Agenda item

The Pewsey Shadow Community Operations Board (SCOB) was formed by the Area Board on 9 May 2011 to examine the opportunities of ‘localising’ and maximising on time-sharing of some council services.

 

The SCOB members were appointed on 4 July and subsequently undertook a consultation to seek the views of local residents.

 

A report providing further detail of the work undertaken by the SCOB and working proposals for the next stage of the consultation was circulated prior to the meeting.  The Programme Director was in attendance to present the report and provided the following information.

 

·         That a campus was a building or a collection of buildings decided by the community area and with the support of the community that was intended to remove approximately 300 operational buildings currently in existence to be replaced with a much lower figure of approximately 30.

 

·         There was a potential to co-locate with partners and voluntary organisations with the support of the police authority.

 

·         That the campus initiative formed part of the Council’s long term ambition for greater community engagement in line with national policy.

 

·         That the core criteria for all campus buildings included a shared reception, community space, accessible IT provision, personal care and catering facilities.

 

·         There were several pilot areas across the county, including Corsham, Melksham, Wootton Bassett, Cricklade, Salisbury and Calne in addition to Pewsey.

 

·         All funding decisions in relation to the final campuses would be decided by Cabinet but would be based on the plan steered by the area boards views and those of the SCOB.

 

Upon questioning it was confirmed that Corsham, Melksham and Salisbury were at the forefront of progress made to date.  Corsham and Melksham had completed business cases which were due to be submitted to Cabinet for consideration in November.

 

The Programme Director handed over further presentations to The Chairman of the Pewsey Area SCOB who confirmed that although the library facilities were fit for the future, leisure and youth centre facilities were not.

 

The consultation process that had been undertaken included the despatch of 6,000 questionnaires with an additional 100 plus sent to targeted groups including parish councils, primary and secondary schools, churches, identified sports groups and youth groups.

 

 

The responses received were fairly well spread across the Pewsey area with 1,063 responses received equating to approximately 18%.

 

Several key areas were indentified, including:

 

·         71% favoured a Campus which included several council services

 

·         75% in favour of a modern Leisure Centre

 

·         64% in favour of a library

 

·         62% favoured a provision for youth services

 

·         37% in favour of a playgroup

 

·         34% in favour of a skateboard park

 

·         28% in favour of a luncheon club

 

Of the 1,063 responses, 600 individual comments had been received in relation to the top three services required.

 

Approximately one third of respondents lived east of the Pewsey area.  With this in mind it was recognised that these residents may in some instances, consider Hungerford as their local service provider and, as such, may benefit from a satellite facility for services.

 

The key findings also indicated that a split campus approach would be beneficial to most residents and that further investigation would take place in relation to the satellite facility to accommodate the needs of those residents east of the Pewsey area.

 

Upon preliminary analysis of the initial survey three broad themes emerged; modern leisure facilities, improved youth services and services for adults and the elderly.  The following working proposals were therefore presented for the Area Board’s consideration:

 

·         To further explore the potential for a split campus site, comprising:

o   A modern leisure centre

o   A full range of indoor and some outdoor facilities

o   A modern youth centre

o   A community services campus facility located adjacent to the present Leisure Centre and Pewsey Vale School

o   The possibility of a satellite outstation

o   The existing Library

 

Upon approval of the working proposals the SCOB would look to conduct a second round of consultations with targeted groups including potential ‘open days/evenings’ throughout October and November to further source information from residents on the community based services required.

 

Clarification was provided that there were currently 14 SCOB’s working across the county all of which were voluntary groups.  Although no funding was provided, the Council did assist SCOBs in their work in resource terms which included the costs associated with the circulation of the questionnaires.

 

The provision of further education services was also raised where clarification was given that there was an emphasis on flexible space within campuses.  An example related to the facilities at the Olympiad Leisure Centre in Chippenham which was used for adult social care during the day and social groups in the evening to ensure best use of the building.

 

The inclusion of a centralised reception area within each campus was hoped to ensure a ‘one stop’ approach to Council services that would benefit the public.   It was hoped that the next stage of the consultation would allow residents to raise core service requirement needs from within these campuses.

 

Although campuses would allow for an internet based service, an emphasis would be placed on repersonalising the service to ensure a stronger community base existed.

 

The business cases arising from campus proposals would be submitted to Cabinet for consideration as they developed across the County.  The Chairman of the SCOB requested that details of the programmes for all the campuses across the County be provided once available.

 

The timeline currently being worked to, all of which were subject to approval at each stage were as follows:

 

·         SCOB draft working proposals to Area Board following consideration of the consultation – 6 October 2011

 

·         Second phase of consultation – October to end of December 2011

 

·         Formal consideration of the final proposal by Area Board – January 2012

 

·         Formal approval by Cabinet – January/February 2012

 

·         Anticipated construction commencement – April/May 2012

 

·         Indicative planned completion date – April 2013

 

Decision:

 

To note the Pewsey SCOB report;

 

To approve the working proposals put forward for a split-site campus;

 

To endorse the further steps proposed in the Pewsey SCOB work programme; and

 

To consider a specially convened Area Board meeting, if appropriate, to consider detailed proposals from the Pewsey SCOB for campus provisions in the Pewsey Community Area.