Agenda item

This report updates members on the performance of Explore York Libraries and Archives Mutual Ltd (Explore) during the second six  months of 2014/15.

Members considered a report that updated them on the performance of Explore York Libraries and Archives Mutual Ltd (Explore) during the second 6 months of 2014/15.

The Chief Executive offered an open invite to Members to visit Explore York and confirmed it had been a busy first year for them running as an independent organisation.

The Chief Executive gave an update and confirmed:

·        York was seen as a national Leader in the public service mutual world and had won a bid to support Devon through their journey.

·        The Archive’s team were working with schools to open their service to children and young people.

·        The Summer reading challenge, Record Breakers, was due to be launched.

·        The Archive and local history centre had recently won a bid to asses the condition of the Workhouse records.

·        Books on the prescription scheme was growing and work continued with York Mind, the CCG, the NHS and GP’s.

·        The new Toy Library lending system had been launched and was still popular.

·        They were working on new Community Hubs which would  incorporate Health and Wellbeing hubs.

·        A new library would open on the Community Stadium site.

·        They continued to use City of York Council’s ICT services but were now working with a not for profit accountants. The Chief Executive thanked City of York Council’s financial team for their support through the transition.

The Chair of the Board was also in attendance and informed Members that the first year had launched successfully and was  meeting its financial objectives. He felt they were in a position to really move the service forward and further develop Explore as a proposition.

Members thanked officers for their updates and were very impressed by the detailed report and their achievements in the first year.

In answer to Members questions it was confirmed that:

·        No libraries would be closing within the City and Huntington library would remain open when the Community Stadium site launched.

·        They had several ideas to put a structure in place to drive financial growth, including opportunities around room hire, merchandise and monetising the Archives.

·        The antisocial behaviour had significantly improved and additional cameras had been installed.

·        The Toy Library now operated through a catalogue system where all toys could be viewed online and then requested to be delivered to a library of choice.

·        They was no room on the mobile library for the toys but officers agreed that the new model could make it more difficult for parents who had no internet access. The Chief Executive agreed to discuss other options with her staff.

·        The bike racks would move to the undercroft whilst building work continued in the area.

·        Every month three community collections were catalogued and the archives team were receiving many contributions from local people.

·        Some Archive storage was based in Cheshire. Items could be retrieved on a daily basis and delivered the next day.

It was noted that the tour of the Archive’s was well received and the attendee’s were very impressed by the wonderful resources.

The Chair thanked the Archive staff for the work they had done throughout the transformation.

The Assistant Director informed Members that the financial implications in the report should have stated that the £50,000 savings was returned to the budget for the 2015-16 municipal year.

Resolved: That the performance of Explore be noted.

Reason:  To help monitor the service received under the Service Level Agreement.