Lucy Murray Brown - Campus & Operational Estate Management Lead, Wiltshire Council.
(Audience participation welcomed, up to 15 minutes per aspect)
· Co-location
· Transport
· Library
· Sports and Recreation
· Other services including Youth Centre
· Economic Impact
Minutes:
Lucy Murray Brown - Campus & Operational Estate Management Lead, Wiltshire Council took questions from the meeting on topics that included:
Co-location
Sarah Cardy – Could the Campus be of a modular design with the library and youth centre being added at a later date?
Although this is possible in theory there would be a significant impact on project costs and there is no guarantee that with further budget cuts that this would be a viable option.
Has an equality impact assessment been carried out yet?
An Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) has been carried out and will continue to be updated throughout the project. The EIA has always been a publically accessible document but if it would be helpful we would be happy to make it available on the Melksham campus pages of Wiltshire Council website.
Assuming relevant member approvals, as the project progresses through the design and planning stage, the EIA document and action plan will be updated to ensure that equalities and inclusion issues are identified and addressed. We would also support any Shadow Community Operations Board in monitoring and updating the EIA document and action plan to ensure the new campus addresses local need in terms of equalities and inclusion issues.
Note: It was agreed that Lucy Murray Brown would sent this document to all Area Board members.
Transport
Where would the funding come from to run a free bus service to the Campus?
If approved by the Area Board, a Shadow Community Operations Board would have a role in representing the community’s views on options for transport arrangements to the campus, based on local need, which will subsequently be considered through the development and implementation of a travel plan.
Library
Chris Holden – There has been no indication from Central Government of any further cuts to library services.
Response from Niki Lewis, Service Director with responsibility for Libraries:
Although at this point the Libraries Service in Wiltshire has not been asked to make any further savings, we cannot be sure that in future years this will not be the case.
What is the current footfall of the library?
Response from Melksham community librarian: Around 78,000 visits per year.
There must be a compelling case/reason to move the library, would Wiltshire Council gain financially from selling the site?
A single site campus would be significantly cheaper to operate in the long term. Wiltshire Council will look at the disposal of sites to fund its capital programme, but receipts would not be specifically linked to the campus project.
To clarify, sites could theorectically be sold for less than their market value if there is a community benefit.
Can we vote to take the library out of the Campus proposals?
Response from Cllr Jonathon Seed – the Area Board members could make that decision if minded.
Sports and Recreation
What would happen if the Area Board voted against the Campus, would the leisure facilities go on hold?
A report would be prepared for the Wiltshire Council cabinet detailing this if it were to happen. The cabinet would then decide.
Points made included:
The Future of Melksham as a vibrant town is modern facilities such as the Campus.
Residents of Melksham want more information on the financial detail of the proposal.
Wiltshire Council should talk to the rate payers to see what they want.
Melksham town centre is starting to get back on its feet again, now we intend to stop it.
The current library offers easy access to the elderly and families without transport, moving it out of the town centre would be unfair.
Melksham desperately needs a new swimming pool, we shouldn’t miss the boat on this.
The Chairman thanked everyone for their views and questions, and Lucy Murray Brown, Niki Lewis and Mark Stone for their answers.