Agenda and minutes

Speaker: Chair

Elizabeth Steel, John Healey MP, Jennefer Holmes, Allan Joyce, Justin Homer, Paul Clifford

The Chair welcomed Adele Saywell, Barnsley Youth Council coordinator in the Dearne, to assess how to engage young people with the Board and the Towns Fund Projects as they progress.

Speaker: Chair

Proposed as a true record by Cllr Alan Gardiner. Seconded by Cllr Pauline Phillips

No matters arising from minutes.

Speaker: All

The chair stressed that any further conflicts of interests should be declared.

Declarations from the current meeting:

·         Cllr May Noble declared as Dearne Playhouse Trustee

·         Cllr Pauline Philips declared as a member of the Railway Embankment Group

·         Michael Bunting declared as a member of the Railway Embankment Group

·         Andy Lock declared involvement with Employment Land Project

·         Claire Dawson declared as a member of the Railway Embankment Group

·         John Twigg declared as a member of the Railway Embankment Group

Speaker: Paul Clifford

Timescales were asked of from MHCLG. Conclusion and feedback will be sent by mid-March. Internally, responses have been prepared to assist with any challenges as far as we are able at this stage.

Speaker: Sophie Moore

·         Building  Acquisition: This is progressing but there is currently no completion date. Waiting for feedback from seller.

·         Tiny Forest: Now signed up with Earthwatch. Planting will take place the last week in March. We have been working with Astrea Academy regarding planting of trees but will consider government guidelines in terms of planting. The school are currently engaged in a competition to design the layout plan for the trees.

·         Embankment Project: Works are progressing with surfacing to be done next week.

·         Phoenix Park: Works to start next month with completion scheduled for 31st March.

·         Market Site: Good progress being made. Further update to be given later in meeting.

Radio Sheffield have been in touch with Cllr Noble regarding the Tiny Forest project. The board agreed that Cllr Noble should respond.

·         Action: Sophie and Rachael to pull together a briefing note.

Following the discussion at the last board meeting, the Town Board Sub Group and Business Forum has had a few other meetings to map businesses in Goldthorpe and surrounding areas.

A draft letter has been produced with regards to Towns Board with a link for more information, and an email inbox has been set up for any enquiries. The Chamber is to send this letter out to businesses in the area to make initial contact. This was signed off last week to send out as soon as possible.

Subject to approval, the Chamber also offered a staff member to work with starting discussions in person, should COVID restrictions allow, to begin compiling business owner’s views and opinions.

Speaker: Project Sponsors / All

Draft business case templates for individual projects are being developed to satisfy MHCLG demands, the Board, and BMBC scrutiny arrangements. The business cases will align with the TIP priorities, the Barnsley Council Corporate Plan and Barnsley 2030 work to maximise opportunities and lever in additional investment. The drafts will be brought to the Board once they are in their final draft stages and shared with project sponsors.

Speaker: Paul Clifford

Covered under Town Plan Update

Speaker: Jennefer Holmes

Goldthorpe has been identified as a key growth area for the SCR Strategic Economic Plan. Blueprints  are being developed for these key growth areas that will target investment and support to encourage economic growth to these areas, giving additional opportunity to lever in additional funds to support the TIP. A draft economic blueprint has been seen and feedback was given.

·         Action: To ask if blueprint can be shown by SCR at a future board meeting. 

Speaker: Elizabeth Steel

The Business Case approval process was circulated to the Council's Capital Oversight Board for approval. Some minor changes may be required to comply with the decision-making process. If major changes need doing, this will be fed back to board

A reminder was given to the board that some member profiles are still outstanding, so Elizabeth will send emails directly to those that are missing.

Speaker: Elizabeth Steel

The Business Case approval process was circulated to the Council's Capital Oversight Board for approval. Some minor changes may be required to comply with the decision-making process. If major changes need doing, this will be fed back to board.

A reminder was given to the board that some member profiles are still outstanding, so Elizabeth will send emails directly to those that are missing.

Speaker: Elizabeth Steel

At the next meeting, the Land Trust and The Conservation Volunteers are to give an update of the work by the Trust at Phoenix Park, including the Accelerated Project and the Towns Fund bid.

We are hoping to have a representative from SCR to give an update on the Economic Blueprint for Goldthorpe.

The Business Case templates final drafts are to be presented to the board at a future meeting.

Speaker: All

Speaker: Ken Coupar (BMBC)

An update was given on the ‘Shaping Places for Healthier Lives’ Programme. The programme is a grant funding scheme for local authorities in England, giving £300,000 in revenue funding to each of five local authorities for them to deliver a three-year programme of changes to the way public health issues are addressed in a particular area. A slideshow was presented to and discussed by the Board.

A link was sent by AL to the Sheffield Hallam Impact of Coronavirus Report, commissioned by Coalfields Regeneration. A copy of this document has been attached with the minutes for reading. 

In relation to the Shaping Places presentation, AL mentioned a Coalfields Regeneration pilot project to share best practice as this is similar to the Shaping Places scheme. JB added that he is happy to provide a link between NHS & Shaping Places Scheme and keep updated with project.

Speaker: Maria Cotton (BMBC)

The Goldthorpe Market plan is to hold a weekly market on Doncaster Road, using pop-up gazebos in laybys near Whitworth St & Victoria St, though this location is not fully confirmed at present.

The site of the current market on Market St is earmarked for housing and the site will be cleared by the end of February 2021. It is expected most materials will be recycled.

Engagement with residents and businesses is to take place to conduct research into what products/services they want to see on the new market.

Monday has been chosen as the market day in Goldthorpe following research into competition from markets in surrounding areas, trader availability, patterns from shoppers, local business footfall numbers, and council staff availability to run the market.  

The launch is hoped for May but is dependent on COVID restrictions. It was suggested to factor in the history of the old markets into the consultation of the new market - keeping the memories alive.

AL asked about the branding of the new market stalls. This is a work in progress but would be fed back to the board.

·         Action: Maria & Chris to provide further market update at next Board meeting.

An update from colleagues in Strategic Transportation is that an expression of interest has been submitted to SCR in relation to the potential delivery of an Active Travel Hub in Goldthorpe. While only an expression of interest at this stage, the indicative cost being requested is £500,000. The location has not been confirmed, and a business case will be put together throughout March and April. Feedback will be given to board as more details arise.

The University of Sheffield is promoting an ‘Internet of Things’ project, exploring potential delivery in Goldthorpe. The project will use the existing CCTV system on Goldthorpe High Street, as well as AI software, to monitor and track customer footfall on the High Street. This will not track individual persons. This will monitor footfall at different times of the day, and on different days, and could assess the impact of relocating the markets, as well as other things. More feedback will be given to the Board as details emerge.

A walking tour has been arranged for 23^rd February to look at proposed TIP projects. Due to COVID restrictions, this is limited to officers only. The walking route is to show the proposed projects around Goldthorpe.

A discussion was raised to produce a short video of the different sites on the walking tour to engage the public, show proposals, and to show to board members who are unable to join given the restrictions.

·         Action: To ask Comms team if we can do a video for the walking tour of proposals in Goldthorpe for social media.

MB raised the point that a new housing estate is being built near an unoccupied building in Goldthorpe, but the building may put off potential new residents or reduce housing prices.

It was noted that the Council Assets team are reengaging with the owners of the building, and plans are in place if they are able to acquire the building.

A public document entitled ‘The Impact of the Coronavirus Crisis on Older Industrial Britain’ was shared by AL of Coalfields and is attached to the minutes for reading.

As discussed at the previous meeting, a glossary of terms will be attached with the minutes for reading.

Summary of Actions:

·         Sophie and Rachael to pull together a briefing note for Cllr Noble regarding the Tiny Forest project.

·         Rachael to ask if the Goldthorpe Economic Blueprint draft can be shown by SCR at a future board meeting. 

·         Maria & Chris to provide further market update at next Board meeting.

·         To ask Comms team if we can do a video for the walking tour of proposals in Goldthorpe for social media.