Minutes:
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 31st March 2026.
The name had been chosen as the Eiffel Tower had been completed March 31st 1889 – March 31st 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 place); and,
· Border Hill School, Bassetlaw District Council (an external project on hold due to the client not yet having planning permission – it was noted the capital existed and that Dragonfly Development Ltd. had been ready to break ground).
The minutes of a Dragonfly Shareholder Board meeting held 23rd September 2025 would be provided to Members after the meeting.
To a question on the expiry of the £15 million Regeneration Funding granted, the Chief Executive informed it would be in 2028.
It was confirmed the Portland Commercial Scheme was the Bolsover Green Skills Hub (Shirebrook) project.
It was confirmed, as the Strategic Commissioning Board had met the previous day, the update information provided to that meeting and that meeting’s minutes could be provided to the Committee in future.
To a question on the shopfront investments, the Portfolio Holder for Growth informed 50-60 properties qualified for financial support. The shopfront redevelopment project would be split into 3 levels, with those labelled Level 1 (the most pressing shopfront improvements required) handled first.
It was clarified the budget for the Roseland Crematorium, Shirebrook now stood at £9.4 million.
A Member noted it was important for the Committee to scrutinise all budgetary information when it was available. The Chief Executive agreed and stated the Dragonfly Board of Directors, which was scrutinising all project budgets being managed by the Dragonfly Companies, would be contacted to ask if the information they received, if available for public consumption, could be provided to the Committee.