Agenda item

This coverreport presents the final report arising from the Libraries Scrutiny review, and asks Cabinet to approve the recommendations arising from the review.

A copy of the full final report is attached and Councillor Reid, as Chair of the Task Group, will be in attendance at the meeting to present the report.

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet approve the recommendations arising from the Libraries scrutiny review, as set out in paragraph 8 of the report.

REASON:           To conclude the Scrutiny Review in line with CYC Scrutiny procedures and protocols.

Consideration was given to the final report arising from the Libraries Scrutiny Review, set out at Appendix 1 of the report. A review set up by the Learning and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee in September 2012 to investigate library provision across the city and their use as community hubs providing other library services.

Councillor Reid, as Chair of the Task Group presented the final report. She referred to the omission of the words “Burnholme School site” prior to the words “best ways of developing the nearby..” in the first line of paragraph 18 of the report. The review had shown there was scope to open up libraries for additional uses and this would also assist community engagement in the city. On behalf of the Task Group she requested that the recommendations should be taken on board by those taking over the library service in the future.

The Cabinet Member welcomed the recommendations, a number of which she confirmed would be useful to feed in to the social enterprise report now in the course of preparation.

The following recommendations arising from the review were then considered:

i.       The Library Service to:

a)   adopt the following definition of a community hub modelled around a community library and commit to implementing community hubs throughout the city:

‘A Community Hub puts the local library at the heart of the community providing a flexible and welcoming space where local residents can come together for a wide range of community activities’

b)   Consider the customer base for each library to identify ways of encouraging more use

c)    Consider ways of increasing the number of volunteers and volunteering roles

d)   Improve marketing for libraries and their facilities through a variety of mediums to the community and organisations

e)   Identify the community hub elements currently available at each library and investigate how other elements may be introduced in the future to meet the aims of the agreed definition

f)    Investigate the introduction of a fair trade refreshments / cafe at all community libraries

g)   look at the Big Survey responses in detail to try to understand the reasons behind the figure of 13% of respondents who had stated a lack of transport as the reason they did not use libraries, and investigate the use of Dial-a-ride to improve access

h)   Investigate the possibility of ring-fencing a proportion of the income raised by each library for re-investment into supporting the specific needs of its local community.

ii.     Each Community Hub to:

a)   Clearly define its opening hours and the services it offers and when, and ensure these are appropriately advertised so that it is clear when the building is available for alternative use.

b)    Increase its opening hours to enable more opportunities for community use wherever possible.

c)    Provide flexible space so that it may be used for a variety of purposes e.g. moveable shelving

d)    Maintain self-service machines in its community library to enable a basic level of library service throughout its opening hours, without the need for library staff

e)    Provide display boards and/or leaflets on:

•    council services, public meetings and contact information

•    the council’s partners and third sector organisations

•    community events and activities etc

•    volunteering and participating in responding to issues affecting the local community

Following further discussion it was

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet approve the recommendations arising from the Libraries scrutiny review, as set out above and in paragraph 8 of the report. ^1.

REASON:           To conclude the Scrutiny Review in line with CYC Scrutiny procedures and protocols.