Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Clay Cross Town Board meeting held on 6 November 2020.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Clay Cross Town Board held on 6 November 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Verbal Update

The Town Board received a verbal update from the Head of Economic Development, Regeneration and Housing Delivery who informed the Board that they had secured £24.1 million funding for their ten projects to kick-start town regeneration. Three of these projects had attached conditions which required a response within three weeks. The Officer would work with the Chair, Vice Chair and wider Board, where necessary, to formulate a response.

The Head of Economic Development, Regeneration and Housing Delivery thanked the Board and Nexus Planning for their help in securing the funding.

Melanie Phythian offered her congratulations to the Board and explained that they had until the 17^th March 2021 to agree to the offer and terms. Within two months of accepting the offer, the Board would have to address the conditions and provide additional information related to the projects.

Melanie Phythian would have a further discussion with the Head of Economic Development, Regeneration and Housing Delivery, and the Director of Growth and Economic Development, in relation to the next stages of the process.

The Board would receive the Heads of Terms and Business Case Guidance documents following the end of the Meeting.

The Town Board heard that the three projects with attached conditions were the low carbon housing, low carbon energy network strategy, and rail station feasibility study.

There was a wide consensus of thanks directed to the Chair for securing the funding, and to Melanie Phythian for guiding the Board through the process.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

Report of Gill Callingham – Director of Growth and Economic Development

Board Members received an update on the progress made with projects funded by the Accelerated Projects budget.

The Head of Economic Development, Regeneration and Housing Delivery informed the Board that that they had received £500,000 to aid funding for four projects; the demolition of the Bridge Street Depot, the demolition of a former junior school, the purchase of DCC’s former constabulary building, and the public art programme.

The Town Board heard that the demolition of the Bridge Street Depot had already began as the Board had taken the decision that it was no longer fit for purpose. The next stage of this project would involve putting in place planning for a low carbon usage commercial space.

It was stated that the demolition of the former junior school and the purchase of DCC’s former constabulary building could not be completed by the original 31^st March 2021 deadline, but that these projects would continue into the next fiscal year.

For the public art programme, the ventilation shafts on Market Street had been re-plastered to allow for the projection of a light project. Due to the difficulties involved in holding the event during the Covid 19 Pandemic, it was suggested that the final light show should be delayed until a point when greater community engagement could be ensured. With this in mind, the Town Board were provided with the provisional dates of holding the event between the 22^nd and 26^th September 2021.

Members of the Town Board discussed the public art programme in detail and asked if they could meet with individuals who had contributed to the programme in order to express their thanks and appreciation. Members also suggested holding exhibitions before the final event to generate increased interest.

The Clay Cross Town Board also enquired about the progress that had been made on the purchase of DCC’s former constabulary building. It was stated that the Head of Economic Development, Regeneration and Housing Delivery had been having discussions with DCC to establish the mechanism for having the building valued and transferred into NEDDC ownership. The Town Board heard that the building would be repurposed and that there were no plans to demolish it.

RESOLVED - That

-       Board Members noted the positive progress made on all accelerated projects.

-       Board Members agreed to delay the projections from March to the summer to reflect the projected easing of the National lockdown and ensure greater community engagement.

Verbal Update

Councillor C Renwick, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, informed the Town Board of the new proposed Combined Communities and Communications working group, and proposed that Councillor Alan Powell, Portfolio Holder for Housing, Communities and Communications, should take a lead on this due to his experience within the communications sector. Members of the Board were also reminded that establishing this working group was a condition of receiving the funding.

The Town Board discussed the proposed working group and if there would be an available role for Parish Councils. Members were informed that the nature of the proposed working group would enable it to be open to the wider community, including Parish Councils, and that Councillors Reader and Rouse had already expressed an interest in joining the working group.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

Report of Gill Callingham – Director of Growth and Economic Development

The Director of Growth and Economic Development presented the report to the Town Board, which covered the future Communications Strategy including a basic communications plan to be populated by the new communities and communications working group.

Members of the Board also heard that members for the new working group were required, including one Member from the Clay Cross Town Board.

In addition to this, the Officer was also looking to involve a number of businesses that were skilled in communications and would be meeting with a number of these on the afternoon of Friday 5^th March 2021.

It was also stated that a new LinkedIn profile had been created for the Clay Cross Town Fund.

Following this, Members discussed the potential for using the public art programme’s ventilation shaft as a means of keeping local residents informed on the Council’s activities and events but recognised that the projections would only be effective in the dark, limiting the success of a permanent display.

There were also suggestions made that the art group should be involved in the proposed working group.

Melanie Phythian reminded the Town Board that there was still support available from the town funds delivery partner.

RESOLVED

-       That the Clay Cross Town Deal Board note the contents of the report

-       That the Clay Cross Town Deal Board agrees to the Communications Strategy

Verbal Update

The Head of Economic Development, Regeneration and Housing Delivery updated the Town Board on the recruitment process for new private sector Board members.

Members heard that three individuals had been identified, two of which had met with both the Chair and the Vice Chair, and that the Officer would submit a report to the next meeting identifying the proposed individuals to the Board.

The Board welcomed the recruitment process, and agreed that increasing private sector representation on the Board would add value to the Clay Cross Town Deal Board.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

Report of Gill Callingham – Director of Growth and Economic Development

The Director of Growth and Economic Development presented the report setting out the next steps in the delivery of the Clay Cross Town Investment Plan.

The Officer explained that although they had been allocated funding, they still needed to take certain steps to secure it. These steps included providing more detail and a business case on each of the ten projects.

Members heard that the Officer would be looking to appoint consultants to work on the business cases and that they had 12 months to submit these. Some business cases could be put forward as a group at an earlier date if they were ready before the others. The Officer would bring this back to the Board if it became a viable option.

It was stated that the Board had to accept the initial offer by the 17^th of March 2021. Tom Goshawk offered support to the Board in this process, including completing business cases, as they had experience within this area.

RESOLVED – That progress made to date and the proposed way forward be noted

There was no other business discussed at the meeting.

The Board noted that the date of the next meeting was scheduled for 30 April 2021.

The Chair to move:-

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following items of business to avoid the disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006). 

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following items of business to avoid the disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

Report of Gill Callingham – Director of Growth and Economic Development

The Clay Cross Town Board received a report which informed Board Members of the request for additional capacity funding to support business case development and assurance.

RESOLVED – That the Board notes the content of this report.

Report of Gill Callingham – Director of Growth and Economic Development

The Town Board was updated on the tendering progress for additional capacity funding to support business case development and assurance.

RESOLVED

-       That the Clay Cross Town Board note the contents of the report.

-       That the Clay Cross Town Board note the tender specification for the business case development and business case assurance (Appendix one and two)