The Business Scrutiny Committee met to discuss ways to attract businesses and footfall to high streets and leisure centres, receive an update on the Local Plan, and review the council's performance against its plan targets. The committee also reviewed upcoming cabinet business and its own work programme.

High Streets and Footfall

The committee received an overview from Steve Lee, Assistant Director of Regeneration & Programmes, and Tris Burdett, Programmes Manager and Interim Economic Development & Regeneration Manager, on initiatives to boost the appeal of high streets to businesses and increase visitor numbers.

Leisure Centres and Footfall

The committee also heard from Chris Mills, Assistant Director of Leisure, and Sarah-Jane Roome, Business Improvement Coordinator, about strategies to enhance the attractiveness of leisure centres and increase footfall.

Local Plan Update

David Thompson, Assistant Director of Planning, provided an update on the Local Plan. The Local Plan sets out the council's planning policies and proposals for the development and use of land in the district. At the previous meeting, members requested that the update have a particular focus on employment sites that would be included in the new Local Plan.

Performance Management

Kath Drury, Information & Improvement Manager, and Amar Bashir, Improvement Officer, presented the Council Plan Targets Performance Update. The report detailed progress on the strategies underpinning the council plan objective, A great place to work for the period ending 30 June 2025¹.

The council plan 2023-27 has four objectives:

• A great place to work.
• A great place to access good public services.
• A great place to live well.
• A great place that cares for the environment.

Under the great place to work objective, there are two strategies:

• A community with a diverse range of commutable employment that match the skills of residents.
• A community with growing, commutable employment opportunities.

Some notable achievements mentioned in the report were:

• Preparations for the Digital Skills project launch in 2025/26, aiming to train 40 individuals in areas such as AI and cybersecurity.
• The Derbyshire Accelerator Programme began with 44 businesses receiving non-financial support—towards an annual target of 60.
• 44 enterprises have adopted new technologies or processes, already exceeding the yearly target of 20.
• Council and partner job vacancies were actively promoted to over 3,000 email subscribers with high engagement rates.
• The council continues to support local businesses through regular networking opportunities, including the Clay Cross Business Network and the Manufacturing Supply Chain Cluster.
• Marketing of business units at Baileys Square, Clay Cross is ongoing in partnership with commercial property consultants Fisher Hargreaves Proctor.
• The council has developed and updated a standard lease agreement to support businesses using council-owned facilities.
• Preparations for the next phase of the district-wide Shop Front Enhancement Scheme were carried out in anticipation of receiving UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) support².

Cabinet Business

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer, provided an update on recent and forthcoming cabinet business, including a digest of cabinet decisions taken since May 2025 and the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions.

The Forward Plan included the following decisions:

• Appointment of Facilities Management Contractor
• Simpler Recycling

Work Programme

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer, presented the committee's work programme.