Minutes:
The Board welcomed Nexus Planning to the meeting as lead consultants appointed to deliver the investment plan for Clay Cross.
Peter Tooher, Executive Director of Nexus Planning, expressed his excitement and thanked the Board for the opportunity to deliver on the aspirations for Clay Cross.
Nexus provided a brief presentation to the Board which outlined a number of key issues and areas. These included:-
· Clay Cross Board objectives;
· Priority areas and proposals;
· Key documents, data and project evidence;
· The Clay Cross Investment Plan;
· Consultation Plan;
· Timescales and programme;
· Next steps.
The Clay Cross Board discussed a number of ways in which Nexus Planning could be updated about the work done so far in regards to the Investment Plan for Clay Cross. These included workshops and informal working groups.
Members of the Board had a wide ranging discussion on the specific challenges that Clay Cross faced. Lee Rowley MP, suggested that a number of policy interventions were required such as promoting skills and education, connecting Clay Cross to surrounding areas, and an overall economic transformation that would improve the health and wellbeing of Clay Cross residents. The Board agreed that there must be a robust data set where areas of investment could be identified and focussed on.
Councillor Geoff Morley, Clay Cross Parish Chair, identified the leisure centre as a key area that was vital for the health and wellbeing of Clay Cross residents.
Councillor Jeremy Kenyon made reference to the poor traffic flow and the connectivity issues for Clay Cross’ Town Centre.
Julie Richards – Chesterfield College, discussed the skills agenda and the importance of using data to drive upskilling and knowledge to help the unemployed and attract businesses to the area.
Councillor Martin Thacker MBE, Leader of the Council, informed the Clay Cross Town Board of a district information portal that would be available for the public to view on the Council’s website. The Board reiterated that a robust data set was vital so that the investment plan could make a clear case to Government that investment was needed in Clay Cross.
The Clay Cross Board discussed the possibility of bringing the next meeting forward by two weeks, as well as the creation of a sub-group or further informal working groups.
Members of the Clay Cross Town Board acknowledged that they were a representative of the stakeholders in the Clay Cross community and as such, regular engagement with the public was important. Members agreed that public engagement was crucial, and as such identified a number of areas in which the Council’s Communications Team could connect with residents. This included social media outlets, e-mail communications and the publishing of the draft final plan for public comments.
Councillor Martin Thacker MBE, Leader of the Council, wished for officers to draft a clear set of statements before the next formal meeting to identify the progress of the Town Board. The statement would include a progress to date briefing, where the investment plan was at, a clear outline of the Board’s vision, messages to the public, next steps, and draft proposals for public consultation.
The Clay Cross Town Board agreed that an inception meeting should go ahead through an informal working group with officers, and the outcome of this could then be shared with the Clay Cross Board at its next formal meeting.
Members of the Board also wished for the documentation on the consultation plan to be circulated to Members of the Board well in advance of the next meeting.
Officers agreed to provide an update from the D2N2 Derbyshire Town’s Fund Meeting at the next meeting of the Clay Cross Board.
AGREED – That the update be noted.