Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Barry, S Clough and J Funnell.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

Members were requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

There were no declarations of interest at this meeting.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Growth Scrutiny Committee held on 18 July 2019

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting of the Growth Scrutiny Committee held on 18 July 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 

To consider a presentation on how joint ventures are working within the District – Head of Service – Property and Commercial Services

The Committee received a presentation from the Head of Property and Commercial Services that outlined Joint Ventures and how they worked within the District.

Members heard that a Joint Venture Company was a company which was set up with a private sector partner, in which the Council owned 50% and the private partner owned 50%.  The Officer stated that the Joint Venture Board comprised of two Directors from the Council and two Directors from the private company. 

The Officer informed the Committee of the benefits of a Joint Venture Company to the Council, how a Joint Venture Company worked, partner inputs and partner outcomes.  Members noted some examples of Joint Venture projects, such as Ankerbold Road, Manor Farm, and the Mill Lane Development Site.

The Committee discussed the offices and industrial units at Coney Green Business Centre, and the opportunities for further growth.  Members were reminded that a previous Growth Scrutiny Committee had reviewed the Council’s industrial units.  Members reiterated that it was crucial the Council had a clear objective and strategy when seeking to buy new units.

Councillor L Hartshorne entered the meeting.

Members commented that they would like to see a strategy when the Council invested in new units, as well as when it invested in existing market units.  The Officer informed Members of a number of documents available for them to view, such as the Avenue Area Strategic Framework (AASF) at Mill Lane, which was a mixed development site. 

Members thanked the Officer for attending the meeting.

The Officer then left the meeting.

RESOLVED – That the presentation be noted.

To consider a presentation on how the Transformation Programme is supporting Growth – Strategic Director People

The Committee received a presentation from the Joint Strategic Director – People that outlined the Council’s Transformation Agenda.

Members heard that there was a number of factors that influenced growth, which included housing, employment, skills, cultural infrastructure and the environment.  The Officer stated that the Council needed to transform in order to adapt to increasing pressures on services such as a growing and ageing population, a growing funding gap, and increased customer expectations. 

The Officer explained some of the key themes within the Transformation Programme, such as a digital theme, a low carbon theme, an organisational theme and an investment theme.  Members also noted the Council’s financial progress in relation to the Transformation Programme. 

RESOLVED – That the presentation be noted. 

To consider a presentation on how the Council’s Leisure Service is supporting Growth – Strategic Director People

The Committee received a presentation from the Joint Strategic Director – People that outlined how the Council’s Leisure Services was supporting growth. 

Members heard that the Council’s Leisure Services played an important role in the reduction of health inequalities and promotion of active lifestyles, as well as generating economic growth and encouraging community engagement.

The Officer informed the Committee that there was over 750,000 visits to the Council’s Leisure Centres each year, and the District had seen a 100% growth rate in memberships over the past few years.  Members noted that the leisure centres had a customer satisfaction rating of 85.9%. 

The Officer stated that there had been a significant reduction in the cost of the subsidy in providing the Council’s leisure services.  This had been achieved despite a membership price freeze since 2014. 

The Committee discussed ICT transformation, and the use of technology in improving the Authority’s leisure services.  The Officer informed Members of some of the technological efficiencies the Council had achieved, and stated that technology would play an increasingly crucial part in allowing the leisure services to become more profitable and efficient.  The Strategic Director – People used North East Derbyshire District Council and Bolsover District Council leisure facilities as examples where they used increasing amounts of technology including virtual fitness instructors and enabling customers to book classes on-line.  Members noted that there had been a 60% increase in the use of on-line transactions at NEDDC in recent months.

Members thanked the Officer for attending the meeting. 

The Officer then left the meeting.  

RESOLVED – That the presentation be noted. 

To consider a topic for Review - discussion

Members discussed the importance of the Council having a clear plan for growth, and looked forward to the release of the Growth Strategy.  The Committee re-iterated that it was important to balance the commercial activity of the Council so that risks were mitigated and that the Committee and other Members of the Council had a vision for where the Authority would be in 5 – 10 years time.

Members felt that the wide ranging evidence that had been gathered so far in the municipal year had been informative, and considered other officers who could be informative to the Committee in gathering further evidence on growth.

To consider the list of Key Decisions – Issue No 88

RESOLVED – That the List of Key Decisions – Issue No 88 be noted.

To consider the Work Programme for the Growth Scrutiny Committee 2019/20 and review the proposed workload.

RESOLVED – That the Growth Scrutiny Committee Work Programme be noted.

To consider any other matter which the Chair of the Committee is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no additional urgent items to be discussed at the meeting.

The date of the next meeting of the Growth Scrutiny Committee is 14 November 2019 at 1.00 pm in the Executive Meeting Room.