Agenda and draft minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

To note any urgent items of business which the Chair 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 made at the meeting.

To consider the minutes of the last meeting held on the 8^th July 2025.

A Member noted there was an update on Pleasley Vale Regeneration Programme at the previous meeting (minute no. LOC7-25/26), but no item was listed on the agenda despite recent events that had taken place.

A Member agreed with the need to discuss the Pleasley Vale Business Park (the ‘Park’) and that it should be added to the Committee’s future agendas for the foreseeable future.

A Member observed it would not be appropriate to leave an update on the Park to the Committee’s next meeting (February 2026).

The Monitoring Officer noted a discussion on the Park could be held as an urgent item of business or informally after the meeting.

The Portfolio Holder for Growth informed an Emergency Board had been established to control the running of the Park and that it was important for the Committee to be informed on matters arising as early as possible.

Moved by Councillor Jeanne Raspin and seconded by Councillor Jen Wilson

RESOLVED that an informal discussion be held on the Pleasley Vale Business Park after the meeting and an Extraordinary meeting be arranged before the Committee’s next meeting February 2026.

The Portfolio Holder for Growth provided an update on the Shirebrook Reimagined – Update on Regeneration Funded Works (minute no. LOC5-25/26) – progress had been made with Shirebrook Town Council and completion was expected spring 2026.

Moved by Councillor Will Fletcher and seconded by Councillor Jeanne Raspin

RESOLVED that the Minutes of a Local Growth Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 8^th July 2025 be approved as a true and correct record.

Members considered the List of Key Decisions and Items to be considered in the private document.

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

The Chief Executive provided a presentation on Project Eiffel Tower (the ‘Project’) and a Dragonfly Shareholder Board Update Report to the Committee.

The purpose of the Project presentation was to inform Members on the management of the transition of Dragonfly Companies staff and services to the Council by 31^st March 2026.

The name had been chosen as the Eiffel Tower had been completed March 31^st 1889 – March 31^st 2026 had been chosen to bring both Dragonfly Companies into the Council.

The Programme Director was in place and the Programme Board was working well, meeting fortnightly.

The transfer of Dragonfly Companies staff would be under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) arrangements to ensure the retention of all key conditions and provide job security for all.

Meetings with UNISON were taking place, and while the local Unite representative was unavailable to attend, Unite’s regional office had been requested to provide another representative to attend meetings.

It was important the branding of the vehicle fleet logos and officer I.D. badges / uniforms were changed simultaneously to ensure members of the public knew who they were engaging with.

Communications between the Council and Dragonfly Companies staff remained regular and ongoing.  The Council’s intranet, Eric, was being updated weekly, with also InTouch magazine utilised.

It was noted the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and financial arrangements were of most import to resolve – the Section 151 Officer was handling these.

The Strategic Risk Register was being managed by the Risk Management Group – using the Red / Amber / Green traffic light system, all risks were listed ether Green or Amber with all known risks monitored weekly.

When completed, it was expected the staff structure would result in the Project reaching 70% completion.

The Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive of the Dragonfly Companies were both regularly attending the Dragonfly Shareholder Board.

Questions were asked on where the updates of the Project were first provided and if the presentation slides would be made public.

It was noted a copy of the presentation would be shared with the Committee and uploaded as a supplementary document to the website once any sensitive contractual / legal work was assessed.

The Dragonfly Shareholder Board Update Report, provided at the meeting, included the following information:

·       Woburn, Blackwell (on track and on budget – it was recommended Members visit);

·       Roseland Crematorium, Shirebrook (cremator delivered and recruitment of staff / management taking place);

·       Shirebrook Cluster – Alder Way (on track, nothing further to update);

·       Events Centre, Shirebrook (had proven difficult to work on the Market Place, but on track with work ongoing);

·       Bolsover Homes (would include 30-40 homes);

·       Regeneration (the Strategic Commissioning Board had met the day before the meeting and had received an update on the £15 million Regeneration Funding granted to the Council along with budgetary pressures around drainage for a site – cost efficiency measures were being explored);

·       Co-op Demolition and Landscaping, Bolsover (further consultation was taking  ...  view the full minutes text for item LOC15-25/26

The Interim Director of Planning, Devolution and Corporate Policy presented the report to the Committee.

Through the East Midlands Investment Zone (EMIZ) programme, the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) had invited applications for their Year 1 Sprint Funding in late 2024, with the Council submitting a number of bids across the 3 strands of the programme:

• Sprint A: Planning and Development;
• Sprint B: Research and Innovation;
• Sprint C: Skills.

The Council had successfully secured 3 funding awards – 2 directly awarded and 1 delivered in partnership with Nottingham Trent University (NTU).

Project updates on the Bolsover Green Skills Hub (Shirebrook), Engaging Supply Chain Database, and Planning Capacity Builder were detailed in the report.

With regards the Bolsover Green Skills Hub (Shirebrook), the Committee was informed an internal working group including the Interim Director of Planning, Devolution and Corporate Policy, Head of Business Growth and Strategic Director of Services had been formed, and representatives from that group had already met with representatives of EMCCA and some potential providers to date to ensure ongoing project alignment with future funding opportunities and partner delivery models could be progressed.

With regards Engaging Supply Chain Database, 27 Small / Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) had been engaged locally as of August 2025, plus a wide range of procuring companies and industry bodies.

Whilst the anticipated engagement means and project outcomes had evolved during this project’s process, EMCCA had been updated throughout and remained satisfied with the reported monitoring outputs to date.

It was noted EMCCA had recently completed relevant staff recruitment in this field and there was a good working relationship between their team and the Council.

There remained an initiate for the District to be known as a green skills location, with the Council having strong links with NTU, Vision West Notts. College and other potential providers.

The EMIZ Green Skills Hub Final Report July 2025 was attached at Appendix 1.

The EMIZ Engaging Supply Chain SMEs in the Housing Industry’s Procurement Process Final Report 30^th September 2025 was attached at Appendix 2.

The Council’s and NTU’s Planning Capacity Builder for Net Zero Final Report 23^rd May 2025 was attached at Appendix 3.

The Head of Business Growth presented the report to the Committee.

The UK Government had launched the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) 13^th April 2022 of new funding for local investment through to March 2025 – the Council had received £1,963,993.

An allocation of £803,023 for the 12-month period April 2025 – March 2026 was also received, with £667,824 allocated to 7 projects.

Project updates further detailed in the report included:

·       Business In Bolsover (the number of enterprises receiving non-financial support stood at 211 in total from Quarter 1 2025/26 and Quarter 2 2025/26 – the target for the whole term of the programme had been 40);

·       Hyper Local Business Support (to maintain focus on business growth, Clowne Enterprises had been commissioned with the programme deployed continuing to stay on track, or ahead of outputs and outcomes);

·       Creative Women’s Network (Platform Thirty1 had been commissioned to deliver support to creative businesses from the arts, culture and visitor economy sectors, with £12,000 allocated to cover the cost of running the sessions);

·       Housebuilders Forum (the Bolsover-UK Place Belong campaign was launched at the one-year Place programme anniversary in June 2025 – following the anniversary event the inaugural East Midlands Housing Developer Forum had taken place with attendees listed in the report and future meetings would take place November 2025, January 2026 and March 2026);

·       Net Zero Innovation Programme (this award winning programme – a handout of a news article detailing this project winning the EDIE “Net-Zero Award for Upskilling and Training Initiative of the Year” was handed out to Members – was on track and work with NTU was continuing.  It was further noted 4 businesses had successfully applied for and been awarded a Net Zero Growth Grant following support from the project, with further applications pending);

·       Creative Hub (as of Quarter 2 2025/26, 47 individual stakeholders had engaged with the programme – including Platform Thirty1 and Junction Arts); and,

·       Net Zero Growth Grants (4 applications have been appraised and approved by the panel).

The Portfolio Holder for Growth added it had been a great pleasure to support the report presented to the Committee and praised the work of the Economic Development Team.

Additionally, Members were informed that for the former Co-op site the Council now owned (included in the report’s Creative Hub information), the Council was consulting whether it was best value for money to either refurbish and bring the premises up to standard, or to demolish and rebuild the site.

The Chair noted the good work of Platform Thirty1 to residents in the Blackwell Ward – this would likely be the same case as other Wards across the District.

Moved by Councillor Will Fletcher and seconded by Councillor Tom Kirkham

RESOLVED that Members review the content of the progress report and make

recommendations to Executive, where required, on additional action that may be needed for successful delivery.

The Chair welcomed and introduced the new Scrutiny Officer to the Committee.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Work Programme 2025/26 to the Committee, attached at Appendix 1.

A Member asked if updates on the £15 million Regeneration Funding be added to the Work Programme.  The Chief Executive confirmed updates from the Strategic Commissioning Board could be provided to the Committee’s February 2026 and April 2026 meetings.

Moved by Councillor Will Fletcher and seconded by Councillor Jeanne Raspin

RESOLVED that Members review this report and the Programme attached at Appendix 1 for approval and amendment as required.  All Members are advised to contact the Scrutiny Officer should they have any queries regarding future meetings.