Agenda item

Under Standing Order No. 14 Members asked the following questions:

Councillor Davenport asked, following the announcement of Marks and Spencer’s store relocation, can you tell us what communications have taken place with the building’s owner and what strategies are in place to deal with such a large, prominent and soon-to-be empty building in the town centre.

Councillor Gilby replied, agreeing that although this was disappointing news for the town centre, she was delighted that Marks and Spencer were staying and expanding their operations in Chesterfield when stores in other cities and towns were closing. The Chief Executive had been in conversation with Marks and Spencer’s Property Director and a 3-way meeting was planned with the building’s owner and Marks and Spencer to develop a plan for the town centre building to be re-occupied as soon as possible. Marks and Spencer’s lease did not expire until 2027 and as the building was privately owned CBC’s role would be to influence the process and encourage the building’s owner to keep the council and the people of Chesterfield informed.

Councillor Bingham asked what the Borough Council’s carbon output was in 2019 when it declared a climate emergency and what is it today, three years later.

Councillor Gilby replied, explaining that a carbon accounting report was due soon, which would set out the latest information. A successful carbon reduction plan was in place and both officer and financial resources had been increased to support the plan’s delivery.

Councillor Paul Niblock asked, following the closure of Eyres furniture store, what communication had taken place with the owners.

Councillor Gilby replied, expressing the disappointment felt by many  that the store had closed. She acknowledged that there were significant challenges to restoring the building due to its age and condition. However, in officer conversations with the owner there had been no suggestion of any plans to close the store. The council would continue to reach out to the owners and planned to share with them details of the many growth projects already underway in and planned for the town centre to assist with the marketing of the site.

Councillor Gilby referenced the press reports of customers having placed deposits with little hope of receiving what they had paid for. The Leader advised that people so affected should contact Toby Perkins MP.

Councillor Nick Redihough asked, what the current figure was for the number of empty units in the Pavements Shopping Centre and given that the centre is owned by CBC what was the council doing to reinvigorate it and attract new tenants.

Councillor Gilby replied, confirming that there were currently a growing number of empty units and it was a challenging situation. However, the previous Monday the Leader had sight of a report on the council’s whole estate which was very positive, and she would be happy to share the figures with Cllr Redihough. The town centre overall was on average better occupied than other comparable towns. Plans for the Pavements Shopping Centre would be drawn up and brought to Council once they were ready. It was acknowledged that there had been a delay on this due to the economic development team being very busy preparing bids for the Levelling Up Fund and Staveley Town Deal which had successfully secured more than £45 million to the borough.

Councillor Miles asked, what the Leader’s significant engagements had been since the last meeting of the Council after having heard the Mayor’s at the start of the meeting.

Councillor Gilby replied, firstly referring to her meeting with Sir John Peace, Chair of Midlands Engine and Midlands Connect. The Leader explained that she had been able to show Sir John the development opportunities in the Staveley Works Corridor, including the HS2 Infrastructure Maintenance Depot site and the former Hartington Colliery site, and finally the proposed site of the Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle (DRIIVe) centre at the Round House in Barrow Hill. The training that would take place at the centre for learners from 16 years old through to post-graduates, had been made possible due to the council’s excellent relationships with Chesterfield College, Derby University and New Rail. Two and a half thousand children were currently living in poverty in the surrounding area with the potential for all to have access to good quality training opportunities and jobs as a result.

Councillor Gilby had  attended the opening of Badger Croft, the largest council housing development in a generation. The standard of housing provided was impressive and in keeping with the Council’s climate change ambitions. The contractor had worked closely with the Holmebrook Valley Environmental Improvement Group on biodiversity projects including hedgehog runs between the properties. A beautiful art piece had been installed, illustrated with badgers as part of the Council’s Percent for Art scheme.

Alongside the Cabinet Member for Housing Councillor Gilby had recently broken ground in Middlecroft for ten new council homes, and she also  referenced the significant refurbishment scheme that the Council had taken forward at Aston Court in Lowgates as evidence of the Council’s commitment to investing housing capital  in the Staveley area.

Councillor Gilby had attended a photo call alongside Derbyshire County Council representatives at Jewson’s new Sheffield Road depot. Jewson had been moved from their Spa Lane depot to enable the Council to bring forward the Chesterfield Station Master Plan. Councillor Gilby thanked Christine Durrant for her professional expertise and hard work on the re-location project. Morgan Sindall had done a great job as the Council’s construction partner and Jewson were delighted with their new depot.

Finally, Councillor Gilby referenced Look North’s recent coverage of three Chesterfield-based projects –

the restoration of Chesterfield Canal, the refurbishment of the Pomegranate Theatre and Chesterfield Museum, and the work of Gussies Kitchen. Councillor Gilby congratulated everyone involved in these projects.