Leadership of the Council

Councillor Baggy Shanker was first elected to represent Sinfin ward in 2008 and now represents Sinfin and Osmaston. An apprentice trained engineer at Celanese and now a Project Manager at Rolls-Royce, he has worked in the manufacturing and civil aerospace sectors for more than 30 years here in Derby.

Councillor Shanker was born and raised in Derby. Together with his wife, he has raised his own two children here. Over the past three decades, he has worked with many charitable and voluntary groups in the community. In October 2022 he was selected as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Derby South at the next General Election.

During his 15 years as a local councillor, he has served on numerous committees and was a member of the Council Cabinet from 2012 to 2018 covering several portfolios. In 2020, Councillor Shanker became Labour Group Leader. In opposition, he played an active part in the scrutiny process and looked after the shadow portfolio of Finance and Governance.

He is also a member of the Neighbourhood Board for Sinfin and Osmaston.

Councillor Shanker was elected to serve as the Leader of the Council at the Annual General Meeting on 24 May 2023. He is also the Cabinet Member for Strategy, Governance and Finance.

His responsibilities include:

Corporate Governance, Procurement and Property

• Legal, Insurance and Information Governance
• Democracy
• Procurement

Finance

• Corporate Finance
• Business Partnering
• Major Projects
• Business Support and Debt Management
• Internal Audit

Corporate Management

• Projects and Change
• Strategy, Performance and Partnerships
• Communications and Marketing
• Human Resources and Workforce Development
• Policy and Insight

Labour and Co-operative councillor for Sinfin and Osmaston since 2018, Cllr Peatfield has also been confirmed as Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture & Tourism.

Councillor Peatfield has been Deputy Leader of Derby Labour Group since 2020 and Shadow Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Regeneration. She has also previously been the Shadow Cabinet Member for Communities and Streetpride. She has been a Board Director of both the Cathedral Quarter and St Peter’s Quarter Business Improvement Districts for four years and was the Labour Group Climate Champion 2019-23.

As a Drama and English graduate, Nadine has a life-long love of theatre, literature and music, running her own community choir for 15 years. Having run her own Derby magazine business from 2008-22, Nadine understands how community and business work best together and she is excited to bring fresh energy, ideas and inspiration to making Derby City Centre a place for all to enjoy and business and the arts to thrive, while progressing the city with a climate-conscious, co-operative future.

Councillor Peatfield was elected to serve as the Deputy Leader of the Council at the Annual General Meeting on 24 May 2023. She is also the Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture & Tourism.

Her responsibilities include:

City Growth and Vibrancy

• Regeneration and Economic Growth
• Culture and Leisure
• Cultural Partnership

Cllr Alison Martin is the new Cabinet Member for Integrated Health and Adult Care. Alison has been a Councillor for Darley Ward for two years, and was previously a Derby City Councillor for Boulton Ward, when she was a Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture. She was formerly the Chair of the Adults and Health Scrutiny Board, and the Resources and Governance Scrutiny Board; Shadow Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, and Children and Young People. Alison has also been a Board member of Derby Homes, the Health and Wellbeing Board, Deda, Quad and Sinfonia Viva. She is a member of the West End Community Centre Committee, and was for many years a governor and Chair of Governors at a city secondary school.

Councillor Martin was appointed as the Cabinet Member for Integrated Health and Adult Care at the Annual General Meeting on 24 May 2023.
Her responsibilities include:

Public Health

• Health Inequality

Adult Social Care Services

• Community Support and Frailty
• Learning, Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health
• Safeguarding and Professional Standards

Commissioning and Delivery

• Adult’s Commissioning, Integration and Market Development

Labour and Cooperative Councillor for Abbey Ward since 2014, Paul is a retired secondary school teacher. In opposition, Paul served as Shadow Cabinet Member for Cost of Living, Adults and Health and Children and Young People. Paul was formerly the Chair of the Audit & Accounts Committee and is a long-standing member of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Board and the Corporate Parenting Committee. Paul is also a longstanding member of the Poverty Commission and a Trustee of Bramblebrook Community Centre.

Councillor Hezelgrave was appointed as the Cabinet Member for Cost of Living, Equalities and Customer Inclusion at the Annual General Meeting on 24 May 2023.

His responsibilities include:

Communities

• Community Safety (Cohesion)

Digital Infrastructure and Customer Engagement

• Digital Enablement and Automation
• ICT Infrastructure and Cyber Security
• Customer Engagement and Registration Services
• Accommodation, Facilities and Health & Safety

Other

• Cost of Living Coordination Group
• VCS Engagement

Cllr John Whitby is now in his tenth year as councillor for Mackworth and New Zealand ward. He was previously the shadow cabinet member for Children and Young People and spent five years as the chair of Children and Young People Scrutiny Board.

John has been the chair of the Labour Group, a trustee of Derby Museums and was also the Mayor of the City of Derby in 2017-2018.

Councillor Whitby was appointed as the Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Learning and Skills at the Annual General Meeting on 24 May 2023.

His responsibilities include:

Early Help and Children’s Social Care

• Children’s Quality Assurance
• Specialist Services
• Early Help
• Social Care Fieldwork
• Children’s Residential Care

Learning, Inclusion and Skills

• Inclusion and Intervention
• Employment, Skills and Adult Education

Commissioning and Delivery

• Children’s Commissioning, Brokerage and Market Management
• School Organisation

Shiraz Khan has been a councillor for Arboretum Ward for 17 years. Shiraz served as Shadow Cabinet Member for Housing for three years and recently served as the Chair of the Planning Control Committee and Chair of the Standards Committee.

Councillor Shiraz Khan was appointed as the Cabinet Member for Housing, Property and Regulatory Services at the Annual General Meeting on 24 May 2023.

His responsibilities include:

City Growth and Vibrancy

• Planning

Corporate Governance, Property and Procurement

• Property and Consultancy Services
• Estates and Property Review

Communities

• Strategic Housing
• Regulatory Services

Derby Homes

• Derby Advice
• Housing Options

As a dedicated Councillor for Darley Ward, Carmel understands the complex relationship between environmental sustainability, transportation systems, and public well-being. With her experience working in health and social care and human rights, she has witnessed the struggles of marginalised communities affected by environmental issues.
Carmel is a passionate advocate for initiatives that address social determinants of health. Carmel believes in collaboration and actively seeks input from specialists, activists, and community leaders to develop holistic strategies; prioritising the environment, transportation, and public health of Derby.

Councillor Swan was appointed as the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability at the Annual General Meeting on 24 May 2023.

Her responsibilities include:

City Sustainability

• Highways Maintenance
• Engineering
• Traffic and Transport
• Climate and Environment

Hardyal has been a councillor for 28 years and is currently a member for Blagreaves Ward. Hardyal has previously served as a councillor for Normanton Ward 19 years; and Boulton Ward 9 years. He was also the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner from 2016-2021.

Hardyal was previously Shadow Cabinet Member for Communities and Streetpride and was also the Chair of the Communities Scrutiny Board. He has also served as a member of the Executive Scrutiny Board and is a Derbyshire Police and Crime Panel member. He is the Council’s Ethnic Minorities Champion, Chair of Race Equality Forum and Trustee of the Restorative Justice Council 2017.

In the past Hardyal has held other Cabinet posts including: Adult Health and Wellbeing, Education and Lifelong Learning, Highways and Environment and Leisure and Culture.
Councillor Dhindsa was appointed as the Cabinet Member for Communities and Streetpride at the Annual General Meeting on 24 May 2023.

His responsibilities include:

Communities

• Streetpride
• Waste Disposal
• Community Safety and Localities