Cllr John Thomson, Deputy Leader of Wiltshire Council and Laurie Bell, Associate Director, Communities & Communications will be attending to provide an update.
Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed Cllr John Thomson, Deputy Leader of Wiltshire Council and Laurie Bell, Associate Director, Communities & Communications who were attending to provide a Community Hub update.
Cllr Thomson explained the original concept of the campus as follows:-
• Community campuses would reflect local needs
• Based on the rationalisation of buildings and co-location of services
• Community groups would engage and help design and run campuses
• Operating model based on a third council staff, a third volunteers and a third apprenticeships and work experience
• 19 community groups were established to draft conceptual plans on behalf of area boards
• Linked to the vision encouraging communities to do more
He went on to explain that
• The original concept was aspirational and visionary
• The economic changes – have impacted on the original concept
• Asset values changed and other opportunities arose
• Community groups needed clarity of budget framework
• Expectation levels were high – delivery became a challenge given the shifting economy
• Recognition that the big campus models; such as Corsham, not right for all communities and unaffordable across the county
• Reviewed the need and the new opportunities
Laurie Bell explained the subsequent concept of a community hub, initially provided at Calne, as follows:-
• Developed a new community hub model in Calne Library
• Investment to create a vibrant multi-purpose community space and place
• Self-access model – open + hours
• Increased the number of volunteers
• Helping with the sustainability of services
• Opened August 2016
• Multi-purpose, flexible space
• Meeting rooms and library space used by 20 organisations, including Citizens Advice Wiltshire
• Plus support group for parents with children on the autistic spectrum, arts group, and theatre productions
• New Open + system allows community access outside normal library hours - opening hours increased 37.5%
• Library membership has increased by 7.8% compared to the same period last year
The Area Board was informed that funding would be allocated for a Westbury Community Hub during the next phase of development starting next year and Cllr Thomson stressed that it was for the Community Area to decide exactly what facilities would be most appropriate for Westbury. He informed the meeting that he had visited both Westbury Library and the former youth club premises and noted that
• The library - currently upper floors are under utilised
• Ground floor could be extended
• Refurbishment could provide
– Meeting rooms/community spaces
– Flexible library furniture
– Self access open + model
– The provision of a lift
• Former youth centre – could be utilised by schools and community groups
The next steps would need to be
• An audit demand for community space
• Engage area board and local community in the opportunities
• Assess need for community hub and most appropriate location
During the subsequent discussion, there was a general consensus that facilities should be provided as central as possible in the town and that detailed refurbishment proposals for the Library should be investigated as a priority.
It was considered that further thought and consultation should be carried out by the Area Board as a matter of some urgency and it was
Resolved:
That the four County Councillors meet with the Community Engagement Manager as a matter of some urgency to take this matter forward and to report back to the Westbury Area Board with their initial findings.