Agenda and draft minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor D Hancock. 

With the agreement of the Chair, Councillor B Strafford-Stephenson contributed to the meeting virtually through the electronic Conference Call system.

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 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 16 January 2023.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the previous meeting of the Growth Scrutiny Committee held on 16 January 2023.be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 

To consider progress against the Action Plan – Tourism – Business and non-Business – Kirstin Sykes, Town Centre & Regeneration Officer.

The Regeneration and Town Centre Officer presented an update report on the Tourism – Business and Non Business Scrutiny Review that was presented to Cabinet on 8 July 2021. The report included an action plan in Appendix 2 which summarised progress made against the Review’s recommendations.

Members asked what Visit Peak District & Derbyshire were doing to push the District from a SLA point of view. The Regeneration and Town Centre Officer explained that the Council made efforts to ensure the District was promoted via VPDD, and the current SLA was under review. The new Tourism Officer was also working hard to build relationships and improve the District’s presence on the VPDD website and social media platform.

Members referred to the 5 Pits Trail and stated that the Trail used to have leaflets given out about walks you could undertake on it. Members were informed that one of the Council’s priorities was connectivity through walking and cycling with the aim of producing walking guides through the UKSPF funding stream.

Members felt that a figure to measure the perception of VPDD outside the District would be beneficial. The Regeneration and Town Centre Officer suggested that a number for VPDD website hits might achieve this.

Members enquired if there was a way to measure the success of the partnership. The Regeneration and Town Centre Officer explained that the SLA was being reviewed.

Members felt there were caravan clubs in the area that the Council could make better use of. The Regeneration and Town Centre Officer explained that the new Tourism Officer would be meeting accommodation providers to discuss camping and caravans.

Members were pleased with the progress made since the Scrutiny Review, in particular the new officers in post.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer advised that based on some of the requests from Members, an item would be included in the Committee’s 2023/24 Work Programme in 9 months to ask the Regeneration and Town Centre Officer how they had measured the baseline figures and how the relationship with VPDD had developed.

RESOLVED - That the Committee noted the information and would receive a further update towards the end of 2023.

To finalise the Scrutiny Review Report on Business Engagement.

Councillor Bentley Strafford-Stephenson presented the ‘Engagement with Business’ draft Scrutiny Review report.

Members were pleased that the final draft of the report had broadened its scope.

RESOLVED - That the Committee approved the draft Engagement with Business Scrutiny Review report for submission to Cabinet.

To monitor the implementation of previous committee and review recommendations.

The Chair presented a table of outcomes from recommendations made by all Committees, and drew Members’ attention to the ones by Growth Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED - That the Committee noted the update.

To consider the attached Forward Plan of Executive Decisions dated 15 February to 15 March 2023. 

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.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer explained that after the Committee had asked for additional information on phone mast placement, officers had put the question to Derbyshire County Council if they could share further information as broadband coverage was out of the remit of the District Council. Their response was that it was typically very difficult to engage with broadband providers as they treated the positions of the masts as commercially sensitive and would not share information until proposals for planning applications were ready. The Committee agreed that if this remained an area of interest then it should be taken up by the new Committee during the next Municipal Year.

The Chair explained that the Committee meeting scheduled for 8 May 2023 had been cancelled because of the District elections.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the 2022/23 Growth Scrutiny Committee Work Programme be signed off as complete.

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 will take place in the new Municipal Year.  

The next meeting of the Growth Scrutiny Committee will take place in the new Municipal Year.