Derby community contacts, councils and community venues

Which council does what

Derby is a unitary authority, which means Derby City Council handles almost everything inside the city boundary: bins and recycling, planning, council tax, housing, roads, schools, libraries and social care. There is no separate district or county layer for city residents.

Beyond the city boundary - including Duffield and the wider Derwent Valley - Derbyshire County Council looks after roads, schools, libraries and social care, while the relevant district or borough council handles planning, bins and council tax.

Parish and neighbourhood councils

Some areas on the city's edge and in the surrounding villages have their own parish or town council - Duffield Parish Council is one example. They are the first port of call for local matters such as footpaths, play areas, village greens and comments on planning applications, and most publish meeting dates and clerk contact details online.

Community venues and halls

Derby's suburbs are well served by community centres, church halls and sports clubs run by local committees and charities. They host clubs, classes, parties, markets and polling stations, and many can be hired at reasonable rates. The city council's website and local noticeboards are usually the best way to find booking details.

Libraries

Derby's libraries are run by Derby City Council, with the Riverside Library in the Council House and community libraries across the suburbs offering book loans, computers, children's activities and local information.

Essential numbers

Emergencies: 999. Non-emergency police: 101. Urgent medical advice when it is not an emergency: NHS 111. For power cuts anywhere in the UK, call 105.