Agenda item

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the report of the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum be welcomed and the recommendations be considered as part of the review of the Council Plan, and a formal response be made to the Forum.

2.   That before the implementation of any of the report’s recommendations with financial implications for the Council, further investigations be carried out by officers and brought to Cabinet for consideration.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

1.   To demonstrate the areas where change is most needed in Chesterfield town centre, and provide proposals for how this could be achieved.

2.   To contribute towards the delivery of the Council Plan objectives under the priority “to make Chesterfield a thriving borough.”

Councillor Borrell, Scrutiny Project Group Leader, presented the report and recommendations of the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum on the Town Centre. 

The full report of the Scrutiny Project Group was attached at Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report.

The recommendations of the Scrutiny Project Group had been considered and approved by the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum on 13 March, 2018 (Minute No. 57, Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum 2017/18). 

The Committee’s recommendations were now required to be considered by Cabinet and a formal response provided to the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum, in accordance with the Council’s Scrutiny Procedure rules.

Councillor Borrell informed Cabinet that the Scrutiny Project Group had met with key officers from a number of the Council’s service areas, and held focus group sessions with the public and business leaders, which helped to develop the report’s recommendations which were aimed at enhancing Chesterfield’s town centre and ensuring that that it is more reflective of modern-day trends, habits and preferences.

The Cabinet Member for Town Centres and Visitor Economy thanked Councillor Borrell and the other members that formed the Scrutiny Project Group, and advised that it would be worthwhile revisiting the Town Centre Masterplan as part of the review of the Council Plan, in light of the Scrutiny Project Group’s recommendations.

This point was echoed and reiterated by other members of the Cabinet.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the report of the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum be welcomed and the recommendations be considered as part of the review of the Council Plan, and a formal response be made to the Forum.

2.   That before the implementation of any of the report’s recommendations with financial implications for the Council, further investigations be carried out by officers and brought to Cabinet for consideration.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

1.   To demonstrate the areas where change is most needed in Chesterfield town centre, and provide proposals for how this could be achieved.

2.   To contribute towards the delivery of the Council Plan objectives under the priority “to make Chesterfield a thriving borough.”