Agenda item

The Chairman introduced Lucy Murray Brown from the Change Transformation Programme team.

Lucy explained that the Campus programme was an innovative project based on investing to save in the longer term.  The campus proposals build on the principles established in the leisure review, conducted during 2010 which proposed investment into facilities across Wiltshire and the potential to transfer some facilities to local community management. The outcome of the leisure review is to be delivered via the Transformation Programme, through the development of campus proposals. The principles of the leisure review remain – the difference is that any transfer of management or responsibility will be done within the wider context of how potentially all campuses could be managed as opposed to separate solutions for each campus or leisure facilities. It is hoped this approach to transfer would ensure services are sustainable in the long term and it allows the Council to further test the proposal before committing to any transfer.

She went on to explain that a campus is a building, or buildings, in a community area that will provide the services the local community needs in an accessible location and that local community involvement would be critical to it’s success.

The aim is to reduce the long term financial, environmental and operational pressures on operating aging, low quality buildings with potential to co-locate with partner and voluntary organisations for example in Chippenham the Neighbourhood Policing Team have moved into Monkton Park sharing the building and reception.

The campus project enables the council to explore wide ranging innovative management and operational arrangements. The core criteria to all campus buildings include shared reception, community space, accessible IT provision, personal care facilities and catering facilities.  She stressed the importance of meeting the needs of people within the Westbury Community Area.

The first stage will be to set up the Westbury shadow Community Operations Board (COB).  The COB has the responsibility to help define the community need and make recommendations to the Area Board over facility specification and operations.  The COB is made up of 8 people from the community working within a defined terms of reference.  The membership will comprise of

·       Member of the Area Board

·       Local Town and Parish representative

·       Representative from education and young people

·       Community groups x 3

·       Wider community

·       Project Leader (Hannah Day – Wiltshire Council, non-voting member)

She explained that the COB work define the community need, meeting frequently, the role is both challenging and hard work.  An expression of interest form will be available on the Wiltshire Council website

 http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityandliving/communitycampuses/westburycommunitycampus.htm 

and a link will be forward out by the Community Area Manager via the Community Area Network (CAN) shortly.

The Chairman welcomed questions.

Would there be tranche of other Area Boards seeking campus approval after Westbury? Lucy explained that the Westbury Area Board chairman had asked for Westbury to be brought forward in the Campus timeframe and that there would be other areas seeking financial approval after Westbury.

Would youth services be considered within the campus proposal? Lucy confirmed that all services were being considered.

What happens if local people do not come forward to run the community services that the Campus principle proposes? If this is the case then alternative management strategies will be looked at.  The idea is to devolve the running of services to a local level and each area is different.

Will we be able to use the Westbury Hospital site? Lucy explained that it was important to look at the needs of the community first rather than buildings.

Westbury Leisure Alliance questioned why after being so heavily involved in the Leisure Review felt that they had ignored and that for a considerably time there had been no communication from the Council on issues that they raised or questions that had been asked.  Lucy explained that there had been no discussion regarding the Westbury Campus until now.  The work that had been undertaken by the WLA had been of great valued and now the process would be taken forward.

Cllr Hawker explained that expressing interest in being on the COB, was the just that, you were filling in an application to inform the area board that you were interested in representing the community on the COB. Lucy described that if you were on the Cob you would be representing the interests of the community as a whole not just one particular interest.

When would we be able to discuss potential sites for the campus? The process is to consult and find out what the community need is before there is any consideration of buildings or potential sites.

Will the COB meetings be in public? The meetings will not be in public, notes will be taken and will be available on the website, and the Area Board member on the COB will update at Area Board meetings.  Some areas have developed their own websites to engage with the wider community.

What funding is available for the Westbury campus? The principle is to start with a blank page but not a blank cheque! It is important to be aspirational but also realistic.  However there are ways to deliver it in conjunction with partnerships etc. part of our role is enable and facilitate.  Cllr Tonge informed the board that in Corsham, where he is the Chairman of the Area Board, they had similar questions and concerns and they are now at the design stage developing a building! It is a positive experience using local decision making, including partnering.  To enable the campus in Corsham they are selling buildings to generate revenue. He stressed the importance of coming forward and ensuring a positive outcome for Westbury.

The Chairman thanked everyone for their valuable imput.