Urgent discussion on new schools, waste collections and other community issues blocked as Reform councillors refuse to extend County Council meeting
Derbyshire Conservatives have condemned Reform UK Derbyshire councillors for “putting politics before people” after they refused to extend this week’s County Council meeting, preventing debate on two key Conservative motions and several other important community issues.
Among the blocked items were a motion calling for urgent action to get four new Derbyshire schools built and another demanding minimum standards for household waste collections across the county, including a guarantee of free, fortnightly general, recycling and green waste collections and no reductions in bin sizes.
The schools motion was particularly time-critical, urging the Council to back Conservative calls for the Labour Government to end its year-long review of free schools and approve four vital projects:
• The Avenue CE Primary, Wingerworth
• Bolsover Sixth Form (North Derbyshire University Academy)
• Infinity Park Spencer Academy, near Sinfin
• New House Farm CE Primary, near Mickleover
Cllr Alex Dale, Leader of the Opposition at Derbyshire County Council, said:
“This debate really mattered, not for party politics, but for Derbyshire families. We’re facing a situation where a brand-new primary school at New House Farm could be lost completely because the developer’s legal agreement is about to expire. Reform’s decision to block debate means councillors couldn’t even make the case for urgent action.
“While they were congratulating themselves in the pub afterwards, vital issues like school places and waste collections were left without any discussion or debate. Residents deserve a Council that takes these things seriously.”
Deputy Group Leader Cllr Wayne Major added:
“Reform showed everyone what they really think of local democracy. Earlier in the meeting they had to be taken to task by their own Chair and myself for heckling and shouting down members of the public who had come all that way just to ask questions — simply because they disagreed with them. Then they refused to engage with councillor questions and purposefully ran out the clock to avoid debate.
“It was an insult to every resident who expects open and honest discussion on the issues that affect their lives.”
The Conservatives’ two motions were among several that went unheard due to the meeting being cut short, including others on befriending services, corporate parenting and local bus provision.
Cllr Dale added:
“Whether it’s schools, bins or vital community services, these are serious issues that deserve proper debate, not political games. Reform’s behaviour yesterday let everyone down and Derbyshire deserves better.”
