The Scrutiny Select Committee – Resilient Council met to discuss climate change, scrutiny project updates, scrutiny monitoring, the forward plan, and the committee's work programme. The committee agreed to recommend the Scrutiny Annual Report to the council and approved the Executive – Scrutiny Protocol for consideration by the cabinet and council. They also agreed to receive a completion report on the Staveley21 project in December 2025 and to arrange a further meeting regarding Storm Babet in six to nine months' time.

Climate Change Update

The Policy and Partnership Manager and Climate Change Officer presented an update on the council's performance regarding the Climate Change Delivery Plan. The discussion points from the meeting were not included in the provided documentation.

Storm Babet

Following a presentation from representatives from Derbyshire County Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, The Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water at the May 15 meeting, the committee discussed issues relating to Storm Babet and flooding.

The Flooding and Drainage Commissioner from Derbyshire County Council gave a presentation to the committee in May, explaining the responsibilities of the various organisations involved in flood management, including:

• The Environment Agency
• Water companies
• District and Borough councils
• Highways England and Derbyshire County Council Highways Team
• Riparian Landowners
• Network Rail
• Town/ Parish Councils

The commissioner noted that flooding is becoming more prevalent and frequent, with over 2,500 properties across Derbyshire having flooded internally since November 2019.

The committee discussed planning laws and whether building was taking place on flood plains. The Flooding and Drainage Commissioner stated that developers must adhere to the National Planning Policy Framework and ensure that their developments do not increase flood risk.

The Environment Agency representative outlined their agency's responsibilities regarding main rivers and ordinary water courses, as well as their oversight of reservoirs and permitting powers. They also mentioned the agency's national flood risk management strategy, which focuses on building more resilient communities.

Specific questions were asked about the Property Resilience Grant Fund, including the length of time it was taking for residents to receive the money. It was reported that the deadline to access the funding had been extended to August 2025.

Members questioned whether there was the possibility of going beyond the legal minimum standards in planning laws, for example, ensuring developers reduce the percentage of run-off rather than maintaining the status quo. It was reported that this would need to be a supplementary planning document, if it was felt that a particular community was at risk.

The committee resolved to arrange a further meeting on the topic in six to nine months' time and requested that all information discussed be forwarded to the Democratic and Scrutiny Officer for dissemination to members.

Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Plan

The Strategic Health, Safety and Risk Manager presented a report detailing the emergency planning and business continuity activities completed during 2024/25 and provided an overview of the continuous improvement activities planned for 2025/26.

All actions in the 2024/25 plan had been completed, including reshaping the service with the addition of an Emergency Planning Liaison Officer, a full review of the council's emergency plan in October 2024, and attendance of all Derbyshire Resilience Partnership sub-group meetings.

The council's snow warden scheme continued to be administered by the Senior Emergency Planning Officer, with more volunteers being recruited and trained.

A new service level agreement (SLA) contract had been signed by both parties covering the next three financial years (from 2025/26 to 2027/28) between Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Borough Council.

Members raised questions about water-activated sandbags distributed during Storm Babet. The Strategic Health, Safety and Risk Manager assured members that residents were informed about how they operated and that the outer packaging contained instructions.

A member questioned why they were unable to act in an intermediary position in the event of an emergency situation, rather than for a voluntary organisation, as there was a need for better communication including formal updates from the council. The Cabinet Member for Governance recognised that an important point had been made regarding official communication channels.

The Strategic Health, Safety and Risk Manager noted that communication with elected members is normally through the Chief Executive or a member of the Corporate Leadership Team, in the Chief Executive's absence. One way in which members could involve themselves voluntarily is through 'The Flood Warden Scheme'.

The committee resolved to note the report, receive an update in a year's time, send emergency planning documentation to members and put it on Aspire once reviewed, forward snow warden information to members, organise an all-member briefing on emergency planning and business continuity, revisit the arrangements for communicating with members during emergency situations, and forward information on the Flood Warden Scheme to members.

Staveley21

The Project Manager for Joint Growth gave a presentation on the progression of the Staveley21 project. An overview of the whole project was given, including the Pavillion building, public realm, and shop front grants.

Members were provided with visuals of the work completed and plans of works to come.

An artist's impression of the internal library space was provided. This had been completed in conjunction with Derbyshire County Council. It was reported that there would be an inviting and welcoming ground floor space for both adults and children. The upper floor was being marketed to interested parties. It was noted that the business case only required the ground floor of the building to be let in order to break even.

Members wished to confirm that the library would still be moving to the market place, since the change in administration at DCC and the hold put on the sale of buildings. The Joint Growth Unit Manager explained that this would not affect the Staveley21 project as the changes to policy would be concerned with the fate of the current library building.

Public art is being included in the project, as part of Chesterfield Borough Council's wider art project. Coralie Turpin has been working with both primary and secondary schools in the Staveley area to create artwork that reflects the area's heritage. These artworks are planned for the market place and the playground.

Members questioned the inclusion of attenuation tanks. The Joint Growth Unit Manager reported that they were located under the ground to hold onto water after a storm event, to minimise the risk of flooding. Members questioned whether this water would be used to flush the toilets in the market place library and whether rainwater off roofs would be able to be used. The officer would investigate these ideas and look if they could be incorporated into the design and delivery of the project.

Members wished to know what guidelines had been given to businesses to work within regarding the shop fronts grant scheme. It was reported that a guidance document was issued with the expressions of interest forms. An explanation of the fund was given, along with match funding requirements.

It was reported that the contractor was including social value in the project through visits to the local nursery, site visits from local children, and work on site safety and conservation with schools. Engagement work had also been conducted with Edge Ministries. It was reported that a T Level student from Chesterfield College was also employed by them.

It was reported that the completion of the project was due in December 2025, with a planned library opening date of mid-January.

The committee resolved to note the report and receive a completion report in December 2025.

Scrutiny Annual Report

The Democratic and Scrutiny Officer presented a report to the Committee detailing the work of the council's two Scrutiny Select Committees.

The Annual Report set out the work, achievements, and impact of the scrutiny function in 2024/25 across the two scrutiny committees.

Throughout 2024/25, the Scrutiny Select Committee – Resilient Council and Scrutiny Select Committee – Economic Growth & Communities undertook both pre-decision and post-decision scrutiny, receiving reports and influencing decisions on areas including the Budget Strategy, HRA Budget and Capital Programme, Council Plan, Skills Action Plan, Council Housing improvements, Supporting Residents through Managed Migration to Universal Credit, UKSPF and Climate Change.

The committee resolved to recommend the report to the council.

Executive - Scrutiny Protocol

The Democratic and Scrutiny Officer presented a report seeking approval of the Executive – Scrutiny Protocol for consideration at Cabinet and Council.

The Executive – Scrutiny Protocol would enable council oversight of the work and operation of its statutory scrutiny function, the function's effectiveness, and contribution to the work of the council.

The statutory national guidance on scrutiny was issued by the Government in 2019. It includes a recommendation that councils should consider developing an Executive – Scrutiny Protocol to help with the practical arrangements between scrutiny committees and the executive, to define the relationship between the Executive and Scrutiny and provide a framework for working together.

In April 2024, the Chairs of the Scrutiny committees and the Service Director – Corporate reviewed the statutory scrutiny guidance and agreed that the development of an Executive – Scrutiny Protocol should be considered. A working group was formed with membership including two members from each scrutiny committee, the portfolio holder for Governance, and project support from the Democratic and Scrutiny Officer.

The Cabinet Member for Governance noted that many drafts had been produced as members of the working group had been focused on getting the details right.

The committee resolved to approve the Executive – Scrutiny Protocol for consideration by Cabinet and Council.

Scrutiny Project Groups Progress Updates

It was reported that the final version of the Executive – Scrutiny Protocol had been produced and would be presented to Cabinet and Council for their consideration in July, now that it had been approved by both Scrutiny Committees.

Scrutiny Monitoring

A communication summary from Storm Babet was presented for members' consideration. This was an action that had arisen from the previous meeting of this committee. Discussions were held with the Cabinet Member for Governance around the amount of information that had been provided during the emergency situation. Members were informed that there would be an All Members Briefing Session on Health and Safety, Risk Management, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity in the autumn, which would hopefully answer many of their questions.

Members thanked all staff involved for the amount of input they had received at the time of Storm Babet.

The committee resolved to note the monitoring schedule.

Forward Plan

The committee considered the Forward Plan for the period 1 July to 31 October 2025.

The committee resolved to note the forward plan. The forward plan included the following key decisions:

• Sale of CBC Land/Property
• Purchase of Property under Strategic Acquisitions and Right of First Refusal Policy
• Strategic land and property acquisitions
• HR and payroll reshape
• Customer services and support services reshape
• Standards and Audit Committee annual report 2024/25
• People Plan
• Updated Volunteer Policy
• Commercial Rent Write Off

Work Programme

The Work Programme for the Scrutiny Select Committee – Economic Growth & Communities was considered. Members were updated on the planned tour of the Stephenson Memorial Hall in September.

Members discussed what areas they would like officers to focus on for the Climate Change update planned for September.

Members requested a written update on My Chesterfield for their meeting in September.

The committee resolved to note the work programme.