Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from Board Members who are unable to attend this meeting.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Nancy Barrett, Iqbal Bhana, James Conn, Charles Smith, Heather Waddington and Martin Walsh.

The Board welcomed Anum Rehman as a Board Member for the education sector.

The Board noted that Bruce Bird was no longer a Board Member.  The Board thanked him for his work and wished him a speedy recovery.

Members will be asked to advise if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion on the item of participating in a vote upon the item, or any other interests.

An ‘other’ interest was declared by Sue Baker and Martyn Broadest on items 13 and 14.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 22 September 2022.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2022 be approved as a correct record.

The meeting will hear any questions from the general public. 

Members of the public can ask questions relating to the work of the Town Board or issues set out in this agenda.

No questions were asked.

To consider any matters arising.

Joanne Bartholomew, Service Director - Development informed the Board that she had undertaken a Standards Review on behalf of Kirklees Council.  The Board noted that the current Terms of Reference were silent on the issue of Standards Reviews.

RESOLVED – That the Terms of Reference be amended to include procedures relating to how future Standard Reviews should be undertaken.

To receive a presentation relating to Cultural Events.

Kath Wynne-Hague, Head of Culture and Tourism

The Board welcomed Charlie Wells, Freelance Programme Manager and Richard Smith, Strategic Creative Development Manager to the meeting to update the Board on Cultural Events.

Ms Wells and Mr Smith informed the Board that they had recently secured £100k from the Arts Council for England for the ‘Growing Colour Together’ project which brought together three local and three national artists to work collaboratively on the project.

Further updates were provided on (i) Manasamitra; (ii) Temporary Contemporary; (iii) Radio Sangam; (iv) Christmas Lights; (v) The Cogency and (vi) The Year of Music.

The Board noted the work being completed to involve the community sector in the projects and Ms Wells explained that the team were keen to understand how Dewsbury wanted to represent and promote itself. Ms Wells informed the Board that the team were conscious of not repeating work already completed in this area, given the overlapping nature of many of the events, but still ensuring a cohesive link.

The Board requested that they be provided with dates for future development and promotional events and were keen to explore whether a single portal with a calendar of upcoming events could be produced.

The Board was informed that a Year of Music website with an attached calendar was close to completion, and Mr Smith explained that he could explore the possibility of overlaying another calendar on top of the Year of Music one.

The Board was keen to understand how they could support communication of future events and questioned whether they could be brought together in one space.  Mr Smith advised the Board that the event scheduled for Friday 2 December would be circulated to Board Members along with the wider programme of event dates.

The Board questioned how far the ‘Parliament in the Park’ project had progressed and Mr Smith confirmed that he would endeavour to provide the Board with that information.

RESOLVED – That the Board

1)    Thank the officers for their update.

2)    Request officers to explore the possibility of a single portal calendar of events.

3)    Request officer to provide Board Members with a programme of events dates and an update on Parliament in the Park.

To receive a verbal update.

Nancy Barrett

The Board noted that Nancy Barrett was unable to attend to provide the verbal update on the Creative Hub Proposal due to a clash with another meeting.

The Board was made aware that a full structural assessment to understand the condition of the property was required, and that a tendering process would be needed to obtain the three quotes necessary for each investigatory piece of work.  Overall, the Town Fund monies allocated would not fully refurbish the whole building, and an understanding of what could be completed with the budget was essential.

The Board understood that a sizeable financial investment would be needed with Brigantia leading a project to secure funding from various sources.   Further funds would need to be secured to create the whole sum needed for the project.

Ms Bartholomew informed the Board that she would look at the standing list of contractors already available to the Council to see if the process of the investigatory work would be sped up. Ms Bartholomew explained that she would be able to bring a theoretical report to the December meeting of the Board, which would address the potential concerns.

RESOLVED – That the Creative Hub Proposal be considered at the December meeting of the Board.

To receive a verbal update.

Keith Ramsay – Chair

The Chair reminded Board Members that conflicts of interests should be kept up to date, and any new interests declared at the meeting of the Board.

To consider any other business.

Please notify the Chair of any other business items no later than Monday 31 October 2022.

No further items of business were considered.

The dates of future meetings are:-

15 December 2022

19 January 2023

23 March 2023

18 May 2023

20 July 2023

28 September 2023

16 November 2023

For Terms of Reference please visit

www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/regeneration-and-development/pdf/deswbury-town-board-terms-of-reference-jan-2021.pdf

To respolve that under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business, on the grounds that it inolves the likely disclosure of exempt informtiaon, as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Exempt information.

(Exempt information in accordance with Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, namely it contains information relating to the financial and business affairs of third parties (including the Authority holding that information). It is considered that the disclosure of the information would adversely affect those third parties including the Authority and therefore the public interest in maintaining the exemption, which would protect the rights of an individual or the Authority, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information and providing greater openness and transparency in relation to public expenditure in the Authority’s decision making.)

The Board noted the exempt information.

Exempt Information.

(Exempt information in accordance with Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, namely it contains information relating to the financial and business affairs of third parties (including the Authority holding that information). It is considered that the disclosure of the information would adversely affect those third parties including the Authority and therefore the public interest in maintaining the exemption, which would protect the rights of an individual or the Authority, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information and providing greater openness and transparency in relation to public expenditure in the Authority’s decision making.)

The Board noted the exempt information.

Exempt information.

(Exempt information in accordance with Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, namely it contains information relating to the financial and business affairs of third parties (including the Authority holding that information). It is considered that the disclosure of the information would adversely affect those third parties including the Authority and therefore the public interest in maintaining the exemption, which would protect the rights of an individual or the Authority, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information and providing greater openness and transparency in relation to public expenditure in the Authority’s decision making.)

The Board noted the exempt information.