Agenda and minutes

Members of the Town Deal Board introduced themselves.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Barry and the Director of Growth & Assets.

With the Agreement of the Chair, Councillor K Gillott attended the meeting as substitute for Cllr J Barry and Bruce Hunter attended the meeting as a substitute for Becky Hunter.

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 interests declared at this meeting.

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

The Board wished to note that the apologies listed should be amended to reflect that B Hunter was not present at the meeting.

Board drew attention to the fact that the resignation of the former Chair, Simon Thompson, had not been reflected in the Minutes.

Board were made aware that as the former Chair, Simon Thompson, had resigned it would be necessary to appoint a new Board Chair from the private sector.

Board heard that nominations and applications would be received over the next few months and then interviews would be held shortly after.

The Assistant Director of Regeneration & Programmes informed Board that he would be attending a conference which would enable him to engage with other local Authorities over best practice in terms of governance and politics.

Verbal update.

Board received an update on the Town Regeneration Programme update.

Members heard that the programme was progressing through RBA stage three, that soft consultation with key stakeholders over highways had taken place, contracts on third party had been exchanged in order to increase the size of the land and, a public consultation had taken place with positive feedback received.

Town Deal Board received a fly over presentation of the project which they discussed at length. In particular, Members discussed the flexibility of the proposed units, the ability to adapt to the demands of market forces and, proposed costs for tenancy of the rental units.

Members also discussed road access and parking for the project. They heard that relevant car parking studies were taking place and requested that a workshop session be organised once these had been completed so that Board could discuss and highlight any potential areas of concern.

Board requested an updated cost plan and that an item on risk update be brought to future Board meetings. They heard that the cost plan had been updated at stage two which showed the project was on budget. An updated cost plan was being produced.

Verbal update.

Members received an update on the Clay Cross Active programme. They heard there were a small number of issues which were being managed. These included delays to the main sports hall structure due to a lack of steel bracing and asbestos.

Board also heard that Citizens Advice and the Royal Hospital would be partaking in the project, that the Sports England contract had been signed off and, that discussions had taken place with the Football Foundation over their proposed investment for a 3g pitch.

The Assistant Director for Regeneration & programmes informed Board that a micro-site had been produced and a timelapse of the demolition would be demonstrated to Board.

Report of the Regeneration and Town Centre Officer

Town Board were presented with the findings and recommendations of the Clay Cross Railway Station Strategic Outline Business Case.

Members heard that the Strategic Outline Business Case was the first gateway approval required for any central government intervention in the Project.

The Economic & Regeneration Manager informed Town Deal Board that there had been regular engagement throughout the study with key rail industry partners and four sites were selected for appraisal. Of the four sites contained within the report, option 2A was highlighted as the preferred option for the station site.

Board were informed that further work on this proposal would be the responsibility of the Department for Transport and Network Rail with NEDDC supporting its progression.

Members discussed the report at length, including potential timescales and the possibility to include the project within the pipeline for future combined Authority work. Board also considered that the study should be published online and distributed to Members of the Board.

Lee Rowley MP thanked Officers for their work on this and informed Town Deal Board that he would be holding meetings in Westminster to discuss the proposals further.

RESOLVED – The Clay Cross Town Deal Board agreed to note and support the recommendations in the Clay Cross SOBC

Report of the Senior Regeneration Officer

Members of the Town Deal Board were presented with the findings and recommendations of the Clay Cross Local Area Energy Plan. They were informed that two reports would be circulated to them after the meeting.

Board heard that the key findings and recommendations of the Clay Cross Local Area Energy Plan included a limited electricity capacity in Clay Cross, that 70% of building related carbon emissions in Clay Cross were associated with domestic heating and, that hydrogen was not yet commercially viable as a technology.

Members were informed that the next steps would be to publish and raise awareness of the LEAP strategy.

Town Deal Board discussed the potential for hydrogen as a fuel source and heard that the Peak Resort were adopting hydrogen as a strategy. It was agreed that the Assistant Director for Regeneration & Programmes would hold discussions with Lee Barnes from the Inspire Design Group around the potential use of hydrogen.

RESOLVED – That the Clay Cross Town Board agreed to note and support the recommendations in the Clay Cross Local Area Energy Plan.

Report of the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Programmes

Members were presented with the progress that had been made in establishing the Low Carbon Challenge Fund (LCCF).

The objectives of the LCCF were outlined to Board and they were informed that a condition of receiving grant monies was the delivery of the outputs specified in the business case.

Town Deal Board heard that DLUHC had provided a phased payment of £645,000 for the 2023/24 financial year. This would provide the resources to commence with LCCF delivery.

Workshops would be held to explain the benefits of the scheme prior to the phased bidding process starting. Board were informed that six businesses had already expressed an interest in the programme.

Town Deal Board discussed the LCCF and considered whether initial pilot stages should be carried out prior to the Board committing to the programme and whether Board should focus only on the £645,000 before committing to spend more.

The Assistant Director for Regeneration & Programmes informed Members that if they were to use the allocated funds on other projects, then business cases would have to be redone.

RESOLVED – That the Clay Cross Town Board agreed to note the progress being made to launch the Low Carbon Challenge Fund (LCCF).

There was no other business.

The next meeting of the Clay Cross Town Deal Board will be held on Friday 29 September 2023 at 10.00am in person (venue to be confirmed).

The next meeting of the Clay Cross Town Deal Board will be held on Friday 29 September 2023 at 10am.