Annual meeting 2007

The Cabinet line-up was confirmed at the meeting.

Councillor John Williams remains Council Leader for the sixth year running and Councillor Anne Western begins her fourth year as Deputy Leader.

The full Cabinet was confirmed as follows:

• Strategic Policy and Budget - John Williams
• Children's Services - Anne Western
• Adult Social Services– Dave Allen
• Schools - Alan Charles
• Environmental Services - Brian Lucas
• Regeneration - Geoff Carlile
• Cultural Services- Bob Janes
• Community Safety – Clive Moesby
• Neighbourhood Services – Ken Armstrong

• Leader of the Opposition- Annette Noskwith

Councillor Joyce Sanders takes over from Councillor Walter Burrows as Chair of the council and Councillor Janet Hill takes on the role of Vice Chair of the authority from Councillor Eric Lancashire MBE.
 
Addressing the council, Councillor Sanders highlighted some of the council’s key achievements over the last 12 months including:

• Retaining the “top four star” rating from government watchdogs – Derbyshire is “improving well” and is one of the top three councils in the country

• Some of the lowest council tax increases in the country for the last five years

• Bucking the national trend when it come to residents’ satisfaction with our services

• Free countywide bus travel scheme for 175,000 Gold Card holders

• Investing heavily in the county's roads and pavements and public transport network making it easier for people to get about

• Helping more vulnerable people to live independently in their own homes

• Working in partnership with the police to cut crime – crime rates in Derbyshire are the lowest in the East Midlands.

Councillor Sanders also acknowledged the crucial role of council staff and partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors in helping the authority deliver good quality and efficient services to improve life locally.

Read the Chair’s speech