Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Joe Battye, Peter Dewhurst, Cllr Tony King, David Malone, Tony Walker and Jane Weston. 

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 declarations of interest at this meeting.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Clay Cross Town Board held on 18 March 2022.

Members heard that Gary Golden had resigned as Chair of the Clay Cross Town Deal Board and that a new Chair would need to be recruited. Board agreed to send a message of thanks to Gary Golden for his work as Chair of the Board.

Board was introduced to the Town Centre Regeneration Manager.

It was noted that on page seven of the Minutes of the last meeting, under the item: “Land Assembly”, there was a spelling error as the line; “to purchase two sits in Clay Cross” should read; “to purchase two sites in Clay Cross”.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Clay Cross Town Deal Board held on 18 March 2022 were noted by the Chair, subject to the above clarification.

Karl Apps – Assistant Director Economic Development & Regeneration – verbal update

Town Board heard that Council had been working with Nexus and had met on site with Cllr Kenyon and colleagues from Derbyshire County Council. It was suggested that the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) could be extended beyond the Broadleys Site and accessed via the A61 past the social services building. Council were keen to explore this possibility as it would open up the site.

Members were informed that plans would be made alongside the architects. This would ensure that they understood where the heart of the town centre was located, and that this would be an area that people would want to spend time.

The Town Centre Regeneration Manager would put together an eight week programme that Council would be measured against. An update on this would be brought to the September meeting of the Clay Cross Town Deal Board. The Assistant Director Economic Development, Regeneration & Housing Delivery would email Board with any updates outside of the regular meeting timeframe if they felt that this would be of a benefit to the Board.

Town Board suggested that the September meeting could take place near to the site as this would enable Board Members to view the site following the meeting.

Councillor C Cupit, Deputy Leader – verbal update

Members received a verbal update on the Governance Workshop.

Members heard that as the Town Deal moved into the delivery phase, a wider review of the Board’s terms of reference would be taking place and presented to Board for their consideration.

Town Board heard it would be important for Board to have strategic oversight over all of the projects and therefore updates and reports would be brought to the Town Board directly rather than through the working groups. As they had now fulfilled their role of shaping the projects, the working groups in their current form would be disbanded. Thematic task and finish groups would be created in order to solve any issues, should the need arise.

Key information and updates would be circulated to Board via email as and when required.

Members noted that the Stakeholder Engagement Plan was being developed and a draft would be brought to Board when ready.

Town Board suggested that it could be beneficial to host future meetings at different locations throughout the Clay Cross area.

RESOLVED – That the Clay Cross Town Deal Board noted the update.

Town Board noted that a newsletter would be created and circulated in order to update businesses on projects and to provide them with a point of contact for the Town Deal. This newsletter would also highlight the post of the new Business Ambassador; Becky Hunter. A draft would be circulated to Board prior to publication.

Members considered that it would be advantageous to include an advertisement for the role of Private Sector Chair of the Board within the publication.

Town Board discussed the possibility of a different start time and different locations for the meeting of the Clay Cross Town Deal Board. It was agreed that a series of options would be emailed to the membership as a whole for them to consider.

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).

Karl Apps – Assistant Director Economic Development & Regeneration

Town Board were updated on the progress of the Clay Cross Town Deal projects, the progress of the interrelated projects around the Town Centre and the way forward to progress these projects.

It was agreed that Board would receive a presentation on the progress of Sharley Park at the next Board Meeting.

RESOLVED – That Clay Cross Town Deal Board noted the contents of the report.

Martyn Handley – Economic Development

Town Board was brought the draft strategic assessment for the Clay Cross Rail Station Study Project for approval. Once this had been gained, the strategic assessment would be sent to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for final approval. This was required to unlock the Town Deal funding for the project.

RESOLVED – That:

1.     The Clay Cross Town Deal Board noted the contents of the report.

2.     That the Board endorsed the strategic assessment for the Clay Cross Rail Station Study Project.

Karl Apps – Assistant Director Economic Development & Regeneration

Town Board were provided with the Strategic Assessment for the Low Carbon Energy Network Strategy. This would need to be submitted to the tender to release the town deal monies. Once this had been completed Council would be able to procure the study.

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The Town Deal Board noted the contents of this report.

2.    The Town Deal Board approved the Strategic Assessment for the Low Carbon Energy Network Strategy.