Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Emmens, M Fletcher, L Hartshorne, W Jones and P Windley.

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 Business Scrutiny Committee held on 12 May 2025.  

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Business Scrutiny Committee held on 12 May 2025 were approved and signed by the Chair.

To be presented with the East Midlands Chamber Economic Performance and Prospects survey results.

Scott Knowles DL – Chief Executive, East Midlands Chamber

Committee heard that the representative from East Midlands Chamber was unable to attend the meeting. Members heard that the presentation put forward majority positive results and it was suggested that the representative be invited back to present at a future meeting.

To inform Committee of recent and forthcoming Cabinet business.

A digest of Cabinet decisions taken since May 2025.  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 in May 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 up to 15 July 2025.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

To contribute to major Policies being considered by the Council.   

The Senior Scrutiny Officer informed the Committee that there were no major policies for Members to consider.

Some Members queried what was likely to come up as part of this item. Committee were informed of the sort of policies that would come to Scrutiny committee and the process of identifying which Scrutiny committee they are relevant to.

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 draft Work Programme 2025/26 for the Committee to consider. Members were updated on the delay that had prevented Digital Connectivity being considered at this meeting. It was suggested that a representative form Derbyshire County Council be invited back to a future meeting to share the work that had been done in the area.

Committee discussed the topics that should be considered as part of the 2025/26 Work Programme. Some Members suggested that the Local Plan Update, that was due to be considered at the meeting in November, should have a particular focus on the employment sites that would be included in the new Local Plan.

Committee discussed the proposed item on the Clay Cross Town Centre Regeneration project. In this context, it was suggested that the committee considers how NEDDC is making its assets, particularly high streets and leisure centres, more attractive and how does that fit into urban regeneration. It was agreed that this topic would be added to the Work Programme to be considered at the appropriate meeting.

Committee also considered the most appropriate meeting to bring back the item on East Midlands Chamber Economic Survey Results. It was agreed that the representative would be invited to the November meeting.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the Work Programme 2025/26 be approved.

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 of Business Scrutiny Committee explained that there was nothing to bring to the attention of Members.

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 on 8 September at 3.00 pm.

The next meeting of the Business Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to take place on 8 September at 3.00 pm.