Agenda item

The Chairman invited Lucy Murray-Brown (Campus & Operational Estate Management Lead) to give a presentation on proposals for a Community Campus in Pewsey.

Lucy explained that a Community Campus was a building, or buildings, in a community area that provided services for the surrounding community area.  This could include services currently provided by the Council, and possible co-location with partner agencies and voluntary organisations.  The benefits of providing services from a single location included:

• Ease of access for customers – a one-stop shop
• Potential innovative management and operational arrangements
• Opportunity for capital investment in existing buildings to develop newer, more sustainable buildings
• Financial savings achieved through shared overheads (e.g. reception and accommodation)
• Reduction of long-term financial, environmental and operational pressure on operating aging, low quality buildings.

Eight areas, including Pewsey, were being run as pilot schemes as part of the Preliminary Management Project.  Following this, Cabinet would consider extending the scheme out across Wiltshire. It was likely there would be at least one campus planned for each of the 20 community areas.

It was anticipated that each campus would be different, depending on the specific service needs of each community area; these would be identified during a wide-ranging consultation prior to a business plan being prepared for each campus.

Without prejudicing the consultation for Pewsey, it was clear from early discussions and previous consultations that there was likely to be a significant level of support for the Leisure Centre and the Library, and so it was anticipated that Pewsey may be a “dual site” campus.

It was proposed that “Shadow Community Operation Boards” (COBs) be established as steering groups for each individual campus project.  These would consist of representatives of service users and other stakeholders.  The Shadow COB would report to, and make recommendations to the Area Board.  Full draft terms of reference were set out on pages 23-26 of the agenda.

The indicative timeline for the project in Pewsey would see a two-stage consultation being undertaken over the summer and autumn of 2011.   Following Area Board approval of the proposals, a business would be prepared for Cabinet approval in winter 2011.  Planning and Construction would take place in 2012, and it was hoped that the facility would open in Spring 2013.

The Chairman thanked Lucy for the presentation, and invited questions and comments:

• In response to a question on how non-for-profit organisations could maintain older buildings, Lucy confirmed that the Council would most likely consider transferring ownership of assets which were sustainable.

• It was noted that a working group had already begun work on the proposed transfer of the management of the leisure centre to a community organisation.  Without prejudice to the outcome of the consultation, and if the consultation identified the leisure centre as a preferred location for the campus, then the project would build on the work of this working group.  In the meantime, Lucy suggested that the constituent groups within the working group might like to consider putting forward a representative to sit on the Shadow Community Operations Board as opposed to the working group simply identifying a representative.

• It was hoped that all elements of the local community, including surrounding parishes, would participate in the consultation, and that existing community aspirations would be identified in the initial research and development stage.

• It was stated that the campus project across Wiltshire will achieve approximately 40% reduction in the Council’s carbon emissions, through the rationalisation of buildings, and investment in refurbished facilities.

• Lucy explained that the design of the facilities would permit flexibility of use, citing an example in Chippenham where a community space was used for adult day care in the daytime, and youth service provision in the evening.

• It was confirmed that the buildings and services would continue to be managed and funded by the Council until such time as the Cabinet considered to set up a not-for-profit organisation, subject to the necessary approvals.

• Expressions of interest were welcomed from organisations who may wish to be located within the campus facility; Lucy invited people to register their interest with the Shadow Community Operations Board.

• Councillor Stuart Wheeler commented that the Campus initiative fell within his area of responsibility as Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture. 

Decision

1. The Pewsey Area Board notes the presentation and draft proposals for establishing a Community Campus in Pewsey, and undertakes to take the project forward within the Pewsey Community Area.
2. Pursuant to 1 above, the Pewsey Area Board agrees to establish a Shadow Community Operations Board, with the Terms of Reference set out at pages 23 – 26 of the agenda.
3. The Pewsey Area Board invites expressions of interest for membership of the Shadow Community Operations Board.  The Area Board will subsequently discuss and provisionally appoint to the membership of the Shadow Board, before ratifying the membership at the next formal meeting of the Area Board on 4 July 2011.
4. Councillor Stuart Wheeler be appointed as the Pewsey Area Board’s representative on the Shadow Community Operations Board.

Reasons – As set out in the preamble to this minute, and in the report.

ACTION: Rachel Goff