Agenda item

The Chief Executive presented the report to the Committee.

On the conversion of Dragonfly Development Ltd. (DDL) to a company 100% owned by the Council, and the creation of Dragonfly Management (Bolsover) Ltd., the Council had also formed the Dragonfly Shareholder Board (the ‘Board’).  The purpose of the Board was to act as a consultation group to consider issues relating to DDL and Dragonfly Management (Bolsover) Ltd..

At its meeting on 16^th January 2024, the Board had agreed that its minutes would be made available to the Committee to review.

Attached at Appendixes 1-4 were the minutes of the Board from 17^th October 2024 through to 11^th February 2025.  The minutes of a meeting held on 27^th February 2025 would be brought to the Committee once approved as a true and correct record at the Board’s next meeting.

Following consultation with the Dragonfly Board of Directors and Dragonfly Chief Executive, the Board had now formally agreed the scope of the independent review.  This was attached at Appendix 5.

Regular auditing of the accounts would also provide regular financial updates from the Section 151 Officer.

The additional funding of the £15 million and DDL’s role would also be provided.

To a question on SHBD29-24/25 and the minutes of the Joint Board Meeting held on 6^th November 2024 not being “approved as a correct record and remained in a draft format”, the Chief Executive informed the minutes had been written by the Dragonfly Board as it had been a meeting arranged by them and not the Council.

While the inaccuracies, typographical mistakes and omissions within the minutes were highlighted to the Dragonfly Board and subsequently resolved, the Chief Executive informed the minutes of this meeting would be approved as a true and correct and the Committee informed of this at the next meeting.

To a question on the start date of the independent review, the Chief Executive believed it to be April 2025, with the Monitoring Officer and Junior Portfolio Holder for Growth informing an initial (and open) meeting would be taking place on 28^th March 2025.

A Member stated it was pleasing the independent review would be starting in April 2025.  It was asked how long the review would take to complete and whether all stakeholders would be able to attend.  The Chief Executive informed the independent review was expected to take 35 non-consecutive days to complete and confirmed all stakeholders would be involved.

The Monitoring Officer added, if stakeholders agreed, members of the public who had previously expressed interest in DDL could be invited to attend – they would be able to provide an informative external view.  It was asked if Members knew of members of the public who would be interested, they could provide names to the Council for consideration.

To a question on making the findings of the independent review public, the Chief Executive confirmed a report could be made public, and so too could the action plan for any identified improvements (the Board and the Executive would confirm this).

The Portfolio Holder for Growth added making action plans public was essential for any review, as it would provide a key driver when reaching targets.  It would also ensure the Council and DDL were moving in the right direction.

A Member noted making reports and action plans public was increasingly the norm (e.g. Ofsted in the education sector).

Moved by Councillor Jeanne Raspin and seconded by Councillor Will Fletcher

RESOLVED that: 1) Members of the Local Growth Scrutiny Committee note the contents        of the minutes of the Shareholder Board; and,

2)    Members of the Local Growth Scrutiny Committee note the final agreed scope for the independent review by Local Partnerships.

The Portfolio Holder for Growth and Junior Portfolio Holder for Growth left the meeting at 10:36 hours.