In my role as Dronfield Town Mayor, I shall be launching a new fleet of 5 new low-floor, easy access buses for passengers in Dronfield on Friday. The Stagecoach Yorkshire/Chesterfield buses for its  service 43 buses meet tough EuroIV emission standards - I welcome this and the increased frequency of daytime services on the Chesterfield - Dronfield - Sheffield route

The planning applications below for Dronfield were received at NEDDC in the last week. You can follow whats happening online and object etc. An up to date list is always available from NEDDC including the current status of applications. You will need the application number quoted below for the application you are interested in and click  http://planapps-online.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchform.aspx 

Construction of a two-storey extension to side front and rear at 7 Oakdell Dronfield Derbyshire for Mr S Hazeldene

Removal of existing foundry tip and continued disposal of non-hazardous foundry waste at William Lee Refuse Tip Callywhite Lane Dronfield for Mr Alwyn Roebuck

Construction of two storey rear extension and raising of height of existing roof to provide additional living accommodation including two front dormer windows at  22 Cross Lane Dronfield Derbyshire for Mr D Agar

When the LIBDEMs took control of Dronfield Town Council in May last year the Council decided to join in with the Community Partnerships which North East Derbyshire Council has been trying to set up. The previous council - which was controlled by a Labour/Tory coalition were not prepared to take part.

The vision is “To make Dronfield an economically successful, healthy, safe and accessible community, with an inclusive community and an enviable quality of life by working with the community and in partnership with all agencies involved”.

The  ”community” includes the many voluntary organisations in Dronfield and also any individuals who wish to influence events. “All Agencies” include the Town, District and County Council, the Police, the NHS. They were all represented last night at the inaugural meeting.

I was elected vice-chairman of the Partnership  

I resigned from the Rykneld Homes Board on 21st April 2008. This was as a result of several issues which have arisen, which I felt that I could no longer be a party to, or accept, the corporate responsibility required of a Board member.

I had been involved for several years in assessing as a member of a North East Derbyshire Council Steering Group in seting up an ALMO (Arms Length Management Organisation) to manage the Council Houses. In April 2007 I became one of the 5 councillors who, along with 5 Tenant’s representatives( elected by tenants) and 5 independent members make up the Board of the ALMO which is known as Rykneld Homes. 

The planning applications below for Dronfield were received at NEDDC in the last week. You can follow whats happening online and object etc. An up to date list is always available from NEDDC including the current status of applications. You will need the application number quoted below for the application you are interested in and click  http://planapps-online.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchform.aspx

Retention of conservatory at 28 Frithwood Drive Dronfield Derbyshire for Mr Glen Dixon

Application for advertisement consent for retention of two signs and two flag poles at Dronfield School Gosforth Site Stubley Lane Dronfield Woodhouse for Mr Ian Wilson 

Construction of a two storey side extension and single storey rear extension at 23 Hilltop Road Dronfield Derbyshire for D Ellin

The planning applications below for Dronfield were received at NEDDC in the last week. You can follow whats happening online, an up to date list is always available from NEDDC including the current status of applications. You will need the application number quoted below for the application you are interested in and click  http://planapps-online.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchform.aspx

Proposed construction of a conservatory to the rear of at  188 Stonelow Road,Dronfield Derbyshire for Mr And Mrs P C Sherburn 

Removal of existing conservatory and construction of a single storey rear extension at 63 Cemetery Road,Dronfield Derbyshire for Mr And Mrs Elmor 

Construction of a two-storey side and single-storey rear extension at 9 Stubley Croft Dronfield Woodhouse Dronfield for Ms D J Taylor 

Notification of intention to prune one sycamore tree within Moss Valley Conservation Area at 297 Eckington Road Coal Aston Dronfield for Mr Paul Proctor 

Construction of a 3 bed dwelling on land adjacent (Conservation Area) at Tap Cottage Mill Lane Dronfield for Mrs Caroline McLaren 

Construction of single storey extensions to side and rear at 33 Moonpenny Way Dronfield Derbyshire for Mr Frank Hayes 

Construction of a two storey side and rear extension at 9 Ferndale Road Coal Aston Dronfield for Mr W Chinn 

Construction of a first-floor side extension at  46 Highfields Road Dronfield Derbyshire for Mr Andrew Brown

I am Dronfield Town Mayor this year. The final event in aid of my charity appeal before a new mayor is elected on the 12th May, a concert by the Sheffield Chorale in the Parish Church on Saturday 19th April raised about £700  

My charities are the Dronfield District Scout Group and the Gosforth Field Sports Association [a charity set up to preserve the old Gosforth School fields for sporting and recreational use).

Congratulations to Jan Robinson who was elected last night in a byelection in Heath and Holmewood ward of North East Derbyshire District Council. Labour had held this ward for many years and it was not even contested in the last 3 elections in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

Following North East Derbyshire District Council decision to charge nearly three times as much for ground maintenance between 2008 and 2010 LIBDEM Dronfield Town Council decided to go it alone from 1st April this year. By a combination of tendering out some of the work to local firms plus using its own workforce we believe we shall have a massive saving to the  Tax Payer - perhaps as high as 40% or more of what the Labour North East Derbyshire Council would have charged by 2010. Makes you think doesn’t it!

At the Dronfield Town Council meeting last night we received a report from the first  meeting of the waste recycing working group. The Dronfield community already has the best record in North East Derbyshire for waste recycling but the report had many ideas on how this might be improved and these will be followed up by the group over the next few months.

The planning applications below for Dronfield were received at NEDDC in the last week. You can follow whats happening online -see the “side panel” and Planning Applications Online where an up to date list is always available from NEDDC including the current status of applications

Construction of a first-floor extension to rear at 12 Rembrandt DriveDronfield Derbyshire for Mr Martin Brader 

Reconstruction of roof and first floor extensions to provide 3 additional bedrooms and ensuites at 11 Stonelow CrescentDronfield Derbyshire for Mr Steve Siddall 

Proposed alterations to the roof to enable additional living accommodation in the roof space including raising the height of the roof and insertion of front and rear dormer windows at 1 Salisbury RoadDronfield Derbyshire for Mr And Mrs R Symonds

Derbyshire County Council gives all County Councillors (including me) £4000 each year to award as grants to help local organisations as part of its “community leadership” scheme. These grants are generally intended as one offs to help organisations which I wish to support. For example in the recent past I have been approached by the local Girl Quides and by the Dronfield Dolphins swimming club and they will shortly bereceiving a grant

Dont hesitate to contact me if you are a member of an organisation in Dronfield and have a project which you would like me to consider supporting

 A large number of Labour MPs have voted against an amendment to allow councils to renovate existing council houses and build new ones whilst retaining local authority direct ownership – despite signing early day motions in support of council house building and renovation.  

The vote took place on a rebel Labour backbench amendment to the Housing and Regeneration Bill in the House of Commons on 31st March 2008. 28 Labour MPs voted against the party’s whip for the amendment, which was supported by the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives abstained.

Here in Dronfield/North East Derbyshire, management of the Councils houses has been passed to Rykneld Homes Ltd as the only way in which money to bring the houses up to a decent standard could be borrowed. This will however depend upon Rykneld Homes obtaining a 2* rating in an Audit Commission inspection

The abolition of the 10% income tax rate was included in the 2007 Budget proposals but will be introduced this April.  Without a corresponding increase in the tax allowance from April, this means that low income earners  will pay the new standard rate of 20% on a greater proportion of their income from that month.

For those only paying 10% currently this will mean a big reduction in their income in addition to the increase in council tax most have to pay.

It is appalling that those on low incomes will lose, whilst those on higher incomes will gain from these latest tax changes. Once again under this government the gap between rich and poor will get wider 

Gordon Brown has moved to quell a backbench revolt over the abolition of the 10p income tax band amid fears it will hit some low-paid families. Mr Brown has assured former Labour whip Greg Pope - who tabled a Commons motion calling for action which was signed by 43 Labour MPs – that he will look again at the impact of the changes. This comes after Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe criticised alcohol tax rises in this year’s Budget, although he later backtracked, saying, peculiarly, “my comments do not accurately reflect my views”. Health Minister Ivan Lewis recently criticised Gordon Brown’s style of government. Commentators have suggested that the Government is in disarray.

The income tax changes made by Gordon Brown in his last Budget represent a tax cut for the wealthy dressed up as a tax cut for the poor. Liberal Democrats pointed that out on the day they were announced. It seems Labour MPs have taken more than a year to wake up to it. The daily splits and disagreements within the Labour parliamentary party, even at ministerial level, are a sign of the growing disarray and sheer absence of competent management in Gordon Brown’s administration.