Issue - meetings

The Chair began that, from previous discussions, Dragonfly Development Ltd. Shareholder Board updates would be added to the Work Programme 2024/25 and an invitation would be extended for a Member of the Executive to provide clarity on the choices made with regards the allocation of funding from the DLUHC Regeneration Fund to the Committee at the next meeting.

On a question of the Shareholder Board meetings, the Monitoring Officer confirmed it would be useful for updates to be included at every Committee meeting when available.

The Work Programme, attached as Appendix 1, was also a fluid document and the programme would be subject to change if additional reports/presentations were required, or if items needed to be re-arranged for alternative dates.

Topics suggested by Members were included as Appendix 2, with a further suggestion, provided late to the Committee and so handed out in the meeting, being the following; “Enterprise/industrial zones within Bolsover District – to review their current state of readiness for:

·       Potential new business opportunities, in particular green energy based and other business opportunities;

·       The potential disappearance of significant current active businesses within the enterprise/industrial zones.”

With Sports Direct actively working towards leaving the District, and a new Mayor in position for the East Midlands Combined County Authority area, it was important to explore and promote business opportunities in the area, including the green transition and apprenticeships.

A Member agreed with the third suggestion, stating a third bullet point be added; “Innovative start-ups”.  Instead of inviting established businesses into the District, which was done previously, focus on those already local.  The Scrutiny Officer stated the bullet points listed could be listed as objectives and provide a scope for the Committee’s work.

For a question on how the public could be engaged with the suggested topic, the Scrutiny Officer stated a citizens’ survey could take place and managed by the Improvement Officer, and the Committee agreed Unions and leading business figures be invited to the Committee to provide their respective feedback.

For suggestion 2.1 of the attached Appendix 2,  for a “Review of the Council’s approach to bid writing for external funding”, was intended for when there was external funding available the Council was in the best place to bid for this.  Members agreed this information be shared with Parish Council to help them identify available funding.

The Committee agreed that figure 2.1 be part of the Work Programme for September-November 2024, as it was expected to be a short project, with then the late submission be explored after this.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.