Issue - items at meetings - Mildenhall Hub Post Implementation Review

Report number: CAB/WS/23/022

Portfolio holder: Councillor Joanna Rayner

Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Councillor Ian Shipp

Lead officer: Alex Wilson

Resolved:

That:

1. Subject to the suggested actions below, the Cabinet endorsed the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s conclusion that the Mildenhall Hub has met the strategic and environmental objectives set for it by Forest Heath District Council in 2018 and is making good progress towards the break-even financial test by year five of its operation.

2. Subject to joint-funding and planning consent, adaptations be made to the eastern plaza to:

- Reduce the walking distance from disabled parking spaces to the eastern entrance;

- Create a disabled drop-off;

- Future-proof the future expansion of the Hub by providing more disabled parking spaces.

3. When any works to the east plaza are complete, investigate, consult on and, if appropriate, introduce a Traffic Regulation Order to regulate the parking on site.

4. The current and future capacity of on-site car parking should be taken into account as part of any proposals for expansion of education capacity at and adjacent to the Hub; and the Council, as Hub landlord, should make submissions to the Local Planning Authority, Highways Authority and/or education partners accordingly on behalf of the partnership.

5. The final required highways audit of the Queensway / Sheldrick Way junction be commissioned in late 2023.

6. The current and future capacity of the Queensway / Sheldrick Way junction should be taken into account as part of any highway appraisals for the delivery of the West Mildenhall masterplan and/or any proposals for expansion of primary and secondary education capacity at and adjacent to the Hub; and the Council, as Hub landlord, should make submissions to the Local Planning Authority, Highways Authority and/or education partners accordingly on behalf of the partnership.

7. Cabinet makes representation to Suffolk County Council regarding a light-controlled crossing being installed at the zebra crossing in the High Street leading to Church Walk, Mildenhall and the introduction of a 20mph speed limit on Wamil Way, Mildenhall.

8. To review progress against the year five financial test, a final report on the Mildenhall Hub Post Implementation Review be included in the Committee’s work programme for 2026, subject to the completion of a scoping / key lines of enquiry exercise being carried out with the Strategic Director.

(Report number CAB/WS/23/022)

At its meeting on 9 March 2023, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had received Report number OAS/WS/3/003 which had carried out a post implementation scrutiny review of the Council’s involvement in the Mildenhall Hub, which had opened to the public in May 2021 and represented a combined public sector investment of over £40 million into facilities for Mildenhall and the surrounding area.

As a broad structure to the review, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee examined the following issues, to make recommendations to Cabinet/Council accordingly:

1. Had the capital project achieved the objectives last set for it by the Council?

2. How had the Mildenhall Hub performed in its first 20 months against its business plan and funding model?

3. What remaining actions were there to deliver the Council’s original objectives.

The review had also included information on the baseline position; delivery of strategic objectives (non-financial); impact of new leisure facilities; wider hub concept and other partners’ facilities; environmental performance; external recognition; delivery of financial objectives and further actions to implement project objectives.

After considering the content of the review, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had submitted eight recommendations for endorsement by the Cabinet, as set out in Report number CAB/WS/23/022.

Councillor Ian Shipp, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, also drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet.

As had been raised under the previous item (minute number 467. above), the Cabinet also discussed the proposed amendment to Recommendation 7. with regards to a lower speed limit being introduced on Wamil Way, Mildenhall. The Cabinet duly supported this amendment.