Agenda item

Library Transformation Project

In November 2010 the Executive agreed to a three month consultation of proposals contained within the Libraries Transformation Project. This report proposes a renewed Library Strategy, centred around a clearly defined library offer and driven by the Councils responsibilities and resources, the assessment of needs and consultation. It also addresses the potential implications for six buildings should the recommended strategy be agreed.

Decision:

(i) that agreement be given to a transformed library service to residents as set out at paragraph 4 of the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services, which contains detailed service proposals for:

· Library Service Objectives

· Services

· Stock

· Buildings

· Online and digital services

· Support for children, young people and families

· Support for learners

· Support for older people and people who find it difficult to access library services

· Services for people with disabilities

· Staff

· Customer and Community Engagement

· Partners and partnership working

· The cultural offer

(ii) that agreement be given to the continuation of the successful shared service approach and the further development of proposals to share functions with partners, including other London boroughs, as described in para 5.6 and Appendix 1 of the Director’s report;

(iii) that the following libraries be closed:

Barham Park

Cricklewood

Kensal Rise

Neasden

Preston

Tokyngton

(iv) that Property and Asset Management undertake a detailed options appraisal on each of the six buildings being vacated by the Library Service with a further report to this Executive by the end of July 2011 and prior to any final decisions being made about possible disposals or changes of use;

(v) that a report be submitted in one year’s time reporting on the progress of implementing the Project.

Minutes:

Councillor Powney (Lead member, Environment, Planning and Culture) thanked residents who had addressed the Executive earlier in the meeting in respect of proposals for the future of the library service as set out in the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services. He drew attention to a supplementary report from the Director, circulated in advance of the meeting, which addressed a submission for a community library at Preston, inclusion and analysis of remaining consultation responses and a few errors, which were not referred to in the original report. In introducing the report, Councillor Powney referred to the context namely the council’s financial situation, central government grant cuts, and the council’s duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient service. He referred to the report into Wirral libraries which set out criteria on which library provision could be assessed and how these have been met in the proposals.

Councillor Powney then responded to points raised during the submissions earlier in the evening. Regarding equalities, he felt that age, convenience etc had been addressed in the proposals and he emphasised that the council had to take into account concerns that were wider than geography. He acknowledged the specific concerns relating to the Jewish population but felt that the seven day opening would mean that libraries were more accessible to this community and enhance the service provided. Councillor Powney commended the Equalities Impact Assessment to members and confirmed the importance of the assessment stating that it was thorough and comprehensive. He drew attention to the enhancements to the existing service such as outreach to schools and children’s centres and visits to the housebound as evidence that the council was not simply reducing the budget. The council was also seeking to promote the service and to extend usage to those who were not current users and in addition to views expressed during the consultation had taken into account comments made in other arena such area forums and in emails, all of which were available on the council’s website.

In terms of alternative proposals, Council Powney stressed the need for any business proposals to be of nil financial cost to the council and felt that to allow groups more time to develop bids would not be a good use of council tax payers’ money. He was of the view that six libraries and the outreach work would allow the council to meet its responsibilities. Councillor Powney then set out the rationale for choosing the six libraries earmarked for closure making reference to the relative deprivation indices and maps included in the report and then went on to address in turn the alternative options that had been put forward. Willesden Green Library was being retained as it was associated with other services in addition to being the most successful. He also did not support the alternative of reducing opening hours across all 12 libraries as this would adversely affect the levels of current usage nor the proposal to use ward working funding for the library service as this was part of council’s efforts for community engagement. Library sponsorship would take time to develop, and so was not possible as central government grant cuts were frontloaded. Councillor Powney invited subscribers to the view that it was possible to save funding without an adverse effect on services to come forward with their proposals in the conventional way.

On other points made during the debate, Councillor Powney commented that the new library service would be better placed to develop staff and would reach a wider proportion of the population. He also commented that the council’s financial position was substantially different to that which existed under the previous Administration when central government funding was increasing year on year and it was not feasible to use one-off sums of money for on-going services. Finally, any proposals to develop Willesden Green Library would be a self contained scheme, contingent on property sale. Councillor Powney set out recommendations in the report and submitted them to the Executive for approval.

Councillor Butt (Lead Member, Resources) then drew the attention of members of the Executive to the Equality Impact Assessment and, at members’ request, the Borough Solicitor advised that the EIA was a thorough analysis which members had had the opportunity to consider. Regarding the consultation process, members heard from the Assistant Director Neighbourhood Services a summary of the meetings that had taken place, information that had been exchanged and research into practice in other areas. In inviting members of the public to come forward with alternatives, efforts had been made not to set parameters but rather to assess viability on a broad set of appraisal factors.

Councillor Crane (Lead Member, Regeneration and Economic Development) stated that the decision to close libraries which would result in job losses was a difficult one and acknowledged the deep concern felt by those affected however the council was required to make significant savings at the request of central government. There were positive aspects within the libraries programme and he hoped that these would come to light over the next few years. Councillor John then put the recommendations to the Executive which were agreed.

RESOLVED:-