Glossop community group People of Whitfield have appointed a new volunteer treasurer.
An auditor working for NHS Procurement, Gerry Dominey (pictured) took the reins from David Swanston.
“I’m not a local. I’ve only lived here since 1987,” joked Gerry, who is also a candidate in this May’s Derbyshire County Council elections.
He said he first lived in Gladstone Street and now in Turnlee Drive.
He will account for food, club cash, donations and funding from outside bodies, plus cash surpluses and funding, helping PoW organise yoga, a cafe, summer fêtes and youth clubs.
“What Stu Coles and the team have done in Whitfield is nothing short of amazing,” said Gerry.
“But let’s not forget a couple of things. Food banks shouldn’t be necessary in the seventh richest country in the world.
“If the distribution of wealth and income was not so uneven, there wouldn’t be 1.9 million in the UK people relying on them. We would all have enough.
“In a rich country like this, there are only poor people because there are rich people.
“Also, Whitfield had a youth worker before the Conservatives took control of Derbyshire County Council in 2017 and took away the funding.
“PoW has done much to make up for that, but changing back control this May will offer the prospect of funding being restored.
“This week, Derbyshire Constabulary put a mobile police station in Whitfield to combat anti-social behaviour. So, did getting rid of the youth worker save public money? No. It was a false economy.”
Gerry paid tribute to his predecessor, saying: “David has left good records and sound finances. When lockdown ends, we can put them to good use.”
Read more from the Glossop Chronicle
Click here for more of the latest news
Click here to read the latest edition of the paper online
Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy of the paper