Welcome to the offical site for Amber Valley Labour Group

"We want to build a Britain that works for the many, not the few.
That means building the homes we need to rent and buy, keeping our communities safe, giving our schools the funding they need, 
and restoring the NHS to its place as the envy of the world."

Councillors

Leader -                 Cllr Chris Emmas-Williams
Deputy Leader -  Cllr Ben Bellamy
​Chair -                    Cllr Isobel Harry
Secretary -           

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Vote Labour to invest in all our futures.
Vote Labour to eradicate fuel poverty of the elderly and single parents.
Vote Labour to save the planet.
Vote Labour for real change.

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LATEST NEWS

Gracie-Ann Kelly's Remembrance
"Where Is the Love" Message - YouTube

Every year the nation unites to make sure that no-one is forgotten and to remember and honour those who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom.

Our Service is now closed to the public for face-to-face enquiries

CORONAVIRUS- Update
 DUWC offers Help, Advice and Representation on Benefits and Credits.
The safety and well-being of our staff, clients and volunteers is very important to us.
To Speak to an Adviser
Contact us on:
Email: info@duwc.org.uk
Telephone: 01246 231441 Weekdays 8.0 am – 4.0 pm
 
Our current advice is:
Service by telephone and email.  All outreach sites are now closed.  We will arrange appointments only when absolutely necessary.
 
No Home Visits
 Website: www.duwc.org.uk
 
IMPORTANT:
If you have fallen ill since attending our advice sessions, please let us know as soon as possible.
 
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during these exceptional circumstances.
Councillor Chris Emmas-Williams
Leader of Amber Valley Borough Council
FREE SCHOOL MEALS UPDATE

I know how difficult it is for vulnerable families at this time of the year especially with the thoughts of Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas on the horizon and Amber Valley Borough Council want to try and ensure that our school children do not go hungry this Christmas. This is very difficult for us, as we are not the Education Authority, which firstly gives us the issue of just how many children get Free School Meals and also how can we provide assistance to any finance and distribution of the vouchers. We expected the Government to provide the scheme for this half term but we will also be calling on Derbyshire County Council to fund these meals for all our children immediately. We know the Amber Valley Constituency has at least 2,874 recipients of the service at the moment but with the Pandemic now believed to be in its second phase this could increase very quickly.
I have been speaking with local headteachers, who are also very concerned and I know in my area the school has done a fantastic job in the past to alleviate some of the poverty that it would appear only Labour politicians and Marcus Rashford MBE are aware of. I am determined to see what we can do together to put some alternative provision in place. With half-term started and having only found out on Wednesday evening that the Government would not be continuing the scheme, it has not been possible to get things in place for this week but we must be ready for Christmas. If people want to help families struggling over the half-term break, I’d ask that they donate to local food charities as on the attached list. We have also seen a number of local businesses around the Borough making a commitment to help the FSM situation and we are so grateful for their involvement during these difficult times. It does not help that local authority finances have been decimated by Austerity and COVID-19 and consequently local councils are having to be prudent to keep services running therefore we will be looking for ways that our council can commit to legally fund this scheme. Our goal is not to replace any initiatives, but to work together to ensure that every eligible family gets the food-support they need this Christmas. The Government has let down these children and I am confident that Amber Valleys community won’t.
Amber Valley Food Banks Below is a list of what we currently have in the Borough
Heanor https://www.salcare.org.uk/
Alfreton House Alfreton Wednesday 2pm 3pm
Belper
Hope for Belper
https://hopeforbelper.com/the-basic-idea/
Ripley
Ripley Corps Community Centre (Salvation Army)
25 Heath Rd
Ripley
DE5 3EN
Email address: ripley@salvationarmy.org.uk
Phone: 01773 741 932
Mobile: 07776769686
Referral only – Collection only from Heath Road for emergency food
Riddings /Somercotes https://www.oscari-online.com/
Riddings Church (OSCARI)
By appointment only - Call Chris on 07738221330
Eastwood/Langley Mill
Eastwood Volunteer Bureau at the rear of Eastwood Library Friday 10am -1pm
St Andrews Church, Station Road Langley Mill. Friday 1.30pm to 4pm Jean Bailey 07407634683
Labour threatens new Commons vote on free school meals

Labour has made it clear that it will force another Commons vote on the extension of free school meals over the holidays if the government does not change its policy before the Christmas recess.
In a letter to Gavin Williamson, Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green said “Labour will not give up on the fight to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry.”
The move follows a Commons vote last Wednesday when the Conservatives rejected a Labour motion that would have seen free school meals extended over the school holidays, a measure that would have benefitted over 1.4 million children and their families.
Green has called for Gavin Williamson, as well as Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, to meet with the Child Food Poverty Taskforce set up by Marcus Rashford, to discuss their proposals.
In her letter, Green condemned the “dangerous and stigmatising rhetoric” used by Conservative MPs in recent days. She criticised Ben Bradley MP for a tweet in which he supported the claim that the provision of free school meal vouchers in summer amounted to £20 cash direct to a crack den and a brothel”, and expressed concern at Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, who criticised businesses in her area for providing free meals over the holidays.
The intervention comes as Labour increases the pressure on the Conservatives to make tackling child poverty a national priority. The last Labour government set clear targets to end child poverty by 2020, but in the last year it has risen, with projections that it will continue to rise as a result of the pandemic. In the last General Election the Resolution Foundation warned that the Conservative manifesto could see child poverty reach record highs.
The text of Kate Green’s letter to Gavin Williamson reads:
Dear Gavin,
In 2020, child poverty in this country was supposed to come to an end.
The last Labour government previously made a legally binding commitment to see child poverty end by 2020. The time that Labour spent in office saw a huge decline in child poverty, the result of a cross-government effort to end the scourge of child poverty.
But, sadly, on a day when child poverty should have come to an end, there will be over 4 million children across the country who wake up in poverty. The majority of them are the children of working parents, struggling because their jobs do not pay enough to make ends meet, because housing is too expensive and too insecure, and because of the billions of pounds cut form our social safety net since your Party took office in 2010.
After the last Labour government oversaw a huge reduction in levels of child poverty, successive Conservative governments have implemented policies that have caused child poverty to rise. If you do not change course as a matter of urgency the number of children growing up in poverty will reach a record high.
On Wednesday, Labour proposed a small measure that would have helped many of these families. We proposed a motion in Parliament that would have extended free school meals over the school holidays, to support the families struggling to make ends meet in this pandemic. Unfortunately, you and over 300 of your Conservative colleagues voted against this measure.
This would have supported over 1.4 million children and their families, at a time when so many are concerned about losing their jobs, seeing their income fall, and not being able to put food on the table for their families.
There is still time to change approach, but the government must act quickly. If you change your policy now, we can ensure that no child goes to bed hungry on Christmas Day. Labour will not give up on the fight to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry, and if you do not change course we will bring this issue back to the House of Commons before Christmas.
I am sure that, like me, you welcome the work done by Marcus Rashford and the Child Food Poverty Taskforce to shine a light on this hugely important issue. I urge you, the Prime Minister, and the Chancellor to get around the table with them as a matter of urgency, to discuss their proposals, and to ensure that ending child poverty, and ensuring no child goes to bed hungry, is a priority of this government. I will be making the same offer to them on behalf of myself and the Leader of the Labour Party.
But beyond the practical, policy steps needed to end child poverty, it is important that politicians of all parties have a genuine understanding of these issues, rooted in the facts and in compassion for those struggling to make ends meet. That is why I have been deeply concerned by the comments made by a number of Conservative Members of Parliament in recent days, which show a dangerous misunderstanding of the huge challenges of children growing up in poverty. The stigmatising and dangerous rhetoric we have seen from too many of your colleagues.
In a tweet that has since been deleted, Ben Bradley, Conservative MP for Mansfield, appeared to endorse the idea that the provision of free school meals over the summer, a government policy that I welcomed and supported, amounted to “£20 cash direct to a crack den and brothel.” Mr Bradley’s tweet shows a dangerous misunderstanding of both the reality faced by parents who struggle to make ends meet, and of the government’s own policy.
Indeed in the House of Commons Mr Bradley raised this exact concern to you, and you made it clear that the vouchers could only be used to purchase food. I hope you will urgently correct his misunderstanding of this policy.
Selaine Saxby, Conservative MP for North Devon, has criticised businesses in her own constituency for offering free school meals over the holidays, saying that she “very much hope[s] they will not be seeking any further government support.”
I was shocked to see a Conservative Member of Parliament seek to attack local businesses for trying to do what was right for their community. I hope that you will congratulate every business who is taking this step, something that the Prime Minister’s spokesperson seemed unfortunately unable to do.
I have repeatedly raised concerns with you that children and their families have been an afterthought for this government throughout the pandemic, and your Party’s vote on Wednesday confirmed my fears.
Now, thanks to the incredible effort of Marcus Rashford, of local councils and businesses, the Labour government in Wales, and campaigners across the country, the challenges of families struggling to make ends meet, and children growing up in poverty, have become a national priority.
This is a rare opportunity for everyone, in Westminster and across the country, to come together and end the great evil of child poverty. Because this is about so much more than a single issue or policy, it is about saying to the millions of children who grow up worrying that they will go to bed hungry, or the parents worried that they have to choose between feeding their children or heating their home, that they matter, that their concerns are the concerns of their government.
Child poverty was rising before this pandemic, and if nothing is done it will continue to rise. This cannot happen. This must now be a turning point, when all parties commit themselves to the end of child poverty.
I urge you to do the right thing, to do what the last Labour government did, and make ending child poverty a priority for this government. It is only by focusing relentlessly on these issues that we will make Britain the best place to grow up in.
Taking action on child poverty is not just about putting food on the table, or paying the bills, it is about making the life, talents, and aspirations of every child matter, and giving them the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
I hope that you will meet with the Child Food Poverty Taskforce and reverse your position on free school meals. But beyond that, you must rededicate this government to tackling the scourge of child poverty. I promise that you will have my support if you choose to do so
Yours sincerely,
Kate Green MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Education
Government must publish its plan to fix social care crisis and that plan must guarantee all care workers will be paid at least the real living wage – Angela Rayner
Government must publish its plan to fix social care crisis and that plan must guarantee all care workers will be paid at least the real living wage
Labour has today demanded that the Prime Minister publish his promised plan to fix the crisis in social care and that plan must guarantee that all social workers are paid at least the Real Living Wage of £9.30, rising to £10.75 in London.
Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, who was a home care worker and represented social care workers as a shop steward and trade union official before becoming a Member of Parliament, said it was “unconscionable” that the average wage for a care worker is just £8.10 an hour, while half don’t even earn the real living wage. She attacked the government for “empty gestures” that “don’t pay the rent or put the food on the table”.
Rayner, who will open Labour Connected this weekend by paying tribute to the “key worker heroes” who have put their lives on the line to help get our country through this crisis, also accused the Prime Minister of demeaning his office by trying to blame social care workers.
Demanding that the government publish its long-delayed plan for social care and that plan guarantee a real living wage for all social care workers, Angela Rayner said:
“On his first day in office the Prime Minister promised to fix the crisis in social care with a plan he said he had already prepared. Now it turns out that it won’t be published until next year.
“He must publish his plan to fix the crisis in social care without any more delays, and that plan must guarantee all care workers are paid at least the real living wage.
Attacking the Prime Minister Boris Johnson for only offering care workers “warm words”, Angela Rayner said:
“It was a moral outrage before this pandemic that the average wage for a care worker is a little over £8 an hour and half don’t even earn the real living wage, but now it is unconscionable.
“The Prime Minister and government Ministers have fallen over themselves to clap for our carers and offer them warm words, but applause and empty gestures don’t pay the rent or put the food on the table.
“We can’t clap our key workers and then abandon them. We can’t go back to business as usual, where the very same people who have helped to get our country through this crisis are still underpaid and undervalued.
“After all their sacrifice and bravery, the very least that our care workers deserve is a pay rise.
On Statutory Sick Pay, Angela Rayner said:
“Many social care staff do not even have the right to derisory Statutory Sick Pay of £94.25 per week.
“They are left in an appalling position, forced to choose between going to work and putting vulnerable people at risk or doing the right thing, isolating at home and not being able to pay the bills”.
On the government’s record on social care during the coronavirus crisis, Angela Rayner said:
“It is a disgrace that Boris Johnson demeaned the office of Prime Minister by attempting to blame care workers for the spread of coronavirus in our care homes.
“It is his failure and incompetence that has resulted in 15,000 deaths in our care homes due to coronavirus. He should concentrate on fixing the crisis in social care that has become even more urgent because of this pandemic”.
Ministers must guarantee weekly testing of all care workers – Liz Kendall
Liz Kendall, Labour’s Shadow Social Care Minister, commenting on the extension of the social care infection prevention fund, said:
“It is welcome that the Government has heeded calls from Labour and the social care sector to renew this fund.
“However, the Health Secretary’s claims that the Government have done “everything possible” to protect care homes don’t match the tragic reality of the pressures that care homes have faced throughout this pandemic.
“After broken promises on care home testing this summer, Ministers must guarantee weekly testing of all care workers will be put in place, ensure all care homes get the support they need from GPs and other NHS staff, and ensure families can safely visit loved ones in residential care.”
𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐘 𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏
“𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐈𝐒-𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐔𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐁𝐘 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐀𝐃𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍”
Labour councilors have been concerned for some time with regards to the use and administration of Section 106 monies. These are negotiated by the planning department with developers to provide some improvements for things like extra schools or classes, road improvements, affordable housing, community provision, play areas or open space provision.
It has been very difficult for Members to find out exactly what has been negotiated by area as they are all just linked to the approved planning applications over many years. Now a damning report by the Central Midlands Audit Partnership to the July Governance and Audit Board has highlighted the situation that the previous administration was either aware of, or incompetent at controlling these valuable assets.
The report highlighted no documented procedures, no departmental records, limited information recorded to enable reconciliation, no effective method to monitor the agreements, expenditure not being regularly monitored and some long outstanding balances dated back as far as 1994 should have been returned.
Leader of the Council Chris Emmas-Williams said :
‘𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 106 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔.
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒙, 𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.
𝑾𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕’
Bridget Phillipson MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responds to Treasury Select Committee report
Bridget Phillipson MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responding to the Treasury Select Committee report, said:
“It’s good to hear the Treasury Select Committee echo Labour’s calls for targeted support for jobs and businesses beyond the Chancellor’s October cliff edge.
“This report adds to the chorus of warnings that the Chancellor’s one-size-fits-all withdrawal of wage support risks a huge spike in unemployment this autumn.
“Labour, trade unions, businesses, think tanks, backbench Tory MPs and now the Treasury Select Committee are all sounding the alarm. What will it take to make this stubborn Chancellor listen?”
Emily Thornberry responds to trade agreement announced between the UK and Japan
Emily Thornberry MP, Labour’s Shadow International Trade Secretary, responding to the trade agreement announced between the UK and Japan, said:
“This agreement is a welcome and necessary step to maintain our current trading arrangements with Japan beyond December 31st, and to extend access for British companies in some key sectors. However, it is important to put it in perspective.
“Trade with Japan represented 2.21% of our global total last year, and under the best case scenario put forward by the government, today’s agreement will see that total increase by just 0.07 percentage points each year, simply maintaining the levels of growth seen since 2015, and preserving the forecast benefits of the current EU-Japan agreement.
“That all compares to the 47% of our global trade that we currently have with the EU. So necessary as this agreement is, the government’s over-riding priority has to be securing the oven-ready deal that they promised us with Europe, which Japanese companies like Nissan have told us is crucial to the future of the investment and jobs they bring to Britain.”
Hardyal Dhindsa - Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner
It was great to welcome
Keir Starmer
MP, leader of the Labour Party, to Chesterfield with Toby Perkins MP, yesterday.
Keir is committed to Derbyshire and the Midlands. He knows without our success, there is no success. I look forward to working, as Police and Crime Commissioner, with him to deliver for Derbyshire.
Derbyshire County Council is set to write to gov with plans for single unitary authority to cover Derbyshire.
- Districts and boroughs would be abolished
- It wants East Midlands Combined Authority with devolved powers
- It prefers NOT to have a formal merger but shared agreement
This is despite central gov asking for unitary pitches much smaller (population of 300K-600K) than Derbyshire has proposed (771K)
Derby this week said it wants to widen its borders and merge with Amber Valley, Erewash and South Derbyshire - which apparently was news to them
Government fails to bring forward evictions legislation ahead of ban lifting on 20th September
The Government Deputy Chief Whip confirmed today that Government has ignored calls from Labour and housing organisations to bring forward legal changes to protect renters before the ban on evictions is lifted next Sunday.
In his Business Statement today, Government Deputy Chief Whip Stuart Andrew announced that there would be no Parliamentary time next week for MPs to debate the end of the evictions ban.
Thangam Debbonaire, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, said:
“The Government’s chaotic handling of the evictions crisis has thrown renters and landlords into confusion.
“Labour has been saying for months that the Government needs a credible plan to prevent a dramatic rise in homelessness when the ban on evictions is lifted.
“As things stand, we are facing the same cliff edge next week that the Government narrowly avoided at the end of August.
“Ministers promised that no one would lose their home because of Coronavirus. They must urgently change course, and bring forward the urgent legal changes that are needed before next week.”
Over four million people still need furlough to make ends meet through this crisis.

Tory MPs just voted to cut support.

Let your friends know.
Labour will attempt to legislate to force Government to implement the Grenfell Inquiry recommendations
Labour will use the Fire Safety Bill to try and force the Government to implement the vital recommendations in the Grenfell Inquiry. The amendment will place robust requirements on building owners or managers to share information with local Fire and Rescue Service about the design, and the materials of the external walls, to undertake regular inspections of individual flat entrance doors and lifts, and share evacuation and fire safety instructions with residents of the building.
Furthermore, this amendment would force the Government to honour the commitment they made to act on recommendations from Phase One of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, published in October 2019.
Shamefully, latest Government figures published in August show that over 80% of private sector residential buildings and nearly half of social sector residential buildings wrapped in Grenfell style ACM cladding have not the materials removed.
Sarah Jones MP, Labour’s Shadow Policing and Fire Minister, said:
“Over three years after Grenfell, it is shameful how little progress has been made. The Government has continuously broken their promises, while tens of thousands of people across the country are stuck living in unsafe flats. The victims and survivors of Grenfell are still waiting for justice. This is completely unacceptable.
“Labour’s amendment to the Bill is an attempt to force the Government to deliver the recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry’s Phase One Report. Every measure necessary should be put in place to prevent a fire like Grenfell from ever happening again. We urge the Government to honour their promises and back the amendment and get the work done.”
Keir Starmer today [Wednesday 29 July] calls for targeted support for domestic tourism jobs, as Labour analysis shows tourist hotspots are being disproportionately affected by the growing unemployment crisis.
Ahead of a visit to Falmouth in Cornwall to meet local businesses, Starmer praises the UK’s world-class tourism destinations but warns that tourist towns are “falling through the cracks” as the Government prepares to wind down the furlough scheme.
The Labour leader calls for more targeted, flexible support to protect jobs in communities reliant on tourism, where many businesses are still unable to operate at full capacity and have seen the profitable summer season cut short.
Analysis of ONS unemployment and labour market data by the Labour Party has found that areas with a larger share of the local workforce in tourism industries have on average seen larger rises in the claimant count of unemployment since February.
Labour’s analysis reveals that in areas where over a fifth of workers are in tourism-related jobs, the claimant count of unemployment among working-age adults has risen by 174 per cent since February, compared to 110 per cent for the UK as a whole.
To prevent further job losses in domestic tourism, Starmer will reiterate Labour’s calls for an extension of the Government’s furlough scheme for the worst-hit sectors. Starmer will also urge Ministers to ensure support measures, such as work coaches, are in place to help people back into work in hard-hit areas.
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, said:
“We are lucky to have many world-class tourist destinations across the UK. But the jobs crisis facing tourist towns is stark.
“There are fantastic domestic options for British holidaymakers, but the crucial summer season has been cut short. With many businesses still unable to reopen fully, the Government’s one-size-fits-all approach to jobs risks these towns falling through the cracks.
“We need a targeted extension of the furlough scheme for the hardest-hit sectors and proper support in place to help those who are unemployed back into work. People are worried about their job prospects. The Labour Party is focused on fighting for every job and every part of the country.”

“The unsung heroes of this crisis” – 
Starmer’s full speech to the LGA

Below is Keir Starmer’s speech to the Local Government Association conference today, in which he described councils as the “unsung heroes of this crisis” and set out plans for a “new relationship between national and local government”.
Thank you for inviting me to speak today. It seems a long time since I was with you at last year’s LGA conference in Bournemouth In fact, looking at you across this screen, it almost feels like another world. I had hoped that this would be a chance for us to meet in person. It would have been the first major conference of my leadership. A chance to thank our fantastic local government leaders. To hear about the challenges you’re facing. To discuss our vision for the future of local government, and to underline that under my leadership, local government will be at the heart how Labour rebuilds our country and our communities.
But, as with so much in the last few months, we’ve had to adapt. My first speech as Labour Leader was filmed in my living room and my first conference is by Zoom! I want to thank everyone at the LGA for making it possible for us to meet today; albeit virtually! And I also want to say a much wider thank you to the councillors, the cabinet members and the leaders, to the officials, the officers and the staff, to the more than one million people working in local government the length and the breadth of the country.
Even in “normal times” you deliver the services we all depend on. The ones that, frankly, are too often taken for granted. But during this crisis, you have been at the frontline. Whether in our care homes and delivering social care, obtaining protective equipment, preventing homelessness, emptying our bins, keeping our streets safe and delivering food and basic supplies to those in need. You have been among the unsung heroes of this crisis. We all know who the key workers are now. And so I want to thank you all.
Of course, everything has to be seen through the prism of coronavirus. This is the greatest crisis our country has faced in most of our life times. Our economy has been shut down, leaving businesses and workers alike facing huge uncertainty; loved ones went months without seeing one another; for some this meant agonising decisions, missing births and even funerals; and – tragically – many of us have friends, family, constituents and neighbours who were taken too soon by this awful disease.
The UK has suffered more than most countries. 65,000 have died because of Covid-19. Our economy projected to decline by more than any OECD country this year. And millions of people are living in insecurity about their jobs and their incomes. But during this crisis, we have also seen incredible and inspiring moments: Captain Tom Moore, who captured the nation’s imagination in raising £32 million for NHS charities; the dedication and bravery of those tackling this disease on the frontline; the quiet selflessness of those who came together to form community groups or check in on elderly and vulnerable neighbours. No one is pretending we are out of the darkness yet. But they have been the glimmers of light that have got us through. And when we come out of this crisis, but will be because of them.
We’re now in a new phase of the pandemic. As lockdown restrictions begin to ease, people are returning to work, to high streets and to public places in towns and cities across the country. We welcome that. It may seem strange for the leader of the opposition to say this, but we want the government to get this right. People’s lives and livelihoods depend in it. And the onus is now on government to deliver. To provide the systems, the reassurance and the clear public messaging that will allow this to happen safely.
From the earliest days of my leadership, I’ve said the government need to plan for an exit strategy. A coherent plan to bring the country together. My fear now is that we have an exit, but without a strategy. The Prime Minister can do rhetoric – he started this pandemic saying Britain was “ready to take off its Clark Kent spectacles and leap into the phone booth and emerge with its cloak flowing as the supercharged champion”. But he can’t govern. And his failure to plan, to act quickly and decisively, to take the right decisions at the right time, has held Britain back. Whether on protective equipment, care homes or testing.
As a result: those at the frontline have too often lacked the power and resources they need. Nowhere is this truer than in local government. After a decade of cuts, the coronavirus crisis and the government’s inaction have created a perfect storm. Councils are faced with much higher costs for key services such as social care. And much lower revenues through falls in areas such as business rates. As a result, you’ve estimated that councils now face a blackhole of around £10bn. And a report last week showed eight in ten face councils cutting services or section 144 notices and effective bankruptcy.
This isn’t party political – Conservative councils and Labour councils face the same problems. And as you know better than anyone, this would have real effects on the services we all rely on. It could mean further cuts to social care, fewer police officers – it could mean streetlights going on later and going off earlier. It could mean libraries, gyms and community centres staying closed: the places that give meaning and character to our communities. I’ve raised this with the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions for the last two weeks. But – as you might have seen – I haven’t had many answers. Or at least coherent ones. In fact, I’m not sure the Prime Minister has understood the scale of the problem local councils are facing, or the immediacy. I’m also not sure he understands how central local authorities will be in the next phase of this crisis and in preventing a second spike.
That’s why I called last week at PMQs for councils to given much clearer guidance and new powers to enforce local lockdowns if needed. Again, rather than take this seriously and put a plan in proper plan in place, the PM ignored it. And when the MP for Hove – Peter Kyle – warned that seaside towns and councils could be unable to cope with people rushing to beaches or parks in the summer, the PM said he should simply “show some guts and determination”. Two days later, 500,000 people crowded onto Bournemouth beach. And the local council had no choice but to declare a major incident.
As we begin to emerge from this stage of the crisis, we need much stronger and more focused leadership. And we need to build a new relationship between national and local government, to end the over-centralisation of power and resources in Westminster, to push it much closer to local communities. Part of that is empowering local government. Councillors are at the frontline of this crisis. They are often the first to see where national government is going wrong. Yet too often they are ignored, and too often central government is too slow to respond. We need to change that.
Under my leadership, we are already giving local government a bigger part in Labour politics. We have brilliant former local government leaders like Jim McMahon and Steve Reed in the shadow cabinet. Nick Forbes joins my weekly shadow cabinet meetings to ensure the voice of local government is in the room whenever decisions are being made. And we’ve ensured that every member of the Shadow Cabinet has been partnered with a local government leader. And while we’re been out of power for far too long nationally, in towns and cities across the UK Labour is changing people’s lives through our mayors and councillors.
But my commitment to local government doesn’t just exist in opposition. A Labour government would win power in order to hand it back to the nations, regions, cities and towns across our country. We would give local government a much bigger say over investment and services – not through plans devised by someone in an office on Whitehall, but ones created and rooted in communities, so that they truly serve the people. We would put local government, its power and its innovation, straight at the heart of Westminster by replacing the House of Lords with a democratic second chamber representing the nations and regions of the UK. And we would give councillors, communities and people on the front line in our public services a bigger say over the decisions that affect them. Because at the heart of the broken trust in national politics and politicians is a feeling that we aren’t listening. That we don’t care. That we don’t understand. Listen to Boris Johnson at Prime Ministers’ Question each week, and you can understand why! But working with you, we want to prove this wrong, and truly empower local communities.

Amber Valley Leader Chris Emmas-Williams reflects
on the first year of the new Labour Council in Amber Valley

Child poverty rates are projected to increase to 5.2 million by 2022.  What is Boris Johnson going to do about it?

Councils will face a choice between cutting core services or bankruptcy unless Boris Johnson takes responsibility.

Today, the Conservatives can do the right thing and vote to make sure 1.3 million children don't go hungry this summer.
Today, we remember the 72 precious lives lost in the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
I pledge to do everything in my power to ensure it never happens again and that justice is found.

Today marks 33 years since Bernie Grant, Diane Abbott and Paul Boateng were elected as MPs.

Since then, progress has been made. But this year's anniversary comes as worldwide events expose the anti-Black racism, discrimination and social injustice still rife within our society.

We kneel with all those opposing anti-Black racism. #BlackLivesMatter

As leader and deputy of Amber Valley, we have written to Rolls Royce expressing concern at proposed job losses, and urging for a pause.
Full Text:
FAO: Warren East CEO Rolls Royce PLC
Cc: Steve Turner, Unite the Union
Dear Mr East,
Rolls Royce is a company with a proud history in our area, and with the mutually beneficial arrangement of a supply chain and skills base built around the loyal and proud workers and businesses of Derby and the surrounding area. Simply put, there is a symbiotic relationship between the company and the people of Derbyshire, including very many people and supply chain companies in Amber Valley.
It is therefore of some distress that we learned of Rolls Royce’s plans to make swathing job cuts, citing the Corona Virus COVID-19 as the reason.
Let’s be clear – we all understand that there are inevitable pressures and uncertainty regarding the Airline industry. Not many of us have failed to notice the clear skies, and it is indeed unlikely that international travel will restart quickly. But it will restart. And when it does, it is important that Rolls Royce remains ready, able and poised at the forefront, ready and able to supply and maintain what are clearly the best Jet Engines in the world.
Your employees and supply chain have more than just a contractual relationship with you, they have an emotional connection, built on a history from the Eagle engine, used by Allcock and Brown on the first non-stop transatlantic crossing in 1915, the Merlin which powered air victory in ww2 to the modern Jet Engines that have powered travel and industry through the last century to this.
Derby and the surrounding area were built around Rolls Royce and the Railways, to supply the skills and workforce that was needed – you have benefited from that commitment of the locality for over 100 years. Your company was bailed out in 1971, nationalised by a government that, even though it was ideologically welded to privatised industry, recognised the importance of Rolls Royce to both local and national economies. Simply put, you would not be here now had the people not stepped in to support you. And now is the time to repay that debt.
We urge you to consider every possible alternative to job cuts. Skills and experience built up over a lifetime cannot be replaced on a whim, and boardroom snap decisions to make cuts can have devastating personal implications for each individual worker and their families.
We urge you to engage with Unite the Union in a constructive way, abiding by the collective agreements that you have together, and remembering that each individual who works for your company, collectively make up all that you have. Take a pause and a breath, and please consider not just the short term share price, but the long term cost of any rash decision that could cause damage beyond repair. It is your duty as the custodian of this company, to protect the tradition and ’name’ and to make sure that you recognise its place in the economy and the heart of local people, and absolutely minimise any potential job losses.
Yours faithfully
Councillor Chris Emmas-Williams Councillor Ben R E Bellamy
Coronavirus: Government criticised over use of testing data
The head of the UK's statistics watchdog writes to Matt Hancock, saying data is "far from complete".
Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified
Key workers - share your story with us
The coronavirus crisis has shown the country who our key workers really are and their true value in our society.
Key workers deserve not only our recognition but better pay, working conditions and, above all, to be listened to.
From the retail staff and nurses, to refuse collectors and many more, we have seen people in our communities pull together and put their lives on the line to keep our country going.
After this is over, we have a chance to rebuild society in a way that works for – and really values – everyone.
If you’re a key worker, we want to hear from you.   CLICK HERE

Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa is appealing for people to act with kindness and respect in community pharmacies following reports of violence and abuse against staff during Covid-19.

The PCC is supporting a campaign by the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) to protect frontline pharmacy staff amid a growing wave of incidents during the pandemic.

Community pharmacists have seen demand increase significantly since the Covid-19 outbreak which is inevitably impacting on services and provision. This has sparked an influx of incidents of abuse and threats against staff.

The PDA has written to Home Secretary Priti Patel calling for government support to raise the issue and take measures to protect pharmacists and their teams from violence. It has also enlisted the support of PCCs to raise awareness of the repercussions of breaking new laws protecting key emergency workers.

Mr Dhindsa said: "Our community pharmacies are doing a fantastic job during what is an unprecedented and challenging time. As key workers, pharmacy employees are putting themselves and their families at risk during this pandemic to help others and deserve respect and appreciation for their services.
"The safety of frontline workers is paramount and our officers will take action against those who think it is acceptable to take their tension and anxiety out on hardworking staff. Aggression or abuse of any kind will not be tolerated and we will use the full power of the law to apprehend perpetrators.

"Pharmacies are providing an essential service and we must all be mindful of the significant pressure their teams are facing by practising patience and kindness. Violence or abuse should never be accepted as part of any job."

Pharmacy workers are protected under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. Those breaking the law face tough penalties including a maximum of 12 months' imprisonment.

The PDA has developed a new resource pack to help pharmacists protect staff which is available at: https://www.the-pda.org/pda-increase-action-on-campaign-to-end-violence-in-pharmacies/
Tonight we go out to clap for our carers and key workers - those who are putting their lives at risk to keep us safe.

Tonight we go out to clap for our carers and key workers - those who are putting their lives at risk to keep us safe. When this pandemic is over, we can’t go back to business as usual with people left underpaid and undervalued. We owe them more than that. #ClapForOurCarers

Posted by Keir Starmer on Thursday, 16 April 2020
Statement from the Amber Valley Labour Group

Following comments from Cllr Oakes on social media, which we utterly condemn, the Amber Valley Labour group withdrew the whip this morning, and can announce this now that the whip has spoken to Cllr Oakes.

This means that Cllr Oakes does not currently sit as a Labour Councillor, and further due process will follow.
We wish the Prime Minister, and all who are suffering this awful disease, a speedy recovery and send love and solidarity to them and their families.

It would be inappropriate to comment further until due process has taken its course.



"As leader of the Council & Labour Group I am appalled and very disappointed by the comments posted on Facebook by Cllr Sheila Oakes. There is no place in politics for personal and hurtful comments no matter how angry you are.

I asked Cllr Oakes to remove the comments and apologise immediately after it was brought to my attention. In no circumstances can I or the Labour Group condone this sort of behaviour, it is not in being with the standards expected in Public Life or Office.

A full investigation will take place and appropriate action will be taken in line with the Labour Party rules and regulations".

Cllr Chris Emmas-Williams
Leader of the Labour Group
Hi, This is Cllr Chris Emmas-Williams of Amber Valley Borough Council and I wanted to say how proud I am to be the Leader of such an amazing group of Staff Officers and Members who are continuing to provide the best service possible despite these unprecedented times that we are all experiencing.

     The Waste Collection service are still collecting bins throughout the Borough as best as resources are allowing, but the decision not to collect Green Waste has had to be implemented from March 30th due to self isolating of some staff and we wish them all well.
   We are trying to keep up to date with all the new legislation regarding Finance for businesses across the Borough and processing these claims along with all Housing and Council Tax benefits as well. Officers and Members have been involved in conferencing with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and the District Councillors Network discussing the lack of PPE for Social Workers and others on the front line who are doing an amazing job.

  Some of our staff, where able, are working from home with only staff who have to use critical work information still coming into the offices but this is very fluent.

 We recognise the difficulties, sacrifices and financial hardships that people in Amber Valley are suffering. Whilst we are administrating the Government Grant scheme for small businesses with premises, we know that there are many who fall in the gaps and the loopholes in support schemes, and we are lobbying Government to ask them to help everyone during these trying times. We extend our thanks to all shop workers, postal workers and delivery people, carers and helpers and every single person working hard to keep things going. It is heartening to see communities coming together to support each other, and may this long continue when these times are but a distant memory.

Lastly I want to thank all our partners the Police, Fire, Ambulance and all the NHS staff who on a daily basis are risking their own health for the benefit of all of us. We must all listen and carry out the instructions and Government advice that residents should not leave home unless it is for physical exercise, medical need, necessary travelling to work or shopping for basic necessities. If not stay at home and keep safe.
​
Thank you for all your support
🌍 What will you do to tackle climate change in Derbyshire? That was the big question put to businesses, councils, housing developers & other public bodies at our event today. Thanks to the 150 people who joined to discuss how we can work together to become a net zero carbon county by 2050. #gogreenDerbyshire More here... 🌍 https://crowd.in/YjGTuP
A Labour controlled Councils delivering on its promise to increase the number of CCTV cameras NOT reduce them like the Tories

Switch on for additional CCTV cameras in Amber ValleyFour new state-of-the-art CCTV cameras are now operating in Amber Valley to assist police in their mission to reduce and deter crime in the towns of Alfreton, Belper, Heanor and Ripley.
Like the existing cameras, which were upgraded recently, the new cameras have powerful zoom-in features, meaning they can cover a remarkably wide area. They deliver high-resolution images to a control room which is monitored 24/7. There is one new camera in each town as part of this first phase.
The cameras are also re-deployable, meaning their location can be moved dependent on changes in infrastructure and crime hotspots.
Commented Amber Valley Borough Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration and community safety, Councillor Ben Bellamy: "This increase in CCTV cameras has been carried out as a direct result of feedback we have received from the borough’s residents, and has been delivered as promised. Anyone who thinks about committing crime or anti-social behaviour in our borough should think again. In phase two, we will be looking at extending the CCTV network in partnership with parish councils, to provide more peace of mind to residents in all communities and additional support to the police in prosecuting criminal acts."

Getting petition signed 24 January 2020 at Alfreton Station

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​Labour Councillors and members are furious about the proposed slashing of Alfreton and Langey Mill London services. We were out and about early telling commuters about our petition - over 3500 people have signed now!

https://www.change.org/p/network-rail-save-alfreton-and-langley-mill-london-train-services-s-a-l-t-s

On Wednesday 27th January 2020 there was a full council in Ripley Town Hall at 7pm, where we will be moving a motion to try and get them to change their minds!
​More to follow

Here’s everything you need to know to have your voice heard.👇
https://labour.org.uk/people/leadership-elections-hub-2020/

Labour is a vibrant, evolving movement, and there are countless diverse opportunities that you can take part in. You can get involved in campaigning, attend events like Annual Conference, join a group or look into standing as a candidate – and that’s just for starters! So whatever you want to get involved in, don’t delay. We’d love to have you on board. TAKE PART TODAY