Agenda and minutes

Local Growth Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 14th June, 2022 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber, The Arc, Clowne

Contact: Jo Wilson  Scrutiny and Elections Officer Email: joanne.wilson@bolsover.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

LOC1-21/22

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Janet Tait.

 

LOC2-21/22

Urgent Items

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.

Minutes:

There were no urgent items of business.

 

LOC3-21/22

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

Minutes:

 There were no declarations of interest made.

 

LOC4-21/22

Minutes pdf icon PDF 199 KB

To consider the minutes of the Local Growth Scrutiny Committee meeting on 20th April 2022.

Minutes:

Moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Derek Adams.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of a Local Growth ScrutinyCommittee held on 20 April be approved as a correct record.

 

LOC5-21/22

List of Key Decisions and Items to be Considered in Private pdf icon PDF 35 KB

(Members should contact the officer whose name appears on the List of

Key Decisions for any further information.  NB: If Members wish to discuss an exempt report under this item, the meeting will need to move into exempt business and exclude the public in accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and Local Government Act 1972, Part 1, Schedule 12a for that part of the meeting only).

 

Minutes:

Committee considered the List of Key Decisions and items to be considered in private document.

 

Moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Derek Adams.

RESOLVED that the List of Key Decisions and items to be considered in private document be noted.

 

 

LOC6-21/22

Work Programme 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 320 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Committee considered their proposed work programme for 2022/23.  Members agreed to switch the items tabled for August and October given the current situation with vacant units in Bolsover Town Centre.

 

The Assistant Director of Development & Planning advised of the lead officer and Member in relation to HS2 but noted that there was clear confirmation the phase affecting Bolsover was not going ahead.  Officers were waiting for further detail from HS2 in relation to land and buildings affected by works to date.

 

Moved by Councillor Derek Adams and seconded by Councillor David Dixon

RESOLVED that the Work Programme 2022/23 be approved and noted.

 

(Scrutiny & Elections Officer)

 

LOC7-21/22

Growth Strategy - Monitoring Update (Interim) 2022/23

Verbal report

Minutes:

The Assistant Director of Development & Planning gave Members a verbal progress update on the Business Growth Strategy.  Core areas of progress included the following:

External Funding

Over the last 12months approximately £5.5m has been secured from bids.

  • £1.3m from the D2N2 LEP which includes £500k for a Skills Academy; £800k in relation mine water energy;
  • From DLUHC there’s £200k for Prop Tech II (digital engagement with place making/planning development); £250k to digitise planning processes.
  • £3.3m has gone in to the Bolsover Homes project from Homes England
  • From the LGA the Council has secured £25k for mine water energy feasibility and £30k for net zero innovation and £14k for consultancy.
  • £270k from the Woodland Trust
  • £1.9m from the Shared Prosperity Fund over the next 3 years.

 

Bids in Development

The Business Growth Team are currently working on bids for Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund (£20m) and Round 3 of the Cultural development Fund (£5).

BDC Land

Members will be aware of previous updates in relation to assessments of land for redevelopment and sale.  Since 2019 the Council has generated £1.7m from land sales.

 

Oxcroft House

A further options appraisal is taking place with 3 to 4 options being considered.  One interested partner is the YMCA who would be able to access alternative funding to the Council to support redevelopment of the site.

 

Pleasley Mills

Project Manager requirement is underway and it is hoped they will be in post quickly to enable work to progress at the site.

 

Revenue Streams

Various schemes are underway to increase the tax base of the authority.  The re-development on the former Coalite site is almost complete so buildings should be in situ imminently.

 

Clowne Garden Village

This project is still subject to highway negotiations which is causing significant delay to the site.  The Council is currently looking at alternative growth options in Shirebrook with a plan currently out to consultation.  A further growth plan is being consulted on in Creswell.

 

Tourism

The new officer is finally in post and they will be dedicated solely to this area of delivery.  The focus will be on capitalising on staycations where possible but also looking at transport between key attraction sites.

 

Cllr Adams questioned if it was possible for a committee or working group to be in place to support the tourism development work.

It was agreed that a closer working relationship was needed to enable the Council to build a better understanding of the local profile/tourism offer and a better understanding of the holiday accommodation available.  It was noted that a glamping pods had recently set up in the Stanfree area and there was the potential to redevelop part of the Oxcroft Miners Welfare site

 

Cllr Kirkham queried the planned delivery via Prop Tech II and the Digital Planning improvements.

It was noted that a large part of what was to be delivered was pre-determined by the funding schemes.  It was recommended that the Interim Planning Policy Manager attend to brief Members on the work taking  ...  view the full minutes text for item LOC7-21/22

LOC8-21/22

Update on Shared Prosperity Fund and Levelling Up Fund pdf icon PDF 18 KB

Verbal report/discussion item

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Business Growth Manager outlined the priorities for the two new funding streams and how Bolsover hoped to benefit.

 

Shared Prosperity Fund

£1.96m has been agreed for the Bolsover area over the next 3 years:

  • Year 1 (22/23) - £238k
  • Year 2 (23/24) - £476k
  • Year 3 (24/25) - £1.248m

 

The Fund is structured around three themes:

Community and Place

 

?        Public Realm

?        Destination management/Tourism

?        Reducing crime and perception of crime

 

Supporting Local Business

?        Business development and local employees

?        Upskilling

?        Diversification

?        Net zero carbon works

 

 

People and Skills

?        Levelling up

?        Moving people into employment

 

A working group has been set up to improve the economic outputs of the District.  The Council is required to submit its proposed Investment Plan for the funding by end of August.  From a long list of potential projects a shorter list of deliverables is currently being agreed.

 

The Growth related priorities that have been put forward for selection are:

Visit Bolsover

This scheme aims to build up the offer available in the District and further improve the website to promote services and attractions available.  There will be a full social media campaign.  A Place Audit will be completed to establish exactly what is available by way of attractions and accommodation.  This will link with the Community Rail/Leisure work looking at sustainable transport and cycling trails with the potential for an E-bike hub to capitalise on the cycle network.

 

Derbyshire Accelerator – Visitor Economy

Working directly with MPDD to develop a destination management scheme to improve the national and international profile of the area.  Greater specialist support for visitor economy businesses.

 

Business Support via EM Chamber.

This will focus on support for net zero carbon initiatives (Net Zero Accelerator); financial advice and support (Financial Accelerator); development of digital solutions/efficiencies (Made Smarter Accelerator); a business growth scheme via grant funding.

 

Small Business Support Scheme

Led by Clowne Enterprise.  This is needed as a result of the pandemic to support diversification; improved business survival; 1-2-1 support; peer mentoring.  Including a Digital High street Accelerator and Start-up to Scale Accelerator.

 

Business Growth grants

As per previous grants schemes, funding to support expansion, job creation, business improvements.

 

Oxcroft House

Capital costs of refurbishments

 

If these are all chosen, £1.2m of the £1.96m will be directed at growth and there is clear agreement to focus on a smaller number of bigger impact schemes.  Lots of information has been gathered from businesses via the grant distribution process during the pandemic which is helping to shape this future delivery.

 

Levelling Up Fund

Officers were currently working on proposals with a submission deadline of 6th July.  The focus of the submission will be Bolsover Town with specific emphasis on the purchase, demolition and redevelopment of the Coop site.  Ideas in the proposal focus on:

  • Diversification of the high street
  • Development of an art/exhibition space, to include pop-up exhibits
  • A theatre/performance space including cinema screen
  • Indoor Market area
  • A soft play area
  • A café/food vendor’s area – this could be similar to venues in Sheffield  ...  view the full minutes text for item LOC8-21/22

LOC9-21/22

Review Work

Minutes:

Members discussed their possible recommendations for their current Review of Integration of Social Value and agreed additional actions required.