Agenda and draft minutes

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

Apologies were received from Rob Livingston, Martin Walsh and Nancy Barrett.

Members will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have any disclosable pecuniary interests or any other interests, which may prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items.

Keith Ramsay, Martyn Broadest, Mark Eastwood, Cllr Cathy Scott, Sophie Johnson, Peter Mason declared an interest in the Arcade project.

Sue Baker declared an interest in the Creative Hub project.

Martyn Broadest declared a Pecuniary interest in the Creative Hub project.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on  28^th September 2023.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 28^th September 2023 be agreed as a correct record.

Most agenda items take place in public. This only changes where there is a need to consider exempt information, as contained at Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. You will be informed at this point which items are to be recommended for exclusion and to be resolved by the Board.

The Board noted the exempt information, as set out at Agenda item 11.

The meeting will hear any questions from the general public.

Questions should be emailed to executive.governance@kirklees.gov.uk no later than 5:00pm Monday 13^th November 2023.

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

Question from Gill Young

“Will the Town Board confirm that it is considering and planning actions to manage the successful outcomes of its projects for the town centre given the current considerations to permanently close Dewsbury Leisure Centre and the impact that such a major loss of local facilities will have on the town?”

The Chair of the Board responded to the question and advised that the Board seeks to represent may interests in Dewsbury, in terms of funding and influencing capital projects, it had limited remit insofar as it was set up in response to the Governments Town Deal initiative dating back to 2019/20.  The Boards remit was to concentrate on delivering projects set out in the Town Investment Plan.  This remit was captured in the agreed Heads of Terms between the Board, the Council and Government which was signed in Summer 2021.  On this basis, the ability to deviate from the agreement was constrained, and Dewsbury Leisure Centre was a matter for Kirklees Council and not Dewsbury Town Board.

The Chair also advised that a deputation had been submitted to the Board for consideration regarding Dewsbury Leisure Centre, as the deputation had been considered at Council on 15^th November 2023 it would not be considered by Dewsbury Town Board.

The Board will receive any petitions and/or deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also submit a petition at the meeting relating to a matter on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, Members of the Public must submit a deputation in writing, at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting and shall subsequently be notified if the deputation shall be heard. A maximum of four deputations shall be heard at any one meeting.

No Deputations or Petitions were received.

Contact: Simon Taylor -Head of Town Centre Programmes.

The Board received an update from Simon Taylor, Head of Town Centre Programmes that explained that the Prime Minister had announced a £1.1 billion levelling up investment as part of a long-term plan for towns. Dewsbury had been identified as one of 55 towns that would benefit from a £20m endowment-style fund over the next 10 years which would be made up of 25% Resource and 75% Capital funding.  Further details were to be released by Government with a view to submitting plans to them in the Summer of 2024. There were 3 key themes which Government expected plans to be submitted to identify measures that mattered most to people.  These were, Safety and Security, High Streets, Heritage and Regeneration and Transport and Connectivity. Mr Taylor explained that current Town Boards could be repurposed.  and capacity funding would be released to support the development of plans, including additional community engagement activities.  Ongoing engagement advice would be available from the Towns Taskforce.

During discussion the Board noted that it was key to consult with local people, and setting up a task force to form the consultation would be beneficial along with a skills audit to strengthen the Board. The Board noted that Anti-Social behaviour in the Town Centre were areas that needed to be focused on for the people of Dewsbury. Dewsbury Leisure Centre concerns were raised by some Board Members. David Shepherd, Strategic Director explained that rules as set out by Government would have to be followed, and as an accountable body for the funding, Kirklees Council would need to ensure that all projects could be met, and that the £20m was £2m per year over 10 years dependent upon future government.

RESOLVED: That the update be noted.

To consider the following updates:

·         Arcade

·         Dewsbury Market

·         Project Adjustment Requests (PAR’s)

·         Creative Hub

Contacts: Michelle Illingworth, Economic Resilience Project Officer,

                Dewsbury Town Investment Plan.

                 Jaime Nelson, Acting Head of Culture and Tourism

                Peter Thomson, Economic Resilience Project Manager,

                Development, Town Centres,

                 Martyn Broadest, Connect Housing.            

The Board received highlighted reports on all projects.

Palvinder Singh, Principal and Chief Executive of Kirklees College updated the Board on conversations that had taken place with Council officers regarding the Constructions Skills Hub. Regular updates had been provided to Mr Singh on the progress of partnership arrangements and applications received.

The Board noted that a cultural event, Song for Seasons was to take place on 12^th December 2023 at Dewsbury Town Hall and Board Members had been invited. If any Board members would like to attend the event to contact Michelle Illingworth.

An invitation had gone out to all Board Members to invite three Board members to attend a workshop on sustainable transport on 28^th November 2023. If any Board member would like to attend the workshop to contact Simon Taylor.

The Chair invited Helen Jakes to provide an update on communication. Helen Jakes, Senior Communications officer for Growth and Regen advised the Board that visuals around the market plans had been put up around Dewsbury Town to provide the public with a look and feel of the market and provide details of the ethos, this was to also reassure the public that market plans were taking place in the background and plans were also in place regarding trader engagement. It was noted that Kirklees Council were supporting the Arcade with communications across council platforms.

RESOLVED:  That the project updates be noted.

25 January 2024.

For Terms of Reference please visit

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

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.

To resolve 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 involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, 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.

To consider exempt information in relation to Agenda item 7.

The Board considered exempt information in relation to agenda item 8.