Derby City Council

Derby City Council is one of a number of local authorities drafting in bailiffs again to secure unpaid business rates from companies, after enforcement action was put on hold during the coronavirus lockdown.

It comes days after Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out the latest phase of the government's plan to protect jobs.

Bailiffs are instructed by councils, once a liability order has been obtained in a magistrates court, to collect outstanding business rates, and will be able to enter businesses to seize goods and sell these at auction to settle the debt.

Derby City Council said it has "several thousand business ratepayers who are behind with their payments".

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Quote Message: The country is steadily moving out of lockdown and a decision has been taken to resume regular operation and to restart recovery actions again to help the city in its Covid-19 recovery effort." from Derby City Council

The country is steadily moving out of lockdown and a decision has been taken to resume regular operation and to restart recovery actions again to help the city in its Covid-19 recovery effort."

Derby City Council said it's looking to speak to Rolls-Royce about the future of thousands of workers in the city.

Concerns have been raised over potential job losses after it was reported the company may cut up to 8,000 members of its workforce over the weekend.

The authority said it and Derby's coronavirus economic recovery task force - made up of public and private business and chaired by city council chief executive Paul Simpson - are "seeking urgent talks" to establish what it can do to "support" Rolls-Royce.

A spokesman for Rolls-Royce said it is "working closely with our employee and trade union representatives and then we will consult with everyone affected".

BBCCopyright: BBC

Quote Message: A large part of Rolls-Royce's revenue depends upon the maintenance of aircraft engines, but with the number of flights being so low internationally, the work simply isn’t there. It is vital that Derby – and the UK as a whole – stands with Rolls-Royce, its workers and others in the sector at this challenging time." from Chris Poulter Leader, Derby City Council

A large part of Rolls-Royce's revenue depends upon the maintenance of aircraft engines, but with the number of flights being so low internationally, the work simply isn’t there. It is vital that Derby – and the UK as a whole – stands with Rolls-Royce, its workers and others in the sector at this challenging time."

Food waste and garden rubbish will not be collected in Derby after the city council announced it is suspending the services following the latest information on preventing the spread of coronavirus.

Collections for the black general waste and blue recycling bins will carry on as normal, but the authority said its plans are "being constantly monitored" in line with the latest government advice on protecting the public.

Derby City CouncilCopyright: Derby City Council

Quote Message: We know that changes to refuse collections are frustrating at any time but we have to prioritise our services in what is an unprecedented situation." from Derby City Council

We know that changes to refuse collections are frustrating at any time but we have to prioritise our services in what is an unprecedented situation."

Average speed cameras, the first permanent ones in Derbyshire, are being switched on in a stretch of roadworks on the A52 near Derby.

The current limit at the Wyvern is 40mph but will be raised to 50 - down from the original 70 - when the system is fully operational later this year.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The city council said lowering the speed limit would make the road safer and cut congestion.

Fines from the new cameras will not be handed out until the roadworks are lifted and the council said it did not receive any of the money.

The cost of erecting and dismantling the Christmas lights in Derby city centre has risen to £131,000, a Freedom of Information request to the city council has revealed.

This is £37,000 more than in 2018, which itself was up from a total of £55,000 in 2017.

In 2016 it cost £31,000, so this year's figure is a six-figure increase compared to three years ago.

Derby City Council said the higher costs are because of "additional and repaired festive lights".

A bridge in Derby has been closed for two weeks while flood gates are installed.

There is a diversion for motorists while the work on Exeter Bridge, in Derwent Street, is carried out but pedestrians will still be able to use it.

Derwent Street has been one-way since June to pave and realign the road, as well as create new flood defences behind the Riverside Chambers and Full Street. However, it will be fully shut while four new gates are built.

This £95m project is to help protect the city from flooding.

Councillor Matthew Holmes, deputy leader of Derby City Council, said: "This project is not just about ensuring the city is better equipped to avoid a significant future flooding event, it is about delivering regeneration to areas of the city."

Derby City CouncilCopyright: Derby City Council

Derby City CouncilCopyright: Derby City Council

The first snapshots of a planned new swimming pool for Derby have been released.

Images released by Derby City Council show some of the designs for the Moorways project, which has been the centre of a long-running dispute over funding.

Derby City CouncilCopyright: Derby City Council

A statement from the authority said it will feature a 50m pool with moving booms and floors, two four-storey flumes and the first "wow ball" wave generator in England.

Moorways - which closed to the public in 2016 in an bid to save £350,000 in annual running costs - has been given a budget of £42m.

The council said it is scheduled to be finished "by late 2021".

Derby City CouncilCopyright: Derby City Council

Hundreds of people may have missed out on voting in this year's council elections because of pilot schemes requiring them to prove their identity.

The Electoral Commission said the trial project saw 2,083 voters refused a ballot paper because they weren't carrying the necessary ID, with up to 758 of them not returning to cast their vote.

Broxtowe, Derby and North West Leicestershire were three of the 10 areas involved in the pilot.

Craig Westwood, director of communications, policy and research for the Electoral Commission, said "nearly everyone" in the pilot areas was able to vote and showed the correct ID "without difficulty", but said government needs to "consider carefully the available evidence about the impact of different approaches".

AlamyCopyright: Alamy

Quote Message: Important questions remain about how an ID requirement would work in practice, particularly at a national poll with higher levels of turnout." from Craig Westwood Electoral Commission director of communications, policy and research

Important questions remain about how an ID requirement would work in practice, particularly at a national poll with higher levels of turnout."