Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C Gare and R Spooner.

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 Business Scrutiny Committee held on 24 February 2025.  

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Business Scrutiny Committee held on 24 February 2025 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Council Plan Targets Performance Update.

Kath Drury, Information and Improvement Manager / Amar Bashir, Improvement Officer 

The Improvement Officer presented a report setting out progress on the strategies underpinning the Council Plan objective ‘A great place to work’ for the period ending 31 March 2025.

Members were updated on progress under the following objective sub-categories in Appendix 1 of the report:

1)       Community with a diverse range of commutable employment that match the skills of residents.

2)       Community with growing commutable employment opportunities.

RESOLVED - That progress against the Council Plan “A great place to work” objective was noted.

To contribute to major Policies being considered by the Council;

·         Growth Strategy

       Councillor Jayne Barry, Portfolio Holder for Growth & Assets / Steve Lee, Assistant Director of Regeneration & Programmes.

The Portfolio Holder for Growth & Assets was present for this item.  The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Programmes delivered a presentation on the North East Derbyshire Growth Strategy that was in development.

The Committee were informed that when the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Programmes attended the meeting back in September 2024 to present the Growth Strategy there was still a lot of “unknowns”, this was mainly due to the Industrial Strategy, East Midlands County Combined Authority (EMCCA) and Government changes. 

Since that point, a lot of work has been undertaken to finalise the Strategy. 

The presentation provided details on:

• Invest 2035 (the Industrial Strategy)
• EMCCA Local Growth Plan
• Priority Areas in consideration (these may still be refined and combined to reduce the number of groupings, whilst retaining core content)
  • Housing and Strategic Development Sites
  • Sustainable Infrastructure and Accessibility
  • Employment and Skills
  • Support Businesses to Start Up and Grow
  • Innovation and New Technology
  • Indigenous and Inward Investment
  • Town Centre Development
  • The Visitor Economy

Members were informed that the priority areas highlighted within the Council’s Strategy were aligned with those within EMCCA’s Plan however, the Council were limited as to what it could do under some of these areas.  The Assistant Director for Regeneration and Programmes advised that the Local Plan and Housing Strategy would be key when looking at a number of the mentioned priority areas i.e. employment land, housing etc. 

The Portfolio Holder informed the Committee that tourism, leisure and manufacturing were key areas for the Council, and as an Authority we would continue to promote these within the district. 

The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Programmes informed Members that the Council are also focusing on the public realm and developing our town centres, but also looking at what services are required within these areas i.e. cash points.

The Chair mentioned that as part of the Sustainable Infrastructure and Accessibility priority area  that Junction 29 should be given more consideration in terms of access as it is not functioning effectively and is a very difficult junction. 

The Chair raised her concerns around “managed workspace” and felt that we did not have enough within our district, and queried plans to increase the provision.  The Assistant Director of Property, Estates and Assets informed the Committee that there had been some discussions about expanding at Coney Green however, this was in the very early stages.

The Committee enquired as to how much of the £30m EMCCA funding would the Council received.  Members were informed that this was not yet known but were assured that all efforts would be put into trying to influence as much as possible being invested in North East Derbyshire.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

To be presented with the outcomes achieved from the UKSPF.

Tris Burdett, Programmes Manager

The Programmes Manager and Interim Economic Development & Regeneration Manager delivered a presentation on theUK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The presentation provided details on:

• Overview of funding
• Business Support including the Derbyshire Accelerator programme and Vision Derbyshire Start-Up programme
• Shop Front Enhancements
• Public Realm works
• Green and Digital Skills
• Exploring the District (visitor economy)

The Chair asked if Officers could measure the impact of the business support projects funded by UKSPF. The Programmes Manager and Interim Economic Development & Regeneration Manager explained that whilst it was difficult quantify and that often the impact was felt in the long term, quarterly monitoring reports and case studies can help to understand the immediate effect on the business. 

The Chair enquired as to what officers will do when the UKSPF funding runs out. Members were informed that the Council had received an allocation for a further year from EMCCA, but confirmation of this had still not been received.

 RESOLVED – That the update was noted

To be presented with the Council’s Asset Management Plan.

Damien Johnson, Assistant Director of Property, Estates & Assets

The Assistant Director of Property, Estates and Assets presented the Asset Management Plan to the Committee.  Members were informed that since the Plan had last come through the Committee a lot of work had taken place to accommodate the changes following the consultation period. 

The Committee were informed that the Plan sets out how the Council should be managing its land and assets, and consists of four key sections.

The Assistant Director of Property, Estates and Assets was asked as to why the Council were no longer including the Council’s Coat of Arms on the front of its Leisure Centres, and were only having the new “Active” branding.  Members felt that the Authority should also be promoting, and making it clear, that our Leisure Centres are an NEDDC asset.  The Assistant Director of Property, Estates and Assets was unsure of the rationale behind this however, the Senior Scrutiny Officer agreed to investigate this further and provide an explanation to the Committee. 

Members asked whether there was a monetary value against the Council’s assets.  The Assistant Director of Property, Estates and Assets informed the Committee that there was and this was noted on the Asset Register.  

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

To inform Committee of recent and forthcoming Cabinet business.

A digest of Cabinet decisions taken since 23 May 2024.  This information is published by Cabinet meeting on the Council’s website.  Cabinet Agendas, Decisions and Minutes can be viewed at: Cabinet

The Forward Plan of Executive decisions.

Plans

These plans are updated to include new business.

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented a digest of Cabinet decisions taken since the last Committee meeting on 24 February 2025. The digest set out key information for each decision.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer also presented Members with the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions for the period 15 April to 15 May 2025.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted. 

To consider and contribute to potential changes in the operating environment which may include legislation, regulation and key projects being undertaken by the Council, for example.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer updated Members on potential significant changes in the Council’s operating environment, including changes to national legislation and regulation.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer explained that there was nothing to bring to the attention of Members.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted. 

To consider the Committee’s Work Programme.

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented the Work Programme 2024/25 for the Committee and advised that the Programme for the year had come to an end, and now the focus would be on the Work Programme for 2025/26.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer explained that the Committee’s next meeting would include agreement of a new Work Programme.

RESOLVED – That the Work Programme 2024/25 be agreed as complete.

To reflect on what the Committee had done to help the Council achieve the goal of making the District a Great Place for our Community.

The Chair asked Members to reflect on if the work of the Committee at the meeting had added value to the Council Plan objectives.

Members felt the meeting had been very informative and had contributed towards the Council Plan objectives. 

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 Business Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to take place in the new Municipal Year.

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