Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor N Barker.

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 are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest, 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 interests declared at this meeting.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Growth Scrutiny Committee held on 14 March 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2022 were approved as a true record subject to clarification that some Members had expressed concerns about the Covid-19 health and safety arrangements for the meeting.

To receive an update on the Clay Cross Town Deal and Masterplan for Eckington and Killamarsh – Karl Apps, Assistant Director of Economic Development, Regeneration and Housing Delivery. 

Committee received an update on the Clay Cross Town Deal from the Assistant Director for Economic Development.

Committee was reminded that the Clay Cross Town Deal was made up of 10 projects. £24.1m funding had been made available by the Government to support delivery. Collectively, they were intended to help Clay Cross become a thriving industrious and sustainable market town. The aim was that it should have a renewed central area, with a greater focus as a community on enterprise, skills and learning, innovation and low carbon technology.

Members heard about progress to date on the specific projects. In this context they were informed about progress on the Sharley Park Leisure Hub. Committee heard how the new facility would provide a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities and also enable the community to access health and well-being support and other services. They also heard about the goal of better pedestrian access in order to help link the historic heart of the town centre with the newer retail area and reduce traffic congestion. Committee was informed about the goal to re-establish a rail station to serve the town and the wider area and how this would likely to be a long term goal rather than a short term project.

The Assistant Director of Economic Development also explained progress on the Killamarsh and Eckington Master Plans. Committee heard how One Public Estate (OPE) property reviews had looked at all publically owned land and buildings in both towns to identify potential efficiencies and opportunities for disposal of any surplus. Following on from this ideas for Masterplans for the future of both towns had been developed so that a preferred masterplan options could be selected as the basis for public consultation. Committee heard about the issues had been looked at and the potential options that could be explored.  

Members thanked the Assistant Director for his presentations. They discussed the progress which had been. In particular, they considered the next steps on the Clay Cross Town Deal and progress on specific projects. They also discussed the governance arrangements and the way in which the Town Deal Funding was being allocated.  They also discussed the Killamarsh and Eckington Masterplan. In this context they heard about the extensive public consultation that would now take place on the Killamarsh Masterplan to identify the priorities for development.

RESOLVED -

(1)  That Growth Scrutiny Committee noted the information.

(2)  That Committee receive further updates on the Clay Cross Town Deal and The Eckington and Killamarsh Masterplans, as appropriate.

To consider an update on the work of the Partnership Team – Steve Lee, Assistant Director of Transformation and Communications. 

Committee then considered how the work of the Council’s Partnerships Team was helping to promote economic growth in the District. In this context they received a presentation from the Assistant Director – Transformation and Communication on the work which had taken place to help businesses successfully apply for grant aid from the Rural Development Programme for England, or LEADER programme, which had now ended. Members heard how the lessons learned from this had been evaluated and specific measures identified for how to improve future schemes, such as simplified application processes and developing a consistent but flexible approach to local funding delivery.

The Assistant Director then highlighted the role which the Team would play in helping to support the Clay Cross Town Deal and in particular, in helping to put in place a package of initiatives to be supported from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Members were reminded that the Government had allocated the District £2.568M to help for projects to improve Communities and place, support local businesses and support local people and help them to improve their skills.

Members were informed about the actions that would need to take place over the summer and autumn to produce an Investment Plan to be submitted to Government so that the funding could then be approved. The Council would, it was explained, play a key role in this.

Finally, Committee was reminded of the Team’s role in administering the Covid-19 Discretionary Grants Scheme and in assisting local people by supporting the Voluntary Sector and community groups, and in particular support to the District’s Armed Forces Community.

Committee thanked the Assistant Director for the information. They discussed the experience of the LEADER programme and the lessons which could be applied to other programmes. They also discussed the impact of the Covid-19 Discretionary Grants Scheme in helping to cushion the economic impact of the pandemic on local businesses and communities and the potential benefits to the District of the UK Prosperity Fund allocation.  

RESOLVED -

(1)  That Growth Scrutiny Committee noted the information.

(2)  That Committee receive further updates on progress in developing the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan.

To consider progress on the Business Centres and Industrial Units Review with a view of finalising the Review as complete – Tony Kimber, Interim Assistant Director of Property Services. 

Members received an update from the Interim Assistant Director for Property Services on progress on the specific actions agreed by Cabinet in response to the Committee’s Review of Business Centres and Industrial Units in the District. In particular, they heard how most of the measures set out in the Action Plan agreed by Cabinet at its meeting on 25 November 2021 had now been implemented or were in the process of being implemented.  The Assistant Director explained the progress which had been made on each of the actions.

Members welcomed the progress and the actions taken.

RESOLVED -

(1)  That the Committee noted and welcomes the progress made in implementing the Action Plan agreed by Cabinet in response to its Review of Business and Industrial Units in the District.

(2)  That the Committee now designates the review as completed.

To finalise and approve the scrutiny review report into the Council’s engagement with business.   To Follow

Committee discussed the original proposals for a Spotlight Review of Business Engagement. Members heard how the scope of this review should be extended to enable a more comprehensive review to take place. Committee considered and supported this. They asked for the review to be incorporated into the Committee’s work programme for the next municipal year.

To monitor the implementation of previous Committee and review recommendations.   

The Committee considered a schedule of actions taken in response the recommendations of the Council’s four scrutiny committees.

RESOLVED -

That the Committee noted the information.

To consider the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions.  Please note, the most up-to- date Forward Plan of Executive Decisions can be accessed via the following link:-

https://democracy.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/mgListPlans.aspx?RPId=1137&RD=0&bcr=1

The Committee considered the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions

RESOLVED -

That the Committee noted the information.

To consider whether the Committee’s Work Programme has been completed at year end.

Committee received a summary of the work programme carried out during the 2021-22 Municipal Year. The suggested programme for 2022-23 would be presented for Members at the first meeting of the new municipal year.

RESOLVED -

That the Committee noted the work programme for the 2021-22 municipal year and considered it completed.

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

None.

The next meeting of the Growth Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to take place in the new Municipal Year.

The next meeting of Growth Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to take place on 14 July 2022.