Committee details

SCRUTINY PANEL 2 – The Move of the University of Northampton

1.    Purpose/Objectives of the Review

To review the impact on the town and local areas; including student accommodation

Key Lines of Enquiry

Ø    To understand the work currently being undertaken by the University of Northampton, Northampton Borough Council (NBC), and other  partners regarding the move of the University

Ø    To gain an understanding of the social, cultural, physical, economic and environmental effects of the move of the University

Ø   To gain an understanding of the challenges, including all areas of the town, in respect of the move of the University

Ø    To gain an understanding of the implications of the move of the University

2.   Outcomes Required

·                    To understand the impact of the move of the University and to make recommendations, as appropriate.

3.   Information Required

·           Background data 

·           Background reports

·           Best practice data

·           Desktop research

·           Evidence from expert internal witnesses

·         Evidence from expert external witnesses

·         Site visits (if applicable)

4.   Format of Information

·                     Background data, including:

Ø    Presentation to set the scene:

Work currently being undertaken regarding the move of the University

      Number and areas of student accommodation

Ø    Statistics:

Financial data

Students

Footfall

·                     Internal expert advisors:

Ø    Cabinet Member for Housing and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning, NBC

Ø    Ward Councillors, NBC

Ø    Town Centre Manager

Ø    Cabinet Member for Community Safety, NBC

Ø    Chair of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and the Community Safety Team

Ø    Environmental Health and Licensing Manager

Ø    Head of Assets and Regeneration

Ø    Private Sector Housing Manager

·                     External expert advisors:

Ø    Head of Protecting Vulnerable Persons, Northamptonshire Police

Ø    Representatives from the University of Northampton and the Student Union, University of Northampton

Ø    Manager, Student Homes, Northampton

Ø    Letting Agencies, Northampton

Ø    Executive Director, Town Centre BID

Ø    Director, PubWatch

Ø    Residents’ Associations, groups such as Friends of Parks Groups etc.

·                    Site visit(s):  student accommodation, University of Northampton campus

5.   Methods Used to Gather Information

• Minutes of meetings
• Desktop research
• Site visits
• Officer reports
• Presentations
• Examples of best practice
• Witness Evidence:-

Ø  Key witnesses  as detailed in section 4 of this scope

6.   Co-Options to the Review

·         Terry Neville, Chief Operating Officer, University of Northampton, to be approached suggesting that he, or his representative, is co-opted to this Review for its life.

7.  Community Impact Screening Assessment

• A Community Impact Screening Assessment to be undertaken on the scope of the Review

8.   Evidence gathering Timetable

May 2018 – March 2019

Various site visits will be programmed during this period, if required.

Meetings to commence at 6.00 pm

8        Responsible Officers

Peter Baguley, Head of Planning

Marion Goodman, Head of Customers and Cultural Services

Tracy Tiff, Scrutiny Officer

9.           Final report presented by:

Completed by March 2019.  Presented by the Chair of the Panel to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and then to Cabinet.

10.       Monitoring procedure:

Review the impact of the report after six months (approximately November/December 2019)