A position statement on the campus from Cllr Kunkler and Ros Griffiths - Community Engagement Manager.
Minutes:
The Chairman read out a campus position statement.
“John Thomson, Cabinet Member for Communities, Campuses, Area Boards and Broadband and Laurie Bell, Associate Director Communities and Communications have been looking at a number of different options to deliver a scheme within the approved budget. The design team have been instructed to draw up a new build, single story scheme which will offer a new and improved user experience and will complement a community hub at the library. Further detail on the specification will be discussed with the Area Board members later this month and a campus team meeting will be arranged for mid-October to share findings.
The appointment of the new Community Engagement Managers (CEMs) and the pressure to ensure delivery of the approved campuses, has provided an opportunity to review the existing working arrangements with area boards across the county in relation to the campus and hub programme. The Wiltshire Council campus team (led by John Thomson; as the lead member, and Laurie Bell) will now work directly with the area board and the CEM regarding delivery in a community area. Area Boards across the county are being asked to decide if they wish to have an advisory group in the form of a COB or working group to help with their recommendations on the best way forward for their local campus or hub.
We (Pewsey Area Board) recognise that the local campus team has been instrumental in driving the project forward and are grateful for their dedication and professionalism. We can confirm that there will be a role for the campus team in the future. We will be meeting with the team in one month to discuss the direction of the project and to determine the most appropriate support arrangements”
Curley Haskell – Pewsey COB made a number of comments on behalf of the group.
Points made included:
· That the news was good news, but the group was concerned about the delays in getting to this stage.
· The group was frustrated with the lack of communication over recent months and that they had had no involvement in exploring different options to move the project forward.
· The COB had worked tirelessly on a project that they had believed in.
· The COB needs to have a voice in this matter.
· That the Area Board should provide new terms of reference going forward and clear direction on the role of the group.
The Area Board members expressed their frustrations with the process that had been followed and the lack of involvement of the group.
The Area Board members agreed to support the Pewsey COB in this matter.
Decision
· That the Pewsey Area Board requests a letter be sent to Cllr John Thomson highlighting the Area Board’s frustrations and dissatisfaction with the long delays that have occurred with the Pewsey community campus project.
· That Cllr John Thomson attends the 2 November Pewsey Area Board meeting.
The Chairman thanked Curly Haskell and the COB for their hard work and continued dedication to the campus project.