Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S Cornwell and C Gare.

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 13 May 2024.  

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Business Scrutiny Committee held on 13 May 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.  

Overview of Scrutiny and remit of the Committee.

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer delivered a presentation to Members which included an overview of how the Scrutiny function operated, the specific remits of the Council’s four Scrutiny Committees, how to add topics to the annual Work Programme, and the different options to carry out reviews.

Members felt that the presentation included a large amount of information and requested that it be circulated to the Committee Members so they could digest it in their own time.

RESOLVED – That the presentation was noted.

An update on the Combined Authority – Who’s who and NEDDC’s role.

Lee Hickin, Managing Director

The Managing Director delivered a presentation to Members explaining how the recently established East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) was progressing in terms of its operating framework.  Members were also informed of the  Strategic Leadership Board that was used as a feeder into EMCCA. The presentation included details on the EMCCA’s formation, how the EMCCA would operate, who would sit on the Board and other Committees, and how the EMCCA’s Scrutiny function would operate.

Members asked for specific details on the number of representatives from each local authority for the EMCCA Board and committees. The Managing Director explained that the Board would include two Leaders from a District or Borough Council that would represent Derbyshire on EMCCA, along with 2 further District and Borough representatives on each of the committees, and the same would apply for the Nottinghamshire Districts and Boroughs.

The Chair requested that the Managing Director return at a later date to update the Committee on changes to the elements within the presentation.

RESOLVED – That the presentation was noted.

To receive a presentation on the Shop Front Enhancement Scheme.

Kirstin Sykes, Regeneration and Town Centre Officer

The Economic Development & Regeneration Manager and the Regeneration & Town Centre Officer delivered a presentation which updated Members on the operation of the Shop Front Enhancement Scheme. The presentation included details on the launch of the Scheme in April 2023, the number of approved grants given to shops, the challenges the Scheme had created, and examples of successful improvements to shops.  Members were informed that the grants available ranged from £500 to £10,000.

Members asked if  applications came from landlords or tenants. The Regeneration & Town Centre Officer informed Members that successful improvements had been carried out with both, and an example of landlord applications was the former Merrick's Barber Shop and immediate neighbours in Clay Cross.

Members discussed the split between grants and funding for the Scheme as a whole. The Regeneration & Town Centre Officer explained that the Council funded 75% of the cost up to £10,000, and these grants could be used for works such as new windows/doors, improved accessibility to premises and visually improving the look of the external building.

Members enquired what the processes followed were for shops that had not yet applied for the grant. The Regeneration & Town Centre Officer stated that officers were regularly liaising with all eligible shops who had not yet submitted applications.

The Chair asked how much of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund the Council still had remaining to spend on the Scheme.  The Regeneration and Town Centre Officer responded that the Council had just under £200,000 of the £400,000 fund left to spend before March 2025.

RESOLVED – That the presentation 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 13 May 2024. 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 May 2024 – 30 September 2024.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

To contribute to major Policies being considered by the Council.   

The Chair informed the Committee that there were no major policies for Members to consider.

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 informed Members that the operations of the East Midlands Combined Authority would be closely monitored. Members were also informed that the recent General Election result would mean a lot of new legislation in the near future, which would also be monitored for the Committee.

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 2024/25 for the Committee to consider. If approved, it would be the first Work Programme of the new municipal year. Members were told that the new draft design of the Programme now included an ‘outcome’ section for each issue, to set out what the Committee aimed to achieve with each one.

RESOLVED – That the Work Programme 2024/25 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.

Members agreed that they could not reflect on the outcomes of the meeting without the attendance of the Committee Chair Councillor S Cornwell.

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 16 September 2024 at 3.00 pm.  

The next meeting of the Business Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to take place on 16 September 2024 at 3.00 pm.