BOROUGH OF POOLE

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT FORUM

13 NOVEMBER 2013

The Meeting commenced at 2:30pm and concluded at 3:40pm

Present:

Councillor White (Chairman)

Councillors Clements, Parker and Wilson

Others in Attendance:

Councillor Burden

John McBride, Chief Executive

Andrew Flockhart, Strategic Director

Stephen Thorne, Head of Planning and Regeneration Services

Richard Genge, Planning and Regeneration Manager

Nigel Hutton, Transportation Policy Manager

Bournemouth University Presentation Team

Jim Andrews – Chief Operating Officer

Stuart Laird – Director of Estates

John Gusman – Vice President, Student Union

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Dion, Howell and Mrs Slade

  1. DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest

Other Non-Statutory Interests Members Wished to be Recorded

Councillors Clements, Parker, White and Wilson declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 as either Members and/or substitute Members of the Planning Committee.

  1. MINUTES

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Member Engagement Forum, held on 31 July 2013, having previously been circulated, be taken as read, approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

  1. PRESENTATION – BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY, TALBOT CAMPUS ACADEMIC BUILDING

Prior to the presentation by Bournemouth University, Stephen Thorne, Head of Planning and Regeneration Services, provided Members with a brief contextual introduction. Particular reference was made to the contribution that the University made to the economy of Poole, the future aspirations of the University and the planned £200M investment up to 2018.

Areas for Members to consider were the decanting of the car parking, the opinions of local residents from Talbot Village, the University’s Green Travel Planand the scale/mass/context of the Academic Building.

The Chairman welcomed the Bournemouth University Presentation Team to the Meeting.

Jim Andrews, Chief Operating Officer, commenced the Presentation by highlighting the University’s vision:

“Creating the most stimulating, challenging, and rewarding university experience in a world class learning community by sharing our unique fusion of excellent education, research and professional practice and inspiring our students, graduates and staff to enrich the world.”

The University had four main areas of its “academic footprint”:

  • Science and technology
  • Health and society
  • Business management
  • Media and culture

The Chief Operating Officer stated that:

  • Bournemouth University remained a popular destination
  • The University aspired to be a “Top 50 University” in the UK by 2018
  • Approximately 92% of graduates gained employment or continued in further education
  • Bournemouth University was the first University to be commended by the Quality Assurance Agency for Learning and Teaching
  • £378M economic impact on the local economy (2013)

The Presentation continued with a summary of the University’s Estates Development Framework:

  • 40 year vision for the University Estates
  • £200M invested by 2018
  • Commitment to Poole and Bournemouth
  • Enhancements across all of the estates
  • 5 new buildings, the second of which was the subject of the presentation

The new building would deliver:

  • New academic spaces
  • Seminar resources
  • Lecture theatres
  • Collaboration spaces for staff and students
  • Research space
  • Catering facilities
  • Construction design would deliver a major contribution to the local economy

Stuart Laird, Director of Estates, continued the Presentation by providing more detail regarding the proposed building:

  • Flagship academic building
  • Circa 5600m2 over four storeys
  • BREAM “excellent”
  • Central atrium to that would be used as a central refectory
  • £22M in value

Images were displayed of progress of the existing development, computer generated images of the proposed building plus images of car parking and existing temporary buildings.

The Meeting noted the following transport issues:

  • Car parking – circa 200 places would be lost
  • The proposal involved a replacement parking solution
  • Options would include either a “park and stride” or a “park and ride”
  • Bournemouth University 2013-18 Travel plan would reduce the demand for parking.

John Gusman, Vice President of the Student Union, highlighted the Union’s views of the project. Details included:

  • There was a great culture at the University, however, more facilities were needed
  • Project would provide added benefits in terms of research and involvement with the local community
  • Building would keep Bournemouth University up to date with student’s learning needs
  • There would be increased collaboration between schools and the university
  • Increased space for community projects/conferences
  • Building would boost the University’s appeal to potential students
  • Proposal was visually stunning
  • Bournemouth University would become a “world class” learning establishment.

Jim Andrews, Chief Operating Officer briefly summed up the key themes of the Presentation, details included:

  • Would provide a bridge between communities
  • University respected the views of local residents
  • Strong consultation culture
  • Building would provide a high quality academic space
  • Students experience would be improved

Members joined the Chairman in thanking Bournemouth University for their Presentation.

The Presentation team responded to Members’ questions and observations, details included:

  • The University worked extremely closely with both the local community and businesses
  • The University had a “international college” at the Lansdowne
  • The University took a partnership approach with Universities overseas rather than having a campus abroad
  • University’s computer animation department had a worldwide reputation
  • The building, whilst under construction, would provide many local jobs
  • It was estimated that of the £22M building build cost, 60% would be spent within a 40 mile radius of Poole
  • It was hoped that a planning application would be submitted in February/March 2014 with a view of opening the building in September 2016
  • Building would have four access points, thus future proofing it as development continued on the Site
  • Future plans might involve a main entrance off of the Boundary Lane Roundabout.
  • The University’s Travel Plan had been “relaunched” in 2013. The Plan relied heavily on the provision of university buses, subsidised bus routes and car parking charges for both students and staff. The Travel Plan included the employment of a Travel Plan Co-ordinator
  • The University liaised closely with local schools, both in Poole and Bournemouth
  • The Proposed development would result in theremoval of all temporary buildings/portacabins on the Site
  • By 2018, it was hoped to increase the space per student from just over 4m2 to 6m2
  • Of the 17000 students studying at Bournemouth University, 12500 were full time
  • The University had increased its research income to £6/7M per annum, however, the University relied heavily on income from students
  • The University were fully aware of problems caused by houses of multiple occupancy. In reality, many of these properties housed young people that were not students of Bournemouth University.
  • In order to help mitigating Anti-Social Behaviour, the University fully funded an Environmental Health Officer at Bournemouth Borough Council.

Members’ final comments included:

  • Congratulations for the impressive journey from an Institute of Higher Education to a Polytechnic and then to a first class University.
  • Congratulations on the impressive performance regarding student placements
  • Wished more students would stay in the Poole/Bournemouth area once they had graduated

Once again, Members joined the Chairman in thanking the Team for their Presentation

Chairman

1