When I look back at 2024, the things that come to me first are always those relating to you – colleagues across the council. Throughout the year I’ve spoken with many of you and I have heard your wonderful stories of achievement, dedication, excellence and going the extra mile for the residents of Derbyshire.
Roadshows
This year, for the first time, I held a series of colleague roadshows across the county covering Chesterfield, Swadlincote, Buxton and Matlock. Thank you to all of you who participated in the roadshows and for those of you who joined the on-line sessions. At the roadshows I shared with colleagues the council’s emerging four-year plan, and as part of this we asked you for your thoughts and views to help shape the organisational values and customer commitments. Engaging you in this work is of vital importance, so the plans, values and customer commitments are created, shaped and developed by you to ensure they are meaningful and so that you can embrace them as you undertake your roles. We have taken your feedback on board and will be launching the finalised values and customer commitments in the new year, together with the new four-year council plan.
Challenging financial environment
We are of course still working in a very challenging financial environment with considerable pressures created by inflation and demand - especially in Children’s Services and Adult Social Care services. At the roadshows I talked about how everyone needs to focus on improvement, modernisation and efficiency. Delivering savings proposals is really important but it is how we work on a day-to-day basis, making individual decisions to spend or to save, which makes a huge difference. As we move into 2025 we will continue to control our costs tightly to reduce our in-year forecast overspend and prepare ourselves for the new financial year.
Whilst it can feel tough at times, we still have a lot to celebrate and a lot to look forward to with many positive outcomes being delivered for residents whether directly or through supporting functions. As we look forward to 2025 we can be optimistic that all the hard work we have done over the past 12 months will start to bear fruit and if we remain focused and determined we can work as one council to achieve financial stability and reach brighter times ahead.
Festive period
I trust that you're able to enjoy some time off over the festive period and if you're one of the many colleagues who will be working or on standby over Christmas then I thank you for your commitment.
Many, many thanks for everything you have done over the course of this year and I look forward to 2025, working together for the benefit of Derbyshire residents.
Best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Emma.