Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies were received from Rob Livingston, Palvinder Singh and Anum Rehman.

The Board noted the changes to the membership of the Town Deal Board and welcomed Cllr Cathy Scott to the Board.   

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.

Martyn Broadest declared an interest in the Daisy Hill Project.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on  Thursday 20 July 2023.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 20^th July 2023 by 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 items 13 and 14.

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 25^th September 2023.

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

No questions from the public were received.

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.

No deputations or petitions were received

Contact: Leigh Webb, Governance Manager.

Leigh Webb, Governance Manager updated the Board on support provided from the Governance Team and procedures which were followed, and that governance followed the same process as set out in the Council Procedure Rules for all council committees, to ensure transparency and openness. 

Mr Webb explained the importance of completing declaration of interest forms along with ensuring that any interests were declared at each meeting.  Public questions were to be submitted in writing in advance of the meeting, which allowed for a detailed response, this was also in line with the Council Procedure Rules. The Board on occasions received reports that contained sensitive and confidential information, although report authors were encouraged to submit their reports in the public domain, if a report did contain sensitive and confidential information, the report authors were encouraged to create two reports. One for the public item and one with the sensitive and confidential information which would be considered in private.

During discussion, the board expressed concern regarding the recording of responses to public questions, Mr Webb advised that advising a response had been received was in line with council’s procedure rules and the Board could deviate from that rule.  An answer would be a summary of the response.

RESOLVED: 

1)    That Mr Webb be thanked for the update,

2)    That responses to public questions be noted in the minutes at future meetings.

Contacts: Simon Taylor, Head of Town Centre Programmes

                Jaime Nalson, Acting Head of Culture and Tourism

                Michelle Illingworth, ER Project Officer – Dewsbury Town  

                Investment Plan.

Kirklees Council officers attended the meeting to update the Board on projects.

In relation to the Cultural events, the Board asked for clarity on the spending of the project and what the process was for allocating the money. Feedback that has been provided was that the events were good, but not well attended due to the lack of publicity, and they also lacked diversity.

In relation to Field House, Peter Mason advised that the project had moved to the next stage with the contractor signing the documents and providing a detailed plan.

The Board discussed Daisy Hill and their understanding of the strategy. It was noted that the strategy was to create an upmarket residential neighbourhood and asked if a 100% affordable housing development was consistent with that overarching strategy. David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth and Regeneration advised that the preference was to mix tenures in Daisy Hill.

In relation to the construction skills hub project. The Board asked a question regarding the timings of the project as there was a strong anti Chidswell group that had found otters on the land. Simon Taylor, Head of Town Centre Programmes advised that otters had not been flagged as a risk in the report and the estimated completion time of the project was December 2024. David Shepherd advised that if there were any habitat issues to be addressed on site the council would follow due process.

Simon Taylor advised that the Arcade group share offer prospectus was to be released on 12^th October 2023. The Board asked a question regarding the share offer, Peter Thompson confirmed that the project was dependent on the share offer being successful which was at least £100,000.

Michelle Illingworth advised the Board on Youth Voice Champions, Michelle had been invited by Kirklees College to their welcome fare with local college students that had signed up for their programmes, Michelle Illingworth advised that she was there to explain what the Town Board did and what youth voice champions were, and to encourage students to sign up as youth voice representative.

RESOLVED: That officers be thanked for the updates.

Town Board Members.

RESOLVED: That the Creative Hub update move into private session.

Keith Ramsay – Chair, Dewsbury Town Deal Board.

Helen Jakes, Senior Communications Officer advised the Board that more visual presence regarding Dewsbury blueprint would be visible in the next few weeks. A specific window vinyl was due to be placed in the Arcade where the work was due to take place, advising on the details of that work. Similar things would be placed across the town as the projects come to fruition. In terms of the blueprint brand and knowledge of Dewsbury Town Board, railing banners, visual planters and window vinyl’s would be placed across the town centre. Councillor Scott had spoken with Look North and Kirklees officers had liaised with the Arcade group regarding an interview with Look North.

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

16 November 2023

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 8.

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

To consider exempt information in relation to Agenda item 9.

The Board considered exempt information in relation to agenda item 9.