Issue - meetings

The Corporate Directors of Children, Education & Communities and Economy & Place to present a report which seeks approval for a proposed approach, scope and governance arrangements for the future delivery and improvement of the city’s library buildings.

Resolved:  (i)      That the approach, scope and governance arrangements for the Future Libraries Investment Programme be approved.

Reason:     To ensure that roles and responsibilities are clear between Explore and City of York Council for the successful delivery of the Programme.

                   (ii)      That a budget of £150k, funded from the £4m capital budget, be approved to appoint a project manager and provide an operational budget for the first two years of the Programme, commissioning the professional services referred to in paragraphs 18 and 23 of the report.

Reason:     To allocate the resources required to deliver the Programme’s first phase.

The Strategic Services Manager presented a report which set out a partnership approach between Explore York Libraries and Archives Mutual (Explore) and the council for future delivery and improvement of the city’s library buildings, known as the Future Libraries Investment Programme (the Programme).

The Programme reflected the vision in the Service Contract with Explore, attached at Annex A to the report.  This suggested a move away from stand-alone buildings and towards improved services co-located with other community amenities, with no reduction in the number of staffed libraries across the city. The vision was supported by consultation, as set out in paragraph 6. Governance arrangements for the Programme, a major capital project, were provided in Annex B.

In accordance with the Service Contract, the council would the lead on development of the Explore Library Learning Centres at Acomb and Clifton (Burnholme having been completed), while Explore would lead on the Gateway Library Programme.  Anticipated timescales for stage 1 of the 8-year programme were set out in figure 1 at paragraph 21. To deliver stage 1, it was proposed that £150k be used to employ a project manager for two years and commission external professional services to feed into the business case for Clifton and Acomb.

Resolved:  (i)      That the approach, scope and governance arrangements for the Future Libraries Investment Programme be approved.

Reason:     To ensure that roles and responsibilities are clear between Explore and City of York Council for the successful delivery of the Programme.

                   (ii)      That a budget of £150k, funded from the £4m capital budget, be approved to appoint a project manager and provide an operational budget for the first two years of the Programme, commissioning the professional services referred to in paragraphs 18 and 23 of the report.

Reason:     To allocate the resources required to deliver the Programme’s first phase.