Agenda item

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 the space would create maximum and efficient use. The exact use of the space would be determined by the requirements of key partners, once identified.
• Should the Area Board approve the current proposals, then discussions with potential partners would begin.
• It was noted that the library was due to benefit from extended opening hours.

·         The Town Council was fully supportive of the campus proposals and would work with the Shadow COB and Wiltshire Council towards the provision of flexible community hall space as a suitable alternative to the Civic Centre.  The Town Council was committed to protecting current users of its facilities and would not wish to dispose of the Civic Centre until such time as the alternative Campus facilities become available.

 

Community Hall

·         To have indoor hall space within the town with sufficient disabled access was strongly welcomed.

·         It was envisaged that the space would have flexible usage, similar to that provided at the Council’s offices in Monkton Park, with the ability to divide and sub-divide the space.

 

Indoor and Outdoor Sports Space

·         The details of how the existing Lime Kiln facilities would be used were not yet finalised. A ‘new build’ was a possibility, but this was currently being explored with Wiltshire Council.

·         Great efforts would be made to mitigate any disruption to clubs and users during the development stage of the campus. Alternative space would be identified, where possible, and it was noted that the schools might be able to provide temporary leisure space.

·         The requirements of individual clubs and groups would need to be fed in to the Shadow COB, and would be taken into account as much as possible.

·         It was imperative that adequate free car parking provision be provided for the campus; this was particularly important for residents from rural areas. It was noted that car parking would be considered as part of the detailed Business Plan and the Sustainable Travel Plan. The Shadow COB also undertook to consider car parking provision as part of the next phase of work.

·         Other travel options, such as cycle paths and bus provision, would also be considered as part of the Sustainable Travel Plan process, which would be developed in partnership with the Shadow COB and the community.

·         It was noted that the astroturf currently in existence was owned and managed by the school. The Shadow COB undertook to explore whether there was additional requirement for an astroturf within the campus.

 

Cafe Provision

·         There was strong support for café provision within the campus, to provide meeting space for a range of users and members of the public.

 

Swimming Pool and Other

·         Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet was due to consider the Wootton Bassett campus proposals in December. Cabinet had not made any decisions on the matter as yet, as a Business Plan from the Shadow COB was required first, as per the timeline outlined above.

·         Wiltshire Council would have responsibility for the financing of this capital project, and would bear any associated risk. The Business Plan would include a revenue assessment to incorporate any issues regarding the ongoing revenue.

·         The Wootton Bassett Campus was being developed as one of a small number of pilot projects; this was mainly due to the fire at Lime Kiln pool, which resulted in Wootton Bassett being given a higher priority than originally planned.

·         Previous aspirations for community facilities at Station House and the Brewery had ceased; it was now believed that the campus would provide better facilities.

·         All proposals put forward by the Shadow COB were as a result of the two rounds of public consultation.

·         The involvement of the youth service would be discussed as the plans for the campus developed. The location of the campus would be a large factor as to the level of integration of the youth service.

·         The Shadow COB had a responsibility to cater for all groups and users wherever possible.

·         It was noted that sporting groups had a history of working in partnership effectively in the past with the astroturf project.

·         Finally it was acknowledged that the proposals for a six lane pool with a learner pool and disabled access were very exciting for the people of Wootton Bassett and the surrounding area.

 

The Area Board considered the recommendations put forward by the Shadow COB and the subsequent comments from the members of the public present. The Chairman also asked for a show of hands from those present who were in support of the proposals; with the large majority of those present indicating their support.

 

Decision

The Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board:

 

      i.        Accepted and approved the proposals from the Wootton Bassett Shadow Community Operations Board, with the additional requirement that adequate car parking provision be considered.

 

2. Approved the Wootton Bassett Shadow Community Operations Board undertaking further work, including discussion with potential partners, to support and inform the preparation of a detailed campus business plan.

 

   iii.        Approved Wiltshire Council officers preparing an alternative business case proposal for consideration by Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet should this be considered necessary.