Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors John Ritchie, Clive Moesby and Phil Smith.

To note any urgent items of business which the Chairman has consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no urgent items of business to consider.

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

a)  any business on the agenda

b)  any urgent additional items to be considered

c)  any matters arising out of those items

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To consider the minutes of the last meeting held on 14^th April 2025

Moved by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders and seconded by Councillor Tom Munro

RESOLVED that the Minutes of an Executive meeting held on 14^th April 2025 be approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the quarterly outturns against the Council Plan 2024-2028 targets be noted.

Executive considered a detailed report, presented by the Corporate Policy and Programme Officer, which provided the Quarter 4 outturns for the Council’s Plan targets 2024-2028.

In summary, out of the 33 targets; 26 (79%) were on track, three (9%) had been extended, two (6%) were not on track and two (6%) had been achieved.

Our Customers – Providing excellent and accessible services: Eight targets in total, all on track.

Our Environment – protecting the quality of life for residents and businesses, meeting environmental challenges, and enhancing biodiversity: Eight targets in total, six on track, one extended and one not on track.

Our Economy – by driving growth, promoting the district and being business and visitor friendly: seven targets in total, five on track and two extended.

Our Housing – by delivering social and private sector housing growth: 10 targets in total, seven on target and one achieved, one achieved outside of target date and one not on track.

Dragonfly KPIs: Dragonfly a company wholly owned by the Council significantly contributed to the achievement of the Council Plan. A summary of their performance against key performance indicators was appended to the report.

Members noted that Derbyshire County Council were no longer wished to carry out welfare adaptations and this had been handed to the Council to deliver on their behalf.

Moved by Councillor Donna Hales and seconded by Councillor Mary Dooley

RESOLVED that the quarter four outturns against the Council Plan 2024-2028 targets be noted.

Reasons for Recommendation

This is an information report to keep Members informed of progress against the Council Plan targets noting achievements and any areas of concern.

Alternative Options and Reasons for Rejection

Not applicable to this report as providing an overview of performance against agreed targets.

The Corporate Policy and Programme Officer and the Programme and Major Projects Manager left the meeting.

RESOLVED that 1) the Rood Lane site be removed from the Bolsover Homes build programme,

2) future utilisation of the site be subject to a further Executive report in considering,

     a) allocating the site for Biodiversity Net Gain purposes,

     b) utilisation for leisure provision.

Executive considered a detailed report presented by the Portfolio Holder for Growth, which sought Members approval to release Rood Lane, Clowne from the Bolsover Homes build programme and to agree future use of the site.

Land tenure and access had obstructed the site’s development potential particularly as two existing Council properties would need to be demolished to establish suitable access along with a strip of land which would need to be subject to a compulsory purchase order (CPO).

One option would be to use the site for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) which was now a mandatory requirement for major developments in England.  A BNG value would need to be established for the site and involve an evaluation by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (DWT) which would take approximately three months to conclude.

An alternative option would be to consider the use of the land for leisure purposes such as a sports playing pitch or formal green space.  The Council had recently conducted an infrastructure study, and the evidence work (February 2025) identified that Clowne continued to have a shortfall in provision of both formal and semi-formal green space for its population.

The Leader noted that she and the Deputy Leader had visited the site, and both agreed with the options put forward in the report.

Councillor Hiney-Saunders welcomed the report and noted that it would give the residents in the area some certainty on what would happen with the land.

Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders

RESOLVED that: 1) the Rood Lane site be removed from the Bolsover Homes build programme,

2)    a report be presented to a future Executive meeting for alternate utilisation of the site, subject to considering;

a)    allocating the site for Biodiversity Net Gain purposes

b)    utilisation for leisure provision.

Reasons for Recommendation

To release Rood Lane from the Bolsover Homes new build scheme and consider alternate utilisation of the site to ensure the most effective future use of the land.

Considering alternate future use of the site would facilitate bringing an existing vacant Council property back in to use and generation of rentable income to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

Alternative Options and Reasons for Rejection

Members could choose to develop Rood Lane, Clowne however, this would mean that a compulsory purchase order would need to be undertaken, as well as resolving access issues to the site, securing suitable BNG elsewhere and demolition of 2No existing Council housing units to establish suitable access.

RESOLVED that 1) the Council continues with the day-to-day operational running of the Heritage and Wellbeing Centre on behalf of Elmton with Creswell Parish Council,

2) the Council enters into a Service Level Agreement with Elmton with Creswell Parish Council to manage and operate the Heritage and Wellbeing Centre on its behalf, with full costs being met by the Parish Council,

3) the Council continues to directly employ the staff working at the Heritage and Wellbeing Centre as required within the Service Level Agreement,

4) the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder, be given delegated authority to agree the final terms of the Service Level Agreement with the Parish Council.

Executive considered a detailed report presented by the Portfolio Holder for Partnerships, Health & Wellbeing, which sought Members approval for the Council to enter into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) in relation to the day-to-day management of Elmton with Creswell Parish Council’s Heritage and Wellbeing Leisure Centre.

The Council had undertaken the day-to-day running of the centre on behalf of the parish council from its opening with the full cost of the services borne by the parish council.

The parish council has recently received support from Derbyshire Association of Local Councils (DALC) and National Association of Local Councils (NALC) in reviewing their governance and financial arrangements and the review included consideration of the future of the Heritage and Wellbeing Centre and its financial position.

Options had been considered and the parish council had subsequently agreed to request the Council continue to manage the day-to-day operation of the centre.  Further to this, the Council had provided the parish council with details of the full operating costs for 2025/26 which had been considered within their budget setting and financial planning.  This included the full costs of staffing the facility, management of staff, operational activities and other responsibilities relating to the safe running of the centre.

Moved by Councillor Mary Dooley and seconded by Councillor Tom Munro

RESOLVED that: 1) the Council continue with the day-to-day operational running of the Heritage and Wellbeing Centre on behalf of Elmton with Creswell Parish Council,

2)    the Council enter into a Service Level Agreement with Elmton with Creswell Parish Council to manage and operate the Heritage and Wellbeing Centre on its behalf, with full costs being met by the parish council,

3)    the Council continue to directly employ the staff working at the Heritage and Wellbeing Centre as required within the Service Level Agreement,

4)    the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder, is given the delegated authority to agree the final terms of the Service Level Agreement with the parish council.

Reasons for Recommendation

Elmton with Creswell Parish Council do not currently have the skills and resources available to operate the leisure facility and had requested the assistance of the District Council in the day-to-day management of the site.

Alternative Options and Reasons for Rejection

An alternative option would be to decline the request from the parish council to agree a Service level Agreement for the continued operational running of the facility.  In this instance, the parish council would be required to further consider their options for the running of the centre.