Agenda item

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

10:10am – Councillor Anthony Bates entered the meeting.

Laura Simpson, Principal Regeneration Officer (Derbyshire Dales District Council), introduced an updating report and gave a presentation to the Board which explained the variety of engagement activities which had been undertaken so far. Information regarding the progress made against the current schedule of programme milestones was also presented to Board Members.

Kevin Parkes, Head of Professional Services – Highways Delivery (Derbyshire County Council), provided an update on the highways and public realm aspects of the project. It was noted that there had been contention regarding the provision of short stay and disabled car parking and plans had been revised in response to issues raised. It was also noted that the required listed building consent application for the work on the Market Place and Victoria Square had been submitted and would be considered by the District Council’s Planning Committee at their November meeting.

Councillor Charlotte Cupit (Derbyshire County Council) provided the board with reassurance that the risks relating to the processing of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) were being taken seriously by the County Council. It was noted within the report that any associated mitigation for the processing of TROs would be discussed at the next meeting of the Highways and Public Realm Project Control Board.

Tony Walker (Ashbourne Methodist Church) provided an update on the progress of the Link Community Hub Project. It was noted that the project had progressed to RIBA stage 4 and that despite delays caused by the requirement for the completion of additional bat surveys, the submission of the relevant planning applications was due to take place imminently and did not represent a significant risk to delivery timeframes.

The Board asked that Officers write to the District Council to ask that all applications relating to the LUF bid be expedited, if possible, to minimise any delays to planned timeframes.

It was moved by Councillor David Hughes, seconded by Councillor Steve Flitter and

RESOLVED (unanimously)

1.    That activity and progress to date be received and noted.

2.    That the Procurement Strategy for the Highways and Public Realm Project be received and noted.

3.    That the delivery partner Project Boards’ Terms of Reference be requested for approval by the next meeting of the Programme Board, in accordance with Governance requirements.

4.    That the Draft Protocol for Escalating Ashbourne Reborn Decisions, as included at appendix 3 to the report, be received and agreed.

5.    That the highlighted Programme risks and associated mitigation measures be received and noted.

6.    That the reporting and monitoring requirements are received and noted.