TOYOTA CITY JUNIOR ORCHESTRA VISITS SOUTH DERBYSHIRE 25TH JULY 2008

What an amazing day Friday was. Toyota City Junior Orchestra visited and played twice, once in historic Melbourne Church and then finished the trip off by playing at the Toyota Plant in Burnaston.

In the morning they played in Melbourne, with Radio Derby there broadcasting interviews about the event. The children were introduced to the High Sherriff of Derbyshire and wife Lord and Lady Kerr, with Lord Ralph resplendent in ceremonial outfit. After the wonderful concert they had lunch at the Melbourne Hall tearooms and visited the beautiful gardens.

They finished the trip to South Derbyshire by playing a concert at the Toyota plant in Burnaston. They played pieces from Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony and a Japanese piece called Fantasia Toryanse.

The children very kindly allowed some photos to be taken. They were stunning, gifted, gracious and so talented.

A wonderful day that I would not have experienced if I was not involved in civic life in South Derbyshire. I hope they enjoyed their time with us. I know I enjoyed meeting them.

Photos of the Toyota City Junior Orchestra and one with a few of the young ladies with Heather

By-Election trail Darley Abbey for Derby City Council

Another by-election so out with the Team knocking on doors. This time we helped out in Derby’s Darley Abbey ward. This had in the past been Liberal seat. Our candidate Lorraine was fighting for the 3rd time and we were hopeful that we might squeeze a victory but unfortunately missed out by less than 80 votes.

Interestingly the swings for all the other parties were down and ours was up by over 4%, but not quite enough to take it.

Photo Heather out on the by-election trail

South Derbyshire Economic Development Strategy Launch July 21, 2008

On Monday 21st July we launched South Derbyshire’s Economic Strategy at Tetron Point, Swadlincote, in front of over 130 people.

The purpose of the Economic Development Strategy is to set out an understanding of the economic challenges we face and recognition of the wonderful opportunities available to us. The document incorporates the ideas put forward and developed through completing business surveys and attending focus groups. Involvement of local business, large and small has been crucial in this process and I thank them.

It puts forward our vision for the further development of the District with the attraction of more quality jobs and businesses.

I have visited some of them myself – I went to Star Micronics GB in Melbourne recently to see the computer controlled machines which are manufactured in Japan and sold in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and I made a tour of some of the district’s major names including Futaba, JCB Power Systems, Keystone Lintels, Nestle, Toyota and Zytek and saw their very latest products and production facilities.

In achieving this, we aim to develop the economic well-being of local communities but at the same time never losing sight of the importance of balancing and blending jobs with the environment and the value of South Derbyshire’s wonderful countryside.

I enjoy my role in promoting the economic well-being of South Derbyshire and the District is involved in numerous initiatives that directly contribute to the local economy and workforce of the district.

These include attracting inward investment, providing sites and premises for employment, attracting visitors, supporting business development and carrying out research, feasibility studies and project development.

I have briefly touched achievements, which so far have been significant and far-reaching, but we have much further to go. I believe that businesses and entrepreneurs look to politicians to give them encouragement to make them feel wanted and supported. The right mix of clear plans and warm welcome lets business grow the local economy and enhances the well-being of the District, to everyone’s benefit.

Photo Heather with a JCB Dieselmax engine built at the company's plant on the Dove Valley Business Park in Foston.

Annual Report for South Derbyshire District Council 2008

Click Here for Full Report
Well we have passed the milestone of our first 12 months in running South Derbyshire District Council. We have produced our first (ever!) Annual Report. Please click on the link below and read the contents.
It has been an exciting 12 months. I have learned a lot and the experience has made me more determined than ever that South Derbyshire needs and deserves elected representatives who really know and care about where and how we live. Please feel free to send me feedback about the Report by emailing me at heather@heatherwheeler.org.uk

Welcome to our first Annual Report, which takes a look at what we, your Council, have achieved for you last year and how we plan to make life even better in the coming year and beyond. You can see how your money has been spent and how we have performed against our priorities.
In 2007/08 we were nationally recognised for our improved service, in particular:

• The Audit Commission judged that we were "performing well" in all the ways in which a local authority can use its resources. This is a significant improvement on the previous two years.

• Our Cultural Services were given a "good" two star rating by the Audit Commission following an inspection of our work in tourism, sports, play, heritage, arts and leisure. We were praised for having a strong focus on providing activities for young people and reducing anti-social behaviour as well as improving health.

• The Cabinet Office awarded Charter Mark, which recognises excellent customer service, to Housing Services in 2007. The Charter Mark assessor said that we have "excellent staff who are committed, professional and dedicated to providing a high quality service." This follows the Charter Mark success of Environmental Services in 2006.

• Rosliston Forestry Centre won the Government's Green Flag Award, recognising it as one of the top quality parks and green spaces in England and Wales.

• We were also the first council in Derbyshire to introduce an on-line thermal map so that local residents and businesses can stop expensive heat and damaging carbon emissions escaping from their properties.
This year we have set the lowest Council Tax increase in Derbyshire at 2.5%. The average Council Tax increase in England is 3.9%, with the district average at 3.5%, which also puts us among the lowest in England.
This is our report back to you. We want to work with you to make South Derbyshire a healthier, more prosperous and safer place to live by continuing to offer value for money services.

Henley By-election June 2008

At the interesting Henley By-election I led a team of workers from South Derbyshire.

The Conservative candidate, John Howell, won with a majority of over 10,000.

He received 19,796 votes, while the Liberal Democrat candidate, Stephen Kearney, polled 9,680 votes.

Labour were beaten into fifth place, with their candidate, Richard McKenzie, losing his deposit as he received only 1,066 votes.

It's clear that the New Labour coalition is falling apart.

The British public has sent a message to Gordon Brown to get off our backs, stop the endless tax rises and help us cope with the rising cost of living.

What was even better about this result was that it was run entirely as a "positive" campaign. When we were out on the doorsteps residents were telling us how they wanted to send a message to Brown, ‘it’s time to go’ and to other Parties to stop using negative campaigning, saying that a Candidate from another City was ‘local’ just infuriated them.

Who knows when Brown will go to the Polls but with the state of the economy and for everyone’s sake it can’t come soon enough.


The attached photograph shows me at Conservative HQ in Thame
helping in the by election.

BT 18 proposed sites for removal of PayPhone Boxes

Here is copy of a Public Notice for display in Stanton by Bridge. This is an attempt to get the message across to our community about BT's proposal to remove 18 public payphones that are within the district - these proposals will greatly impact our local area!

URGENT ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC
From District & County Councillors
John Bladen, Heather Wheeler and Martyn Ford
John.bladen@south-derbys.gov.uk & heather.wheeler@south-derbys.gov.uk or martyn.ford@derbyshire.gov.uk

PROPOSED REMOVAL OF BT PAY PHONE BOXES

STANTON-BY-BRIDGE BY STABLE COTTAGE, DERBY ROAD
BT has now started a formal consultation with South Derbyshire District Council & the local community about the proposed removals.

Your District Council is unanimous in its condemnation of the proposals to remove the facility of many Pay Phone Boxes within South Derbyshire. We appeal to all members of our community to join them in raising serious opposition to the proposals. You can do this in one of two ways:

Send your letter of objection to South Derbyshire District Council or e-mail yourviews@south-derbys.gov.uk BY FRIDAY 11th JULY 2008
Write direct to BT PAY PHONES, PP 05A23, Delta Point, Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR9 2YZ or e-mail btp.authorisation.team@bt.com BY FRIDAY 18th JULY 2008

The South Derbyshire District Council website has listed the BT 18 proposed sites for removal as follows:
• James St, Midway, Swadlincote
• Outside Rodney Inn, Main St, Hartshorne, Swadlincote
• Goseley Ave, Hartshorne, Swadlincote
• Junction of Princess St, Castle Rd, Castle Gresley, Swadlincote
• Main St, Church Broughton, Derby
• Outside John Port School, Main Street, Etwall, Derby
• Junction of The Green, Main St, Egginton, Derby
• Main St, Cauldwell, Swadlincote, Derbyshire
• Greenacre Park, Coton In The Elms, Swadlincote
• Main St, Rosliston, Swadlincote
• Coton Park, Linton, Swadlincote
• Outside Post Office, Church Ave, Hatton, Derby
• Junction of Burton Road, Doles Lane, Findern, Derby
• Junction of Broad Lane, Yew Tree Lane, Thulston, Derby
• Outside Shardlow School, Ambaston Lane, Shardlow, Derby
• Outside Stable Cottage, Derby Rd, Stanton By Bridge, Derby
• Outside Leisure Centre, High Street, Melbourne, Derby
• Near Post Office, Main St, Smisby, Ashby De La Zouch
I am very pleased that at the SDDC Full Council Meeting on Thursday 3rd July, the vote was unanimous that our Council should strongly object to the proposed removal of these valuable public amenities.
Please use the contact details shown on the notice to put in your objections too.
BT 18 proposed sites for removal of PayPhone Boxes
Here is copy of a Public Notice for display in Stanton by Bridge. This is an attempt to get the message across to our community about BT's proposal to remove 18 public payphones that are within the district - these proposals will greatly impact our local area!