Projects K & L Employment Land – Suzanne Brough
Project F Phoenix Park – Liane Holdsworth / Claire Farley
Project J Solar Farm Update – Matthew Fox
Minutes:
Project Presentations - This item was moved up the agenda as Councillors Noble, Cain and Coates were unable to attend the full meeting, thus allowing the key decision to be made.
The following projects were presented to the board and copies of the project summaries were circulated to board members prior to the meeting:
Project K & L – Employment Land – Suzanne Brough
Questions from Councillor Noble – pedestrian path on the new roundabout, will they be to access the site from the left hand side of the A635 or onsite only? Suzanne Brough confirmed that pedestrian access will lead up to the entrance of the site.
Has agreement been reached with the three landowners involved? Suzanne Brough confirmed that a working partnership is ongoing to allow the roundabout to be progressed.
Could consultations be held with the residents of Billingley View and the Heathergarth estate as residents are concerned about works to be carried out and potential ecological affects. Suzanne Brough confirmed that ecology surveys are ongoing.
Timescales for training / upskilling of local people to fill the employment opportunities to be provided by the development of ES10? Paul Clifford advised that the skills pathway and evaluation of employers to be carried out prior to the pathways for training to be developed.
Question from Michael Bunting – Can clarity be provided regarding the remediation / rehabilitation of land. Suzanne Brough clarified the wording.
Questions from Andy Lock – Are we confident with the deliverability of this scheme? Have the buildings to be renovated been identified as yet? What are the timescales for the delivery of the jobs? Paul Clifford advised that the shift towards a Property Investment Fund previously agreed by board will help de-risk the scheme and increase viability options. Spend to be maximised by 2025 and this could therefore see commercial property delivered with 24 months of scheme launch leading to the creation of employment opportunities in the local area
Question from Justin Homer – raised points regarding match funding and the boundary of the Goldthorpe boundary. Paul Clifford confirmed that the delivery strategy will fully reflect match funding conditions and the primary focus for the proposed PIF intervention with be the ES10 site with opportunity to bring forward other opportunities within the Towns Fund boundary.
Paul Clifford – Asked board to note that the project is still subject to a change request approval with Central Government.
ACTION: Board agreed to projects K&L being moved forward subject to confirmation from Central Government.
Project F – Phoenix Park – Liane Holdsworth
Colleagues from the Land Trust joined the meeting to observe the presentation and subsequent discussion as they are providing some of the funding towards the project.
Question from Councillor Noble – Very excited by the project. Would like a historical room included within the cultural hub. Very happy that catering facilities will be available for people to enjoy.
Question from Councillor Danforth – Where will the visitor hub be situated? Liane Holdsworth confirmed that this would be to the left hand side of the car park.
Question from Michael Bunting – What play equipment are envisaged for the project and when will this begin? Query answered by Land Trust – equipment for young children to be similar to that at the Old Moor Wetlands Centre. Working with existing users to develop children’s play area.
ACTION: Board agreed that Plan F be moved forward to approval stage.
Project J – Solar Farm Update – Paul Clifford
Solar Farm position statement provided by Paul Clifford.
Further due diligence carried out on potential community solar farm and the monies that could be reinvested into the area.
Recommend that the solar farm project does not go ahead in its current format and government notified that scheme no longer viable and carry out options appraisal on alternative project.
Question from Councillor Coates – Could other energy schemes be put in place, for example a wind farm? Would offsetting of carbon production be included within a revised scheme? Could something be used from the former Hickleton Main Colliery?
Question from Councillor Noble – Could feasibility study be done regarding harnessing power from the River Dearne?
Comment from Andy Lock – Former project sponsor for the solar farm. Currently working with Durham on studies surrounding the harnessing of mine water to benefit residents and assist to reduce fuel poverty. To share copy of this report with Paul Clifford.
Comment from Justin Homer – Timescale issues – projects to be submitted to Government by the end of March 2022.
Question from Councillor Danforth – Is the potential for mine water harvesting cost effective?
Claire Dawson – Fuel Poverty Groups working to reduce problems in the area. Could the project manager liaise with Jane Helliwell’s team to discuss the level of need in the area? ACTION: Paul Clifford to pick this up outside the meeting.
Question from Matthew Stephens – Could the funding be used Electrified road into ES10?
Recommendation Andy Lock – Board members recognise the time constraints that exist, capacity challenges within the delivery team and the complexity of a wider change request with government and therefore recommended that officers be tasked with exploring additionality to existing schemes in the first instance.
ACTION: Paul Clifford to circulate proforma to Board members for suggestions for projects to replace the solar farm. Meeting to be organised separately to discuss a potential way forward.
Board agreed to pause the solar farm scheme and Officers to investigate alternatives.
Key Decision required from the board: Approval of the proposals for the projects.
The Board agreed to endorse the two projects to progress for full approval and the Board also agreed to pause the solar farm project whilst Council Officers investigate alternative options.