Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Michael Bunting, John Healey MP, Claire Dawson, Becky Guthrie, Pauline Phillips, John Twigg & Andy Lock.

Derek noted that Paul Clifford will be leaving BMBC later this month.  The Board thanked him for his time and support and wished him luck in his future venture.

The minutes were accepted as a true record.

Monitoring & Evaluation Action: Board requested that spend by financial years be included in 6 monthly monitoring updates, prior to M&E returns to DLUHC, and any concerns raised to the Board if they arise.  Update: Amendments to be made as requested.

Highlight Report Action: Board requested that information be concise, with key issues bullet pointed. Key decisions to be clear and where possible to receive papers the week before a Board meeting.  Update: Redesigning reports and updating forward plan to reflect timings request.

Heart of Goldthorpe Actions:

Action: Procurement to be flagged as a key risk for projects. Update: This risk has been added.

Action: Teresa to take forward the discussion of use of the square with the project Sponsor, Councillor Danforth.  Update: Teresa updated Councillor Danforth, looking to meet to discuss ideas, will also invite to future Stakeholder meetings.

Action: Board requested that a concern be fed back to DLUHC regarding concern that the limited revenue and ongoing funding is a concern as to what can be achieved with the funding. Update: Meeting arranged with Grant Thornton 13^th July.

Action: Board requested an update with regards to whether an alternative advertising space has been found for the advertising Board. Update: Paul confirmed they were offered assistance but did not take it up.

Housing Retrofit Action: Board members to review the Project Summary and any concerns raised to Becca Gamble by 10^th June, otherwise this will recorded as endorsed for submission. Update: Comments received in support of the project which has now been endorsed for submission.

Board Review Actions:

Action: Inward Investment Support with Grant Thornton from Town Deal Partner to be investigated. Update: As mentioned above, meeting arranged for the 13^th July.

Action: Kate Willard holding a debrief with Derek Bramham and BMBC Officers, feedback to be given at the next Board meeting. Update: To be covered in item 5 of the agenda.

Communications Action: Comms to investigate the use of a QR code linking to webpage to aid a constant conversation with the community. Update: Mike to provide an update on this as part of the Communication update in item 8.

Housing Consultation Action: Housing projects to review whether aesthetics of the view of the Golden Nugget can be addressed as this could be visible form the Housing project sites. Update: This is ongoing.

None declared.

Highlight Report & Risks

Redesigned and updated highlight report was circulated with the Board papers.

Copies of Plan on a page and the Forward Plan were circulated for information.

Rachael talked through the newly designed Highlight Report and advised of escalation points including the delay in decisions from DHLUC due to the current political situation within Central Government.

Board endorsed for the project team to seek any necessary approvals to vire funds between projects to maximise any cost savings to mitigate any potential cost increases within the overall Towns Fund Programme. DLUHC processes would be followed to do this.

Project D:  TF Boards preferred approach to decision making about the design of the regeneration programme.  Do TF Board want us to present various options or just one programme for endorsement? Feedback was received outside of the meeting from John Healey MP to suggest that options would be helpful. His feedback has been shared with the Housing team.

Councillors Gardiner, Cain & Danforth:  Former Horse & Groom site – agreed that temporary resurfacing required asap as they have received complaints from the general public regarding accessibility issues to the temporary market.  Rachael confirmed that this would be done as a priority.

Action:  It was agreed that the resurfacing works would be done as a priority.

Councillor Coates:  Did the accelerated funding finance the path at the Railway Embankment as there is a gap between the railing and the path which needs rectifying.  Rachael to investigate.

Action: Rachael to investigate the concerns raised by Councillor Coates regarding the path at the Railway Embankment.

·         Project L: Proposal was made and accepted for the name to be “Goldthorpe Towns Commercial Investment Fund”

Paul Clifford talked through a summary of the points raised by Kate Willard following the last meeting.  The document was circulated with the Board papers.

Cllr Gardiner:  Face to Face / Teams meetings – due to increases in Covid cases would prefer to maintain virtual meetings for the foreseeable future.  Would like to see a ‘concentrated recruiting campaign’ towards the voluntary sector in the area.

Cllr Danforth:  Agreed with Cllr Gardiner regarding the need to continue virtual meetings.

Paul Clifford:  Recommending occasional in person meetings once the pandemic situation allows and subject to agenda items.

Action:  Agreed to meet onsite occasionally but to continue online for the time being.

Action:  Agreed to look to increase membership diversity including members from the voluntary / third sector and potentially further business representatives.

A copy of this document was circulated with the Board papers.

Paul Clifford introduced Andrew Denniff from the Chamber of Commerce to the meeting, this was followed by a discussion with the Board.

Councillor Cain: Requested that small businesses in Thurnscoe also be included.  Andrew Denniff confirmed that this would be the case.

Matthew Stephens:  Suggested business workshops with the Chamber of Commerce to get them more involved in the Goldthorpe Towns Fund process.  Councillor Coates advised that businesses would need to be convinced that they could make a difference, that the Towns Fund is not a ‘done deal’ that cannot be influenced.  It was agreed that this needs to be addressed wherever it is met.

Action:  BMBC & Chamber of Commerce to look to host a meeting for businesses in the local area to showcase the opportunities available.

Phoenix Park Deep Dive – Liane Holdsworth / Claire Farley / Simon Pedley

Housing Consultation Feedback – Julie Tattershall

Phoenix Park Deep Dive – presented by Liane Holdsworth, Claire Farley and Simon Pedley from the Land Trust.  A copy of the presentation was circulated with the Board papers.

Matthew Stephens:  How much funding is allocated to the build costs?  Over £1m of Towns Funding for the entire project including the modular building.

Councillor Dansforth:  Open air cinema, if it happens where would it be situated?  Liane Holdsworth advised that as this is an aspiration suggested by the general public (following the introduction of a pop-up outdoor cinema in Thurnscoe) it will be discussed as the project progresses.

Liane, Derek and the Board thanked Claire Farley for her assistance on the project as she is leaving the team next month for pastures new.

Housing consultation feedback – presented by Julie Tattershall.  A copy of the feedback was circulated with the Board papers.

Councillor Danforth: Query regarding potential demolition of properties.  Julie advised this would be to build approx. 11 properties to be managed by Berneslai Homes.

Michael shared a presentation with the Board which also included a demonstration of the new QR code.

Sam confirmed 5 projects approved and 2 outstanding.  Appreciate delay in returning approvals to the Board, awaiting decisions from colleagues within Central Government.  Thanked BMBC Officers for their hard work to date on the projects.  Delays are due to changes in ministerial postings within Central Government, the Civil Service is putting procedures in place to mitigate changes within the Government hierarchy.

No updates are available as Becky Guthrie was unable to attend the meeting.

Alison Dalton:  BMBC have been successful in securing funding from SYMCA for survey works and accelerated delivery of housing projects to the rear of Cooperative and Beever Street.  Also advised that there is a live planning application for 109 dwellings on the former Dearne High School site.

25^th August to also include feedback from Dan Jones regarding his consultation work.

Have members found the revision of the Board process and the provision on papers ahead of the meeting useful, would they like this to continue? 

Action: It was agreed that the new format for the provision of papers before the meeting has been very helpful and therefore will continue.  Board members to provide any constructive feedback on the new format as required.

Thursday 25^th August 2022 2pm

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Thursday 25^th August 2022 2-4pm