Michael Edwards for South Derbyshire

I’m pleased to see that Labour Councillors have been able to progress two projects for social housing in South Derbyshire, on matters that Conservative Councillors could not vote on.

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South Derbyshire District Council appear to have been so wrapped up in the negotiations for 2 social housing projects, that they've omitted to tell the public that progress has been made. 

So I'm pleased to be able to announce that the council has indeed made progress 2 social housing projects --

“1. ... mixed affordable housing at Wilmot Road on [South Derbyshire District Council] land;

“2.  ... the Older People Extra Care Village" of Hall Farm Road, Swadlincote; 

The Burton Mail previously reported that negotiations had become tricky because a deal had to be made on land and mineral rights with a principal donor to South Derbyshire Conservatives.  The Burton Mail reported -

"South Derbyshire District Council’s standards committee voted on Friday to bar members of the ruling Conservative group from voting on plans to buy out mineral rights owned by Tory donor Richard Perkins, and to negotiate a restrictive covenant on land owned by him.

"As reported in the Mail, the deals, which could see Mr Perkins benefit by up to £100,000, are required to advance council plans for social housing on land off Wilmot Road and an ‘extra care’ village for the elderly in Hall Farm Road."

South Derbyshire Conservatives first planned to vote on this issue, and then sought dispensation to vote when they knew they had declared holding a prejudicial interest.

When the Standards Committee told South Derbyshire Conservatives that they couldn't vote, the Conservative reaction was that Labour Councillors would seek to 'sabotage' the developments. 

So it's pleasing to see that both projects have got planning permission; both funding packages have been agreed. 

So Labour could be trusted to handle the projects in the interests of South Derbyshire after all.  

Tory Prospective Parliamentary Candidates do not appear to be talking. 

The Tory PPCs for North West Leicestershire and Derby North both called for their opponents to stand down from positions of special responsibility from the councils they serve, with immediate effect. 

Seemingly, they did not appear to consider the position of the Tory candidate for South Derbyshire, who after a question was placed by Labour Leader Cllr. Kevin Richards, has declared she will step down from serving as Council leader, but only when the election was formally called. 

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There's more information available at the Burton Mail web-site - http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burtonmail-news/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=486107

In remembering Michael Foot, let us celebrate what he achieved. 

A man with a great mind, who held senior posts in newspaper publication, politics and government. 

Inspirational in his words and speeches, generous to many including people from all sides of the political debate. 

I met him at Shrewsbury Railway station when he was travelling back from a Shrewsbury vs Plymouth match, sometime in the late eighties.  Then old yet unaccompanied, he was secure in the love of the people on the platform around him, who even then wanted to meet and greet him. 

He was inspirational. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Foot