at 7.30 pm. Please try to attend one of these events and encourage young people in your area to attend and have their say.
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Winding Wheel, Chesterfield, S41 7SA
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30 January |
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The Dome, Buxton, SK17 6RY (High Peak) CHANGE OF DATE
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15 February
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Genesis Centre, Alfreton, DE55 7DQ (Amber Valley)
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3 February |
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Arkwright Centre, Arkwright Town, Bolsover & North East, S44 5BS
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6 February |
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Thw Pingle School, Swadlincote South Derbyshire, DE11 0QA
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10 February |
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Members Room, County Hall, Matlock, DE4 3AG (Derbyshire Dales)
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24 February |
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Ilkeston School, Ilkeston, DE7 5HS, (Erewash)
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29 February |
The Tories have not publicised these meetings so please inform as many people as possible and ensure a good turn out at each one.
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TORIES ARE GOING AHEAD WITH THEIR PLANNED DESTRUCTION OF THE DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL YOUTH SERVICE.
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Young people across Derbyshire are mobilising a massive campaign against the Tories planned shut down of all directly provided County Council universal Youth Services including selling off of buildings and mobile units. 19 year old student Katie Hanson from Marsh Lane has started a petition online at the County Council's web site and thousands of paper copies are now circulating throughout Derbyshire.
SIGN THE PETITION ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE
You can download a copy of the paper petition here
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We need to collect 7500 signatures to force the Tories to hold a debate in a full council meeting - with your help we can do it easily!!
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Tory Cabinet Member Barry Lewis has some vague idea that the voluntary sector will step in and provide services across Derbyshire for our young people but the reality is that many long established voluntary groups including the scouts are really strugging to find willing volunteers. Cameron's BIG SOCIETY is just a BIG DREAM. Lewis tried to push the decimation of the Youth Service through without any consultation but under constant pressure from the Labour Group he has been forced to hold a full consultation that will tell people of his plans to shut down youth clubs and sell off all of the mobile units. However the consultation does not say what will replace the DCC service and that is because he simply does not know and he simply does not care!!
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IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU FILL IN THE ONLINE CONSULTATION CLICK HERE
Lewis has described his proposals as a 'New Youth Offer'. Every time the Derbyshire Tories have cut services they have tried to portray it as a service improvement. He is also consulting on a Youth Activities Grants scheme for voluntary groups to apply for funds to run services, but this meaningless consultation gives no indication of what funds will available. Like all the other Tory consultations this is another TORY sham!
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Lewis has also promised a consultation meeting in each district but he has suddenly gone very quite on this. Is it because he has seen the strength of opposition to his dispicable proposals? Or is he getting cold feet about standing in front of hundreds of young people whilst trying to explain that he is taking away their youth club? He has said that 'only' 30% of Derbyshire's young people use DCC Youth Services. Has somebody now done the maths for him and alerted him to the fact that 30% represents around 16500 young people!!
WHEN WE FORCE HIM TO HOLD THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS MAKE SURE YOU ATTEND AND HOLD LEWIS TO ACCOUNT!
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Group Leader Anne Western said 'The County Council Labour Group is determined to support Derbyshire's young people in their campaign to retain the highly respected Derbyshire Youth Service. We started by forcing a long debate at the last council meeting and you can read the verbatim record of that debate here. You can see how your local county councillor voted and you may wish to email your councillor to let him/her know your views. Click here for the list of DCC members.'
'The Labour Group think the voluntary sector do a great job in the county but they need the support of the County Council's professional Youth Service. The two sectors should complement each other.
Under the Tory proposals 157 qualified youth workers will lose their jobs, and Derbyshire will lose their vast skills and experience.'
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WHERE ARE THE LIB DEMS IN THIS CAMPAIGN?
Labour members asked the Lib Dems to co-sign a demand that the Tories decision to shut the Youth Service be 'called-in'. This means the Cabinet's decision and the process followed would be scrutinised by the People Improvement & Scrutiny Committee, giving more transparency and delaying the implementation of the demise of the service. This is an extract from the text that Lib Dem Leader Steve Flitter sent to Alan Charles 20 December
"On a very busy week of the year I seem to be making my point on call in over and over and over again (as the song goes). ........ I will not be supporting call in but am prepared to work wherever we can and unite on common themes whether that is in cabinet or council debates.
Merry Christmas
Steve
SO DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH HOPING THE LIB DEMS WILL SUPPORT US!
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DON'T LET DERBYSHIRE'S TORIES SELL OFF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE!
SIGN THE PETITION AND FILL IN THE CONSULTATION
LATEST NEWS .........
We have just heard that there is a consultation meeting at The Winding Wheel Chesterfield on Monday 30 January. Please try to be there.
It is very surprising that Derbyshire County Council have arranged these consultation meetings and shared the information with residents but have not seen the necessity to inform elected members!
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TORY COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIR SUMMONSED TO COURT TO FACE ALLEGATIONS OF THEFT FROM DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
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Robin Baldry, Chair of Tory controlled Derbyshire County Council from 2009 till 2011 has been summonsed to court to answer allegations of the theft of £5000 from the public purse relating to claims for mileage and subsistance. Baldry, member for Buxton West since 2005 will find out at the court hearing if he is to be formally charged with the alleged offences.
The Derby Telegraph reported that Baldry faces three counts of theft and BBC News reported "Police said he will be charged in court at a date "in the near future".
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But what have Tory Leader Andrew Lewer and Chief Whip Kevin Parkinson had to say?
Very little. Following the public outrage that followed the Parliamentary expenses scandal you would think that any decent political leader would act swiftly and decisively in these circumstances to reassure Derbyshire tax payers that this behaviour will not be tolerated. Currently all Parkinson has said is
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"That [this] member remains under a previous notice of possible suspension and when I am aware of the outcome from that future date I'll be able to take further action accordingly." And when the Derby Telegraph asked Andrew Lewer about the probability of criminal charges being brought against a Tory member "Mr Lewer declined to comment on the allegation about Councillor Baldry, saying it was a police matter."
Political expediency
Labour Group Leader Anne Western said 'it is nothing short of a scandal that the Tory Leader has not suspended his Group member in the light of these very serious allegations that will further impact on the public's perception of government in this country. Suspension is a neutral act and does not pre-suppose any guilt but gives public reassurance. It is clear that Andrew Lewer has not acted because if he does the Tories will have lost their overal majority of Derbyshire County Council. Political expediency should not be allowed to cloud his judgement in this case.'
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CAMERON'S 'DAMP SQUIB' OR OVER 2 MILLION UK WORKERS SAYING 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH'?
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Labour Councillors Support Public Sector Workers - along with Derbyshire County Council Labour Group colleagues i joined the TUC rally and march through Chesterfield on Wednesday 30 November. We were joined by Labour councillors from across Derbyshire who wanted to show their support for public sector workers across the County, the majority of whom have never taken strike action before in their working lives. These are loyal people who care for the most vulnerable, who nurse and heal the sick, who teach our children and young adults and those who carry out a whole multitude of tasks to make ordinary people's lives better. Yet Cameron and his Tory cronies (including Clegg & Co) want to demonise these hard working dedicated workers. |
This is not a Public v. Private sector issue
Most public sector pension funds are fully sustainable from workers' contributions. The additional 3% that Cameron and Osborn are demanding is not to prop up the pension fund; it is going straight into the Treasury's coffers to pay off the deficit created by Cameron's pals the Bankers (or spelt with a 'W' as in the sign above). The Tories' decision on this is a straight forward one; it is to add an additional 3% income tax on the earnings of the lowest paid, mostly women workers. It is a purely political decision and one that could easily be taken to increase tax levels on the highest earners and the bankers that created this dreadful mess. It seems that the Tories solution to poor pension provision for many private sector workers is to drag down the pensions of public sector workers. We say everybody should have a decent pension.
'Every 12 - 15 years the working class elects a Tory government thinking it will be better for them' - Cllr John Burrows, Labour Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council
John made this comment in his speech from the platform at the rally following the march. He went on to add that every single time the workers live to regret their decision to vote Tory when they rediscover that the Tories are no friends of the working class. They will always protect their rich and affluent millionaire and billionaire friends, including the bankers, at the expense of the poorest in society.
The Tories (and Clegg) shaken by the numbers who took part in the day's action - that they are desperately trying to con the public into thinking that there was low participation on the day. If they had been on the streets of Chesterfield with thousands of workers instead of in their ivory tower in London they would have seen at first hand the strength of feeling. It is really disappointing that Cameron desperately recruited his vile friend Clarkson to open his motor mouth and utter profound offensive insults at the very people who save the life of his pal Hammond.
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The march moves past the closed Chesterfield Town Hall
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Chesterfield Labour Party banner proudly displayed along Saltergate
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Alan Charles
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