About the Council
Putting our Communities First
Putting communities first, every day. That’s the simple but powerful vision that drives Chesterfield Borough Council. From delivering essential services to leading bold long-term regeneration, the council exists to make life better for local residents, businesses, visitors, and partners.
Our inclusive growth ambitions are rooted in three guiding principles: supporting higher-value growth, promoting inclusive opportunities for all residents, and building a more environmentally sustainable local economy.
We’re recognised for our ambitious leadership, professional culture, and strong partnerships, all focused on achieving real and lasting improvements for our communities.
Council Plan and Priorities
Chesterfield Borough Council’s Council Plan (2023–2028) sets out a clear ambition: putting our communities first while ensuring Chesterfield remains a great place to live, work, visit and invest.
The Plan has been refreshed to guide the borough through a period of significant opportunity and change, including the transition to new unitary local government arrangements across Derbyshire by 2028. It focuses our time, resources and partnerships on delivering inclusive growth, supporting residents’ wellbeing, and ensuring the Council remains resilient and future-ready.
Our work is organised around three long-term priorities:
1. Making Chesterfield a Thriving Borough
Strengthening the local economy and enhancing the borough’s distinctive character by:
Delivering major regeneration programmes, including town centre revitalisation and new neighbourhoods.
Enabling housing, infrastructure and employment growth.
Supporting inward investment, innovation and business development.
Enhancing Chesterfield’s role as a visitor destination and gateway to the Peak District.
2. Improving Quality of Life for Local People
Creating healthy, inclusive communities where everyone can benefit from growth by:
Tackling climate change and progressing towards a carbon-neutral borough by 2050.
Promoting health, wellbeing and access to high-quality parks, leisure and cultural opportunities.
Supporting skills development, employment pathways and digital inclusion.
Delivering improved housing, reducing homelessness and addressing inequality.
Working with partners to keep communities safe and cohesive.
3. Building a Resilient Council Now and for the Future
Ensuring the organisation is sustainable, adaptable and ready for structural change by:
Maintaining strong financial management and long-term sustainability.
Investing in a skilled, motivated workforce.
Embracing innovation, digital transformation and new ways of working.
Maximising the value of assets and partnerships.
Playing a leading role in preparations for local government reorganisation and the transition to new unitary arrangements.
Detailed annual delivery plans translate these priorities into measurable actions and outcomes, ensuring resources are aligned to the areas of greatest impact.
Our Values and How We Work
How we work is just as important as what we deliver. Four core values shape our culture, behaviours and decision-making:
Customer Focused — delivering high-quality services that respond to the needs of residents, tenants, businesses and visitors.
Can-Do Approach — embracing innovation, partnership and practical problem-solving to make a difference.
One Council, One Team — working collaboratively across services and with partners to achieve shared goals.
Honesty and Respect — valuing diversity, acting with integrity and fostering an open, inclusive environment.
Chesterfield Borough Council’s People Plan supports these values by ensuring we have a workforce that is skilled, supported and empowered to deliver for our communities now and in the future.
These values underpin our ambition to remain a responsive, community-centred council while helping to shape the future governance and service landscape of Derbyshire.
Credit: steelcitydronepilot
Our Digital Vision
Technology underpins how we deliver modern, accessible services to our residents, businesses and staff. Our ICT Strategy 2025–2028 builds on recent digital improvements and sets out a clear vision for smarter, safer, and more user-friendly services. From expanding online access through My Chesterfield to harnessing AI and automation responsibly, the strategy ensures our workforce is equipped with the tools, skills, and support they need to work efficiently and respond to community needs. It also embeds strong cyber security, sustainable practices, and a commitment to continuously improving services based on feedback, making our council more resilient and connected.
Politics and Leadership
Chesterfield Borough Council is led by elected councillors who represent local communities and make key strategic decisions. The council remains under the control of the Labour Party following the 2023 local elections, with Councillor Tricia Gilby serving as Leader.
Local elections shape the council’s direction and priorities for each four-year cycle, with a clear emphasis on community-focused leadership and collaborative governance across political groups.