South Derbyshire District Council is hosting a community roadshow in Swadlincote on 7 April 2026, offering residents and council housing tenants a chance to discuss local housing services and repairs directly with officials. The drop-in event takes place at Gresley Old Hall from 12pm to 3pm, and no booking is required to attend.
The roadshow serves as part of the local authority’s ongoing effort to improve its housing services and reconnect with residents. Council representatives, including those from housing, operational services, and health and safety teams, will be available to hear feedback and answer questions. Several partner organisations will also be on-site, including Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, Derbyshire Police, Derbyshire Mind, South Derbyshire CVS, the South Derbyshire Food Hub, Rosliston Forestry Centre, and Smoke Free Derbyshire.
To encourage family participation, the council has arranged several free activities, including a bouncy castle, face painting, a scavenger hunt, and a raffle. Hot and cold refreshments will also be provided for those who attend.
This initiative follows a period of transformation for the council’s housing department. After receiving a C3 grading from the Regulator of Social Housing in August 2024, the authority has been working on a housing transformation plan. As part of these efforts, Wates Property Services was appointed in June 2024 to manage repairs and maintenance for approximately 3,000 properties across the area.
Recent data indicates that the council’s improvement efforts are showing progress. Overall tenant satisfaction has risen to 69.8 per cent, representing a 4.6 per cent increase from the previous year. Additionally, the number of empty properties managed by the council was reduced from 61 to 30 between late 2024 and February 2025. The council’s housing department is currently led by Alison Bennett, Executive Director for Place and Prosperity, and Jason Dhesi, Interim Head of Housing.
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