Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Extraordinary Wootton Bassett & Cricklade Area Board and introduced the councillors and officers present.

Apologies for absence were received from Sergeant Martin Alvis and Rob Doran of the Otters Swimming Club.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive a report from the Wootton Bassett Shadow Community Operations Board detailing the results of a second phase of community consultation together with recommendations for the provision of a Community Campus in Wootton Bassett.

The Area Board will be asked to consider approving recommendations for the preparation of a detailed business case for submission to Wiltshire Council Cabinet concerning:

a)    The continued provision of library (and/or other services) at Boroughfields; and

b)    Provision of leisure and other community services (to potentially include improved swimming facilities and a modern community hall) in the Lime Kiln area through redevelopment of the existing Lime Kiln Leisure Centre or in a new Campus building.

INFORMATIVE:

A petition concerning swimming facilities in Wootton Bassett was presented to the Area Board on 6 July 2011. The full response to the petition is attached (for information only).

The Area Board received a report from the Wootton Bassett Shadow Community Operations Board (Shadow COB), detailing the results of the second phase of community consultation together with recommendations for the provision of a Community Campus in Wootton Bassett.

Mark Stone, Programme Director of Wiltshire Council’s Transformation Programme, outlined the background to the Campus Programme; a Campus being a building or a collection of buildings in a community area that would provide the services that the community needed in an accessible location. The Council was testing the principles of community-led management, and the Shadow COB, local community and the Area Board all played a vital role in developing a campus that was tailored to the needs of the community.

Thomas Woodhouse, Chairman of the Shadow COB, outlined the work undertaken to date and the results of the second round of community consultation. Based on the needs and aspirations of the community, the Shadow COB’s proposal to the Area Board was as follows:

To develop a split site campus comprising:

a)    A community services campus facility located in the current library building in Boroughfields to include:

                      i.        Library services

                    ii.        Meeting rooms and flexible space for use by the community

                   iii.        Other community services to be identified.

b)    A new campus building in the area of Lime Kiln to include:

                      i.        Flexible community hall provision

                    ii.        Indoor and outdoor sports space

                   iii.        Leisure facilities that include a gym and dance studios

                   iv.        Cafe provision

                    v.        Swimming pool with six lanes and a learner pool, with improved access for disabled swimmers.

Should the above proposal be approved, the Shadow COB would commence the next phase of work which could encompass the following:

·         Equalities assessment

·         Design principles

·         Travel principles

·         Conversations with potential partners and services

·         Feasibility studies assessing existing infrastructure and services.

The timescales outlined below were provided with the intention of representing a broad indication of the phases of work that the Shadow COB would look to complete, assuming approval of the working proposal:

·         Area Board consideration of final proposal: 19 September 2011

·         Establish broad high-level principles: September – November 2011

·         Further develop Campus proposal: September – November 2011

·         Area Board consideration: Early December 2011

·         Wiltshire Council Cabinet consideration of proposal: Mid December 2011

·         Campus development: Early to late 2012

·         Indicative completion/Campus in place: October 2012.

Following presentation of the report and the recommendations from the Shadow COB, the Chairman thanked all members of the Shadow COB for their hard work and commitment, and welcomed any questions. The following comments and issues arose in the discussion that ensued:

Library Services

·         The current library building in Wootton Bassett was owned by Wiltshire Council.

• Main Council services such as housing and council tax advice would continue to be delivered from the four main office buildings; however there were plans to offer options for these services to be delivered in customers’ homes or in agreed locations, such as a campus.
• The space above the current library was limited, but it was hoped that to redesign  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Chairman will invite any remaining questions from the floor.

The next ordinary meeting of the Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board will be held on Wednesday 12 October 2011, 7.00pm at Cricklade Town Hall.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting and thanked everyone involved in the Campus process to date, including all members of the Shadow COB and all members of the community for engaging and interacting in the process.

The next ordinary meeting of the Wootton Bassett & Cricklade Area Board would be held on Wednesday 12 October 2011, 7.00pm at Cricklade Town Hall.