Agenda and minutes

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There was no public participation.

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There were no declarations of interest.

27 September 2023

It was moved by Councillor Stuart Lees, Seconded by Councillor Anthony Bates and

RESOLVED (unanimously)

That the minutes of the meeting of the Programme Board held on 27 September 2023 be approved as a correct record.

The Chair declared the motion CARRIED.

This report summarises activity to progress the Ashbourne Reborn Programme and related quarterly monitoring reporting to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), highlights key programme risks and sets out next steps.

Laura Simpson, Principal Regeneration Officer (Derbyshire Dales District Council) introduced an updating report to Board Members which summarised the actions undertaken to progress the programme and the related quarterly monitoring reporting to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). The report also highlighted the key programme risks and set out the next steps.

Board Members were informed that both projects were progressing through design stages, having now completed stage 3 and moving forward to stage 4. The draft Terms of Reference for both Project Boards were presented to Members as appendices to the report, it was noted that these were due to be submitted to the next meetings of their respective Project Boards for approval. It was noted that the relevant planning applications had all been submitted for the projects, despite progress being made on the relevant grant funding agreements, these were not yet completed. It was noted that further discussions were to take place between the District Council and County Council regarding the Highways and Public Realm Grant Funding Agreements.

The details of the quarterly monitoring returns were presented to Members, it was noted that DLUHC’s request to review and provide the most realistic financial profile had been taken into account resulting in a ‘back stop’ of Q3 2025/26 for completion, but with an earlier completion target. The progress made with regards to the programme milestones for each of the two projects was also presented to the Board.

Board Members were provided with an overview of both programme and project risks, one of these such risks was noted in relation to the Market Place listed building consent (LBC) application. The police had responded to the application with recommendations that further safety measures be incorporated into the design, specifically in relation to the impacts of the soon to be introduced Martyn’s Law. The Vehicle As Weapon (VAW) analysis was presented to Members, as completed by Aecom, with proposals for alterations to the Market Place design specification.

It was proposed that, subject to further consultation with Planning Officers, the LBC application proceeds as it stands in order to mitigate any delays that could be caused by alterations at this stage. It was noted that it would be considered over the subsequent months how the recommendations of the police could potentially be accommodated and that the Project Board would be asked to consider appropriate proportionate mitigation measures.

Councillor Simon Spencer informed the Board of a personal interest in the potential alterations to the Market Place site plan, as the owner of a property on the Market Place with legal right of way that could potentially be impeded by the installation of bollards.

Members were updated on the current status of risk facing the Programme and the mitigation measures in place. Members were also updated on the progress relating to Programme communications and the development of the additional communications post as approved at the previous meeting. Regarding the delivery of projects, Sarah Dines MP requested consideration be given to local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.