Agenda item

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 Committee of a recent visit to the Business Park and noted the extensive progress being made was visible – great work was taking place.

To a question on if any other work/s required to address further identified risks were known of, the Strategic Director of Property, Construction and Assets informed any additional risks identified had plans to address.  Due to the size and variation of conditions of the Business Park, it was entirely possible currently unknown risks existed, but the Council had an established team on site who were working through identified problems (e.g. following structural engineering inspections) to ensure the safety of all users of the Business Park.

As stated, considerable work had taken / was taking place and any future work/s identified would be additionally and promptly addressed.

The Chair thanked the officers for the report and update.

RESOLVED that Members note the contents of the report.