About Derby City Council

Derby is a safe, compact city with a clearly-defined centre and distinct, cosmopolitan neighbourhoods. With an internationally recognised industrial heritage and now one of the world’s leading aerospace cities, it has a strong identity and yet is surrounded by beautiful countryside. The city itself includes over 800 hectares of municipal parks and the river Derwent flows right through the centre. For more information about the city as an exciting place to live and work, see Derby Does It.

The Council's Structure

We have been a unitary Council since 1997. We employ over 12,000 people and are now the largest single employer in the city. The Council is made up of five departments, Children and Young People, Corporate and Adult Services, Environmental, Regeneration and Community and Resources. Each has a Corporate Director reporting to the Chief Executive.

Derby Homes is the ‘arms-length’ housing organisation that manages and maintains the Council’s housing stock. All other housing services are managed by the Director of Corporate and Adult Social Services.

Political Management Arrangements

The Council is made up of 51 councillors representing 17 wards. There are 24 Labour members, 11 Conservative, 15 Liberal Democrat, and one Independent member. There are four Overview and Scrutiny Commissions, plus a Scrutiny Management Commission that support the work of the Cabinet and the Council as a whole. To give local citizens a greater say in Council affairs, we have five Area Panels. They provide a forum for residents to discuss local issues and petitions with ward councillors and our partner organisations.

Our Partners and How We Work With Them

Working in partnership is key to delivering our priorities. The Council plays an important role in the Derby City Partnership which has been working for over ten years to improve the quality of life for the people of Derby. More information about the Partnership can be found at Derby City Partnership website.

Vision for Derby

Our vision for Derby, our broad priorities for the services we provide, and our key outcomes for improvement are central to our planning processes that allow us to provide better services for Derby.

We have worked with Derby City Partnership to develop a second Community Strategy for 2006-2009, which describes DCP’s priorities over the next three years and how delivering these priorities will help achieve our shared 2020 vision. Our vision is for Derby to be a ‘city for all ages’.

Derby – a city for all ages

People of all ages and from all walks of life will feel they belong to Derby and that Derby offers them everything they need - for work, education, housing, leisure and a safe, healthy lifestyle.

We will help the city to build on its strengths and take advantage of new opportunities to be a major player in the East Midlands. We already work with lots of partners through the Derby City Partnership to achieve this.

Priorities for 2007 – 2010

Our vision for Derby is underpinned by six Council priorities that will guide the services we provide over the next three years. These priorities describe how our services will help to improve the quality of life in Derby and how they support the Community Strategy. Our services will work together across our five departments, with different organisations and with local people to make Derby a city for all ages.

Over the next three years, we will:

• make us proud of our neighbourhoods
• create a 21st Century city centre
• lead Derby towards a better environment
• support everyone in learning and achieving
• help us all to be healthy, active and independent
• give you excellent services and value for money.