Agenda and minutes

To enable members of the public to ask questions, express views or present petitions, IF NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN, (by telephone, in writing or by email) BY NO LATER THAN 12 NOON OF THE WORKING DAY PRECEDING THE MEETING. As per Procedural Rule 14.4 at any one meeting no person may submit more than 3 questions and no more than 1 such question may be asked on behalf of one organisation.

There was no public participation.

Members of the Programme Board are required to declare the existence and nature of any interests they may have in subsequent agenda items in accordance with the Ashbourne Reborn Programme Board Code of Conduct. Those interests are matters that relate to money or that which can be valued in money, affecting the Member, their partner, extended family and close friends. Interests that become apparent at a later stage in the proceedings may be declared at the time.

There were no declarations of interest.

12 December 2023

It was moved by Tony Walker, Seconded by Councillor Anthony Bates and

RESOLVED (unanimously)

That the minutes of the meeting of the Ashbourne Reborn Programme Board held on 12 December 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Voting

09 For

00 Against

01 Abstentions

The Chair declared the motion CARRIED.

The report summarises activity to progress the Ashbourne Reborn Programme, highlights key programme risks and sets out next steps.

Laura Simpson, Principal Regeneration Officer (Derbyshire Dales District Council) introduced an updating report which provided Board Members with information regarding the activities undertaken to progress the Ashbourne Reborn Programme, highlighted key programme risks and set out the relevant next steps.

Members were presented with indicative information to be provided in the quarterly return to DLUHC (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities). Some re-profiling of expenditure was proposed between financial years but the changes to be presented were not deemed as substantial. It was anticipated that a lot of activity would be undertaken on both projects between this meeting and the end of March in order to firm up costs and understand what could be achieved within the assigned budgets, the role of value engineering and what may require descoping. This work would inform the next quarterly return to DLUHC due in April. It was noted that all anticipated planning applications for the Programme were now consented, and that stage 4 detailed design was progressing on both projects at good pace.

The update on the DCC led Highways and Public Realm project was noted, including that the main contractor procurement contract had been progressed by DCC and would be finalised shortly through the required framework processes. It had been requested by Councillor Simon Spencer that Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) be discussed at this meeting. Laura informed Members that, following conversations with the working group, it had been proposed by officers that specialist advice be sought to allow for better understanding as to what may be required as a proportionate response to previous concerns raised. It was noted that Derbyshire County Council would provide a procurement route for this advice via their Professional Services Contract (procured via a framework).

As well as supporting Ashbourne Reborn, Cllr Spencer advocated the need to consider a county-wide approach to HVM. It was noted that use of a framework supplier would enable the County and other district / borough councils to “call off” specialist advice as required, with the method / approach for Ashbourne potentially providing a template to be applied to other locations within Derbyshire.

Whilst the need to seek specialist advice was agreed, Cllr Spencer raised concerns regarding the potential cost implications for Ashbourne Reborn from potential mitigation measures and felt that the landowner should meet these costs to avoid jeopardising the project budget. It was agreed that further consideration would need to be given to this issue when specialist advice had been received.

It was moved by Councillor David Hughes, seconded by Councillor Anthony Bates and

RESOLVED (unanimously)

That the Board notes partnership activity to consider a proportionate response to hostile vehicle mitigation, supported by the procurement of specialist support.

The Chair declared the motion CARRIED.

Following questions relating to the ongoing management and maintenance of event spaces upon completion of the programme, it was confirmed that a working group had been put in place to determine such arrangements. It was requested that progress on this work be reported to future  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.