Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Will Fletcher and Tom Munro (Portfolio Holder for Growth).

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.

Moved by Councillor Jeanne Raspin and seconded by Councillor Jen Wilson

RESOLVED that the Minutes of a Local Growth Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 28^th October 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 Head of Business Growth presented the report to the Committee.

Since the Committee’s July 2025 meeting, a number of actions agreed and works undertaken at Pleasley Vale Business Park (the ‘Business Park’) totalled to date £1,675,469 – the report detailed the works taken / taking place.

Members were informed the significant expenditure in the above total was for Phase 2 of the works to the water courses, the desilting of Mill Ponds 1 and 2 and the de-vegetation of the ponds’ banks, and the associated environmental compliance of these works.

Structural surveys had taken place with works / recommendations to be defined in the near future.

As a result of the Council’s wholly owned Dragonfly Development Ltd. and Dragonfly Management (Bolsover) Ltd. companies being brought into the Council, work had taken place alongside the Strategic Director of Property, Construction and Assets who had been tasked with establishing an asset management strategy to provide a framework to maximise value, performance, and life cycle of the Council’s physical assets (incl. the Business Park and its surrounding environment).

A clarification on the report was noted: mandated quarterly fire door checks in common areas of buildings over 11 metres in height would not apply for commercial properties, therefore fire door checks at the Business Park would take place every 6 months as advised by the regulations.

The Committee was informed and the report detailed the scheduled works, delayed until recently, to repair the damage following Storm Babet 2023 (including work to reinstate culvert lids).

Where efficiencies could be found, to deliver value for money, these were delivered.

Day-to-day repairs and maintenance continued across the Business Park.  The Facilities Team continued to work alongside contractors to undertake regular inspections, compliances, and investment where necessary (e.g. replacement of the intercom in Mill 3).

Phase 1 for the flood remediation works, which included a full repair and piling along Mill 1’s dam wall, de-vegetating of trees and growth along the dam wall and in front of Mill 1, and the reinstating of the top of the wall (to be seeded when all works were completed).

Ecological surveys to protect wildlife during the works had taken place.

A scope of works, which included the aforementioned Phase 2 works (de-vegetation, de-silting (and de-watering) of Mill Ponds 1 and 2 (including mechanical dredging and removal of trees undermining structural stability of dam walls and culverts), etc.) would commence February 2026.

This scope of works for desilting Mill Ponds 1 and 2 would, for efficiency and capital savings, be handled as one contract (though the methodology of each pond would be handled differently).

A Member was surprised by the presence of a former bomb shelter on site – the Committee was informed the Business Park had a few.  The Member noted the Business Park had great sentimental value to the area – any chance to detail unique, historical aspects of the site should be promoted.

The Head of Business Growth was thanked for the report.

A Member informed the  ...  view the full minutes text for item LOC24-25/26

The Portfolio Holder for Housing provided a verbal update on the Shareholder Board (the ‘Board’) to the Committee.

The Council’s wholly owned Dragonfly Development Ltd. and Dragonfly Management (Bolsover) Ltd. companies had, as of the start of the month, been brought into the Council.

The Board had met a few days before – it was expected this would be the final official meeting before responsibilities were appropriately passed to the Council.

The Committee was informed Project Eiffel Tower had proceeded very well with a final debrief to be held March 2026.  Consultations with the unions had taken place.

Employees appointed by the Dragonfly Companies had been invited to a Council induction session with the Leader and Chief Executive the week prior – positive comments had been received.  Additional roadshows for all staff would be provided across spring 2026.

Delivery of vehicles with updated branding and new staff badges had been completed to reassure social tenants all officers were from the Council.

The previous Dragonfly Companies’ risk registers had been incorporated into the Council’s.

Dragonfly Development Ltd. had become the Council’s Property, Construction and Assets Team – it was noted construction projects had continued without interruption and these were listed to the Committee with the following updates noted:

·       Alder Close, Shirebrook:

o   Site on budget other than gas connection;

o   Currently on budget;

o   Forecast completion was May 2026 (subject to gas connection).

·       North Border Hill School, Bassetlaw District Council:

o   Demolition costs submitted Quarter 2 2025/26

o   Estimated Schedule of Service estimated Quarter 1 2026/27.

·       Shirebrook Market Place:

o   Site was showing 6-weeks behind programme due to cladding install delay;

o   Currently on budget;

o   Handover to Council scheduled 6^th April 2026 with Shirebrook Town Council handover subject to development agreement.

Performance monitoring had successfully aligned with the Council’s.

The Finance Team was still reviewing the Dragonfly Companies’ final accounts to ensure final payments to contractors were completed.

A meeting to produce a final report (for items such as lessons learned) was planned for March 17^th 2026 – the report would then be submitted to Council.

The Committee was informed the Portfolio Holder for Devolution would have provided the verbal update but was unavailable.

The Chair thanked the Portfolio Holder for Housing for the verbal update.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the report to the Committee.

The Committee had, with the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee, agreed to undertake a joint review of security arrangements at The Arc, Clowne focussing on the policies, protocols and procedures in place and examine how security for staff, public and Members could be improved as part of the 2024/25 Work Programme.

The Joint Committee had put together 11 recommendations to assist the Council in improving security and safety arrangements at The Arc, Clowne – to date 5 out 11 recommendations had been achieved, with the remaining 6 on track and to likely be completed within the original target date.

The Committee was informed Conflict Management training was taking place the same day as the meeting.

Moved by Councillor Justin Gilbody and seconded by Councillor Duncan Haywood

RESOLVED that: 1) Scrutiny Members note the progress against the review recommendations;

2)    Scrutiny Members acknowledge any exceptions to delivery and clarify the additional action required by the service;

3)    Scrutiny Members make its report and findings public, in accordance with Part 4.5.17(4) of the Council’s Constitution; and,

4)    Officers continue to implement the recommendations and submit a further report in six months’ time highlighting progress and any exceptions to delivery.

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

A Business Growth Strategy Monitoring Update would have been presented to the Committee, but was still in development – once completed it would be presented at a future meeting.

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.